Blog Archives

There is an excellent infographic up on Farming First’s website currently that showcases a lot of the issues facing African farmers – and how those problems represent the opportunity for growth. It’s an excellent resource that’s well-sourced and highly informative. You can find it here.

Brazil nominated the current Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations,  José Graziano da Silva, for another term. Graziano da Silva has served since January 1st, 2012, and his first term will end on July 31st, 2015. He has been a leading force in the Zero Hunger Challenge, which I wholeheartedly […]

At the close of the UN Climate Summit 2014, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon declared that the summit “delivered”, and will be the beginning of meaningful climate change action in 2015. The summit was not lacking for the meaningful attendance, as National Leaders from around the world came together to make meaningful commitments on climate change. In […]

Writing in Addis Ababa at the Africa Green Revolution Forum, former UN Secretary General and the former chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution Kofi Annan stated that the malnutrition issues in Africa are a political issue – a blunt assessment of African leadership. “Malnutrition is a political failure,” he said. “People who live […]

A new campaign by the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) and six other agricultural development partner organizations aims to promote the importance of fertilizer access for African farmers as a means of bridging the current agricultural productivity gap on the continent. The campaign is being launched at the […]

The Heads of State and Government of the African Union nations have adopted the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated African Agricultural Growth and Transformation.  As part of this, Africans will have to use the best science and technologies for agriculture. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union, summarized the key […]

On Thursday, Statistics Canada released its latest Production of Principal Field Crops report. In it, it predicts that almost ever crop is set to decrease in production from last year. Given that last year’s record setting crop, a decrease will return production to normal levels. Wheat production is projected to drop 26.2% to 27.7 million […]

I was in attendance during the final negotiations on Responsible Agriculture Investment, and I echo the IAFN’s statement regarding the results: In Rome, private sector representatives have expressed extreme dismay with the lack of recognition of the role of farmers in new Principles on Responsible Agricultural Investment. The Principles, to be endorsed by the UN […]

Research conducted in part by Dr. Allan Ronald and the University of Manitoba, long ago showed reduced risk of AIDS transmission in circumcised men.  Despite subsequent recommendations by the World Health Organisation, countries have been slow to take up circumcision programming.  One of the arguments was that men might be less responsible in their sexual […]

I am heading to the BioEnterprise annual meeting, where I sit on the Board of Directors.  It is great to see that one of the fellow members of the Agri-Technology Commercialization Centre has appointed its new President.  The ATCC is a single point of contact for entrepreneurs, researchers, and companies (early-stage to multi-nationals) who are growing businesses […]

Today is World Population Day 2014 and the theme is “Investing in Young People.” There are 1.8 billion people aged 10-24 in the world, making one quarter of the world’s population. This group comprises adolescents (aged 10-19) and youth (aged 15-24). The proportion of the global population that is between the ages of 10 and […]

“Local trumps organic; organic trumps natural; natural trumps ordinary.” It is a simple rule of thumb but speaks to the premiums grocery retailers can get for food products. During the Canadian Special Crops Association meeting, John Scott of the retail grocery sector talked about trends in consumer responses. This has been fuelled by the customers’ […]

I’m proud to be a part of the Zero Hunger Challenge, and I am excited that the initiative just celebrated its second anniversary. Thanks to everyone involved, and let’s keep working towards ending hunger in our lifetimes! Please share on social media: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=322736777875953 https://twitter.com/ZeroHunger/status/483964807880900608

The Emerging team was proud to help co-ordinate the engagement of the private sector mechanism at a meeting in Rome on the International Conference on Nutrition.  Please visit www.agrifood.net for more information on our engagement and see Ann Stennsland’s excellent update.

The Senate on Innovation in Agriculture has tabled its report on Innovation in Agriculture.  It opens with a quote from Art Enns, Manitoba farmer and a President of the Prairie Oat Grower Association. “Farmers are constantly being challenged to find new solutions to new problems. The challenges faced by the farmer in the future will […]

On May 29th, Bill C-30, also known as the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act, finally received royal assent. Though the bill took longer to pass through parliament than initially hoped, we are happy to see this response to the grain transportation crisis become Canadian law. We were excited to work with POGA on their […]

  President of Emerging ag, Robynne Anderson, at a reception hosted by the private sector mechanism of CFS which was organised by the International Agri-Food Network.  IAFN Chairman Hakan Bahceci made opening remarks and CFS Chairperson, Ambassador Gerda Verburg brought remarks about the importance of working with multiple stakeholders to achieve food security.  

Last Wednesday, POGA President Art Enns spoke to the Canadian Senate regarding Bill C-30, or the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act. The Bill is the Canadian Government’s attempt to address the commodity transportation crisis in Canada, and Art spoke about how grain producers – particularly oat growers – are being harmed by their inability […]

The seed industry is supporting a project to provide education and agricultural training to Zambian children. Imagine living on less than a dollar a day and needing to find tuition money for your child to start Grade One. Imagine a child skinning his knee, with no mother to clean the wound and no bandage to cover […]

  CICILS, the international pulse trade and industry confederation, met in South Africa May 3-9.  Emerging is very pleased to be acting as the project management office for CICILS celebrations of the International Year of Pulses. Here are a few of the highlights: –      600 registrants talked about the upcoming year –      Over 60 great […]

Every 6 years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change releases a three part assessment report on climate change.  The second part of the fifth of these reports was released on March 31st, and its focus is on the effect of climate change on ecosystems, economy and human society in general. Chapter 7, which the CGIAR Research Program […]

A week ago, the Canadian government introduced legislation to put into law the Order in Council measures taken earlier in March. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture asked the President of the Prairie Oat Growers Association(POGA), Art Enns, to testify about the legislation (Bill C-30, or Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act). He was also representing the Grain […]