Public spending on agricultural research must double in the next decade if the world is to successfully move to sustainable methods of food production, says a UN-backed report. http://www.scidev.net/global/funding/news/research-funding-and-skills-key-to-food-for-post-2015.html
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RSS feed for this sectionFood Losses and Waste in China and Their Implication for Water and Land
Researchers from Beijing Forest University performed a comprehensive review on available information on food loss and food waste in China. Results show 19% of grains are lost from field to fork. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es401426b
Strategies to Address Mycotoxin Problems
The United States National Institute of Food and Agriculture National Program Leader, Kitty Cardwell, speaks in a Virtual Briefing on options to reduce mycotoxin contamination at preharvest and postharvest levels. Cardwell overviews challenges for mycotoxin management from farmer, consumer, marketer, and government perspectives. http://www.donorplatform.org/postharvest-losses/virtual-briefings/1060-kitty-cardwell-strategies-to-address-mycotoxin-problems.html
Statement by IFAD President at the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week and FARA general assembly
President Kwanze of the International Fund for Agricultural Development listed reducing postharvest losses as a current challenge to achieving continent-wide food security in his remarks on Africa’s opportunities in agriculture. Kwanze cited the decline of research funding as a faltering moment in Africa’s history of agricultural prosperity, and called for altering the lens of research […]
World Bank Support for Boosting Food Production in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia
The World Bank approved $89.4 million in credit to assist governments of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia in establishing Regional Centers of Leadership for staple grains, and other projects to boost food and farm productivity. http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2013/03/14/world-bank-support-boosting-food-production-malawi-mozambique-zambia?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonu6rBce%2FhmjTEU5z17%2BwtX6CygYkz2EFye%2BLIHETpodcMScpnN6%2BNFAAgAZVnyRQFHuWDeZg%3D
World Bank Study: Pre-, Post-Harvest Projects Most Feasible for Farmers
A recent World Bank quality review study concluded that postharvest facilities are the most successful livelihood projects in the Philippines. As compared to livestock or fishery projects, postharvest facilities add more value and provide farmers with immediate income. http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/business/agri-commodities/9263-world-bank-study-pre-post-harvest-projects-most-feasible-for-farmers
Flood Destroys Over 460,000 Hectares of Cultivated Land
Current estimates for crop losses after the Nigerian flood are at 1.2 million metric tonnes. The government’s relief plan includes compensation to farmers and releasing 40,000 metric tonnes of food from its strategic reserve to affected families. http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/11/09/flood-destroys-over-460000-hectares-of-cultivated-land/
“Water and Food Security” the Theme of 2012 World Water Week
World Water Week focused on increasing global agricultural productivity and especially the relationship between saving water and reducing PHL. Read more in an article from the Global Harvest Initiative and slides from a presentation by Dr. Julian Parfitt. http://www.globalharvestinitiative.org/index.php/2012/08/water-and-food-security-the-theme-of-2012-world-water-week/ http://www.worldwaterweek.org/documents/WWW_PDF/2012/Wed/Addressing-post-harvest-losses/Julian-Parfitt.pdf
Powering Energy to Face the Challenges of World Hunger
USAID is partnered with the Swedish government, Duke Energy, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the African Development Bank, and the U.S. Department of Agriculuture in the creation of a program called Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development, which addresses the barriers in development, particularly at the intersection of agriculture and energy. The program will […]
Bangladesh Csisa Holds Postharvest Workshop and Planning Meeting
The Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia recently held a workshop and training session to teach postharvest business models in Khulna, Bangladesh. Other topics addressed were on “Assessing postharvest value chains and entry points” and “Integrating gender strategies for and needs of women in postharvest.” Partners present at the workshop were representatives from IRRI, CIMMYT, […]