Archive

Tensions Rising?

Hakan Bahceci, Chairman of CICILS, the international pulse sector organisation recently gave a speech in Istanbul on a panel discussing: The Increasing Importance of Water, Food and Agriculture Within Next Ten Years: Would the tension rise with the tides? Here are some of his opening remarks: “We are on this panel today because agriculture has […]

Climate Change and Agriculture

Experts, practitioners, civil society, researchers and others gathered to discuss issues related to food security, climate change and rural development on 3 December at Agriculture Landscapes and Livelihoods Day during the climate change negotiations in Doha. The fifth edition of the event offered a mix of policy discussions, ‘Big Ideas’, and networking opportunities. Discussions early […]

Agriculture, Landscapes and Livelihoods Day – Ideas Marketplace

One of the changes to Agriculture, Landscapes, and Livelihoods day was to hold an ideas marketplace. Nine different organisations brought great ideas on how to tackle the challenges of climate change in agriculture. Numerous methods exist to address the dual goals of adaptation and mitigation. For example, the winning idea was presented by the International […]

Farming First Named “Best Association”

Farming First won “Best Association” at the 2012 European Excellence Awards on December 6 for its “Female Face of Farming” campaign. It is further recognition for the compelling importance of the topic of women in farming as well as a recognition of the quality of the work. Please visit http://www.farmingfirst.org/women/.

Agriculture, Landscapes, and Livelihoods Day

It has been a pleasure, in conjunction with Kibo Consulting, to assist the organizing committee for Agriculture, Landscapes, and Livelihoods Day in Doha during the UN climate change negotiations. The event drew hundreds of experts from around the world and was followed by an active on-line community discussing food security and natural resources management. Please […]

Rio +20

From an article written by Robynne Anderson for Gaftaworld, Issue 197, August 2012 You may have seen the media coverage suggesting Rio+20 “just settled” and “showed no ambition”. However, the needs of farmers and the importance of agriculture are well reflected in the final outcomes. A two year process agreed UN text on trade and […]

Development after 2015

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, has appointed his advisory panel for the Post 2015 Development Agenda. 2015 is a looming deadline for the UN because that is when the current Millennium Development Goals expire. Unfortunately many of them will go unmet, and the UN wants to regalvanize attention on key means to achieve […]

Mobilizing Knowledge for Agriculture

I was honoured to moderate an extraordinary panel of leaders from around the world who are delivering key projects to benefit farmer knowledge systems, when USDA hosted a session on “Mobilising knowledge for agriculture” at Rio+20. Extension and rural advisory services (RAS) are key to putting farmers’ needs at the centre of rural development, ensuring […]

Canada Funds Key Ag Issues

The Canadian government has announced a program to direct $40 million of its programming budget for foreign assistance to key agricultural issues like grain storage, livestock vaccines, and fertilizer innovation. Interestingly the plan is to work with the private sector to leverage the relatively modest sum into greater funding. Canadian support in the amount of […]

Get Excited

Farm Credit Canada is championing a new initiative called “Agriculture. More Than Ever.” This program includes a number of activities aimed at improving the awareness and perception of agriculture. Phase 1 of the initiative is targeted at the agricultural industry – as stakeholders in our own large and growing industry, we have an opportunity do […]