Archive

International Spice Conference

Spices have driven exploration, trade, and globalism for millennia.  So it is a great honour to go Kerala India to speak at the International Spice Conference. I’ll be addressing a pressing issue for global movement of food:  the need for Codex reform. Facilitated by Geemon Korah, my fellow panelists are Ramesh Bhat, a food safety […]

Feast on Pulses January 18

The upcoming holidays may make you think about New Year’s indulgences and so what a great way to start the New Year off right to feast on Pulses too in 2017. Chickpeas, beans, lentils, and peas are great food. My favorite recipe is the Punjabi Dal Makhani. They are so good for people and for […]

WHO Election

The race for the Secretary General of the UN is still looking complex, and now the new race to be head of the World Health Organisation has opened up. Please see a blog on the candidates by my friend Felix Dodds, a keen commentator on the UN: http://blog.felixdodds.net/2016/09/its-been-busy-week-in-new-york-with.html 

#IamAg

What could be more exciting than recruiting young people to agriculture?  Farming First is launching a great campaign called #IamAg campaign, to encourage more young people to take up agricultural careers.  Between now and 21st October, farmingfirst.org will be sharing the stories of ag professionals from across the globe, across the whole value chain. Our first […]

Oat Grower Overcomes Harvest Challenges to Support African Schools

Prairie Oat Growers Association President, and a good friend, Art Enns, sowed a 35-acre crop this spring with the generous intention of donating the revenues of the harvest to the Manyinga Project. With a wet and rainy start to the harvest season, Art was in store for an adventurous day in the field. 

Tackling Malaria Through Innovation

The ability to create innovative products is essential for improved living. One of the most compelling challenges we face is malaria. About 3.4 billion people – half the world’s population – are at risk of malaria. In Africa, a child dies every 2 MINUTES from malaria. In addition to deaths, the social and economic costs […]

Outcomes of the Pan-African Conference in Zambia

The pulse of development is often a bean. The Pan-African Legumes conference is highlighting some of the outcomes of their meeting in Zambia. It was a pleasure to be a speaker regarding the International Year of Pulses. I’ve never seen such an enthused and dedicated audience at any meeting. Every workshop was packed, people were […]

International Edition of Seed World: Calls for more Research

The International Edition of Seed World touched on global issues in the seed sector in time for the International Seed Federation meeting in Uruguay.  An article on the need for more research is on page 42 based on an excellent report by Dorothy Murrell – also a seed sector veteran.  It was a privilege to […]

EnRoute Magazine: The Frequent Flyer

I was featured in this month’s enRoute magazine. Read about my work and travel experiences:

Tech, Data and Ag

Many have the impression that technology is for “new” sectors; that farming – which represents a third of the world’s population, half its poor, and is the primary driver of rural development – needs no more than a plow. The sleepy vision of agriculture belies the reality that the most empowered farmers deploy technology regularly […]