Archive

Post 2015 vs SDGs

I was asked recently what the relationship is between the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is a complicated question, particularly because the negotiation processes for the two are complex and not well aligned. In my view, the SDGs should not replace the MDGs. The MDGS are yet to be […]

AWARD seeks Science Coordinator

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) is a career-development program that equips top women agricultural scientists across sub-Saharan Africa to accelerate agricultural gains by strengthening their research and leadership skills through tailored fellowships. AWARD is a catalyst for innovations with high potential to contribute to the prosperity and well-being of African smallholder farmers, […]

Planting Intentions Drive Down Prices

A dip in commodity prices due to better harvests than was been expected in light of the drought in 2012 can be partly attributed to the miracle of modern crop varieties. This stock carryover, and aggressive planting intentions for corn in the US this season, are putting downward pressure on prices. USDA reports: Corn Planted […]

International Year of Pulses One Step Closer

With grateful thanks to the Turkish and Pakistan Governments who proposed the resolution and the representatives of 47 other country governments who form FAO Council, we are very pleased to announce that Council approved unanimously the first of 3 steps towards the declaration of 2016 as UN International Year of Pulses, to follow the Year […]

Insight deficits

In a world where Google and Wikipedia have put a global library at everyone’s finger tips, we live in a knowledge rich world. Still for all the ability to look up facts and access information, there is still an inability to cut through the clutter and pick a way forward. Sunny Verghese, the Managing Director […]

Need for Balanced UN Text on Biofuels

From an article written by Robynne Anderson for Gaftaworld, Issue 201, April 2013 Biofuels policy is currently under examination by the UN’s High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on food security. Set in the context of the FAO’s 2012 call for the suspension of biofuels targets, the primary aim of the 85-page draft text (PDF, […]

Think. Eat. Save.

A global campaign has been launched to reduce food waste. Think. Eat. Save. is designed to encourage people to reduce food waste. 900 million people could be fed with the food that is wasted – equivalent to the number of hungry globally. A recent study has revealed that about one third of all food production […]

Women’s Work is Never Done

The saying that women’s work is never done has never been shown to be as true as in the case of women farmers. African women do 80% of the farm work – including collecting water and firewood, preparing and cooking meals, processing and storing food and making household purchases. A study in Africa found that […]

Protein SuperPower

Using an analogy to Saudi Arabia’s commanding role in the oil sector, Charles Elworthy of Craigmore Research calls New Zealand a “protein superpower”. With a population of 4 million people, New Zealand produces enough food to feed 100 million people. Specifically, New Zealand produces 35% of international wholesale trade in milk and 65% in sheep […]

Improving Ag Education in India

Agriculture is a knowledge based endeavour and nowhere has benefitted more greatly from new agricultural practices than India. Through use of techniques embodied in the Green Revolution, the country has gone from a food deficit to a net exporter of some grains. At the same time, India stands to benefit from a new generation of […]