Archive

“Let Us Choose What Works For Our Farms” say farmers about the tools and technologies needed to tackle climate change

During the World Food Prize a panel of five farmers, several of whom I know well and admire greatly, discussed how they are responding to the challenges which global climate change will pose to their farms. The Farming First (www.farmingfirst.org) synopsis is below: The panel was chaired by Julie Borlaug, granddaughter of the late Dr. […]

Canadian Oats to Mexico

The Prairie Oat Growers Association and I were honoured to visit Grupo Vida headquarters in Guadalajara. Grupo Vida is the second largest oat company in the world and have bought important milling assets in Canada. The oat growers had over 15 meetings with Mexican companies and invaluable visits with the AAFC team in the Embassy […]

American Pulse Association

Collaboration efforts in agriculture continue to accelerate as the US Dry Pea and Lentil Council is working together with the Bean Council on an American Pulse Association. It is great news particularly in light of the Pulse Health Initiative. Tim McGreevy, CEO of the US Dry Pea and Lentil Council explained some of the key […]

Fortifying Fertilizers can Fortify Food

Esin Mete, President of the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), makes a case for fortifying the land to fortify the food that grows on it: As global leaders come together to discuss a new set of development goals to replace the Millennium Development Goals, that expire in 2015, the role of food security and nutrition […]

Hakan Bahceci Elected Chairperson of the Private Sector Mechanism

Hakan Bahceci, CEO of Dubai-headquartered Hakan Agro Group, has been elected the Chairperson of the Private Sector Mechanism (PSM) at the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in Rome. Bahceci recently took on additional responsibility as Chairman, International Agri-Food Network (IAFN), at the same time and will lead the network to bring together international […]

Agricultural Extension – Plenty of Work to Go Around

Speaking at the International Food Policy Research Institute, I had the opportunity to stress the importance of having multiple actors engaged in agricultural extension. Too long underfunded and unimaginative, agricultural extension is experiencing a new renaissance. An excerpt of my remarks: Agricultural extension is an essential element in the elaboration of local action to improve […]

FAO Director-General Asks Private Sector to Support Anti-hunger Trust Fund

The FAO Director-General met with Private Sector Mechanism representatives at a meeting in Rome on October 10 and posted the following release to the FAO website: “What the private sector does locally to combat hunger can quickly become global” – Graziano da Silva “Many of the companies that are here today are present in many […]

Call for Comments

Sustainable Agriculture Business Principles (SABPs) Consultation The United Nations Global Compact invites stakeholders to inform a new plan for business to deliver voluntary global sustainable agriculture principles. Join a broad network of global leaders across industry, the United Nations and civil society who have committed to leverage their collective expertise and engage others in the […]

CFS Side Events

CFS Side Event – Fertilising Crops to Improve Human Health October 8, 2013 | Rome, Italy | 12:30 – 2 pm | Austria Room The speakers will present important case-studies of micronutrient fertilization in various parts of the world, emphasizing the impact on the health of the local populations, in particular reducing stunting among children, […]

Number of Hungry Down

FAO’s new State of Food Insecurity in the World report indicates that the number of hungry in the world has dropped, in part thanks to an increase in agricultural productivity growth, proving that the recent investment in agriculture is making a difference. Some 842 million people, or roughly one in eight, suffered from chronic hunger […]