A recent article discusses the power of innovation for agricultural development in Africa. Mobile technology is specifically highlighted as an important tool for communicating information about markets, harvests, pests and diseases, etc. Several individual success stories are described as reasons to increase funding for R&D in agricultural innovation. http://allafrica.com/stories/201301090731.html
Archive | January, 2013
How Much Water is Needed to Produce Food and How Much Do We Waste?
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The International Mechanical Engineers Association released a report titled “Global Food: Waste Not Want Not” stating that 30-50% of all food globally is wasted or lost. The report describes various instances where loss occurs, ranging from storage issues in India to supermarket waste in the UK. The report received substantial media coverage, demonstrating rising public […]
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USDA Declares Drought Disaster in Much of Wheat Belt
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Wheat-growers in the Great Plains of the United States are set to collect record insurance payments for crops lost during the 2012 drought. The Department of Agriculture declared several counties natural disaster zones and has paid nearly $11 billion in indemnities to farmers whose wheat crops suffered last year. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/09/us-usda-drought-idUSBRE90812X20130109
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Global Food Security: the Role of Science and Technology
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Wilton Park published a report from the October 2012 conference, Global food security: the role of science and technology. The report highlights key takeaways on postharvest loss-related topics such as farmer-scientist communication, extension, funding, knowledge gaps, public-private partnerships, and the role of government and regulation. (summary; full report) http://reliefweb.int/report/world/global-food-security-role-science-and-technology
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Food in 2013: Pay more, Waste Less
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The Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, wrote that Canadians are likely to see a 1.5%-3.5% increase in food prices in 2013 due to various factors like the 2012 drought, changes in market supply, and overall climate change. The article promotes cutting food waste, as high as 38% in Canadian households, as a top strategy […]
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USAID, DuPont Work with Government of Ethiopia to Improve Food Security
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Multinational seed company Dupont officially partnered with the United State’s Feed the Future program in Ethiopia. The project aims to increase productivity of smallholder maize farmers by helping reduce postharvest losses by up to 20%, as well as increasing the use of hybrid seeds and improving seed distribution. http://feedthefuture.gov/article/usaid-dupont-work-government-ethiopia-improve-food-security
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2013 Food Trends Get Technical, Sustainable & Healthy
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Forbes posted an article listing 10 “trends that are transforming the future of how food is produced, sold, and consumed”. Reducing food waste was listed as Trend #1 with predictions for an increase of waste reduction technologies in 2013. Forbes also reflected on important mainstream food technologies in 2012, and food waste also held the #1 […]
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Govt Gets Involved to Cut Food Waste
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Hong Kong seeks to reduce its 40% food waste by setting up the Food Wise Hong Kong Steering Committee. The committee is a combination of private, public, and civil sector representatives that will work to promote public awareness and best practices in public and private institutions over the course of at least the next three […]
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Increasing Food Production to Feed Nine Billion People in 2050
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At a conference hosted by the Israel Vulkani Agricultural Research Center, discussions on the challenge of sustainably feeding 9 billion people included postharvest crop management. Postharvest disesases and consumer waste were cited as two main factors of loss, and one expert argued for more attention on social, political, and economic barriers to loss reduction over […]
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3 Food + Technology Trends Go Mainstream in 2012
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Forbes posted an article listing 10 “trends that are transforming the future of how food is produced, sold, and consumed”. Reducing food waste was listed as Trend #1 with predictions for an increase of waste reduction technologies in 2013. Forbes also reflected on important mainstream food technologies in 2012, and food waste also held the #1 […]
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