By: Kari Wozniak & Elizabeth Engele, ADM Institute True to its mission as a land-grant university, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a renowned leader in research, extension, and public engagement. Its long-standing tradition of making high-quality knowledge available to the public is enhanced by news ways of communicating and innovative technologies in today’s […]
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Animating extension: How Illinois researchers are using modern ICTs to impact society
Firm Launches Sh8.7bn Fund to Stem Postharvest Losses
A $100 million initiative called AgResults has been rolled out in Kenya to stem postharvest losses. The project will work with entrepreneurs with the financial capability to develop cost-effective storage facilities and distribute them to the farmers. The project is funded by the UK, US, Australia, Canada, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. http://mobile.nation.co.ke/business/Firm-launches-Sh8-7bn-fund-to-stem-post-harvest-losses/-/1950106/1998356/-/format/xhtml/-/10361nuz/-/index.html
Minnesota Workers Share Expertise Across the Globe
A Minnesota-based non-profit, Partners in Food Solutions, provides business and technical training to farmers abroad by matching food processing industry volunteers with businesses in developing nations. http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/224647761.html
Company License Storage System That Deters Insects
Farmers in West and Central African nations could benefit economically, socially and nutritionally using a crop storage system developed by researchers at Purdue University and licensed to Kano-based Lela Agro Industries Nigeria Ltd. The PICS system uses special triple-bagging technology to protect cowpeas in storage against weevils, an invasive insect. http://agrinews-pubs.com/Content/News/Markets/Article/Nigerian-company-licenses-Purdue-crop-storage-system-that-deters-insects/8/26/8295
Using Technology for India’s Food Program
States of India Chhattisgarh and Orissa are using technology to increase the efficiency of their food delivery systems in light of the food security law, standing out as models for other states on reducing supply chain losses. Innovative methods are being used including switching to an electronic database of beneficiaries, using SMS alerts to track […]
Industry, Government Must Collaborate to Boost Food Security: Tariq Anwar
While speaking at a day-long summit on food safety, Indian Minister of State for Food Processing Industries urged industry and government to collaborate to achieve food security and safety. Anwar stressed the importance of efficient postharvest management and quality control to reduce waste and contamination in food along the supply chain. http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=34296§ionid=1
‘Big Data’ Will Change the Way You Farm
Big data, or the large amounts of information being generated around the world at faster-than-ever rates, is said to already have significant impacts on the farming industry in ways that will only increase. The high levels of farm efficiency needed to feed 9 billion people by midcentury will require data-driven mechanization and technological adaptations. http://southeastfarmpress.com/management/big-data-will-change-way-you-farm?page=1
CSIR, MoFA Initiate New Technology to Produce Bakery Products
The Ministry of Agriculture of Ghana has initiated a project meant to develop technology to make composite flour out of various crops including cassava, sweet potato, maize, sorghum, millet, and others. The project aims to reduce dependence on imports of wheat flour, improve food security, and cut postharvest losses. http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2013/09/04/csir-mofa-initiate-new-technology-to-produce-bakery-products/
Are Mobile Phones Helping Farmers?
Mobile phones are increasingly cited as a game changing tool in rural development and agricultural extension. A survey by CIMMYT, however, finds that information provided via mobile is often generic and limited. Experts say dynamic databases of individualized data are needed to make the information useful and effective. http://blog.cimmyt.org/?p=11074
Running a Farm Business From Your Phone?
A Kenyan company has created an app that tracks deliveries from farm to market. The app, Agrimanagr, monitors inventory, supports mobile payments, and weighs out products with information on the cloud. http://www.bloomberg.com/video/running-a-farm-business-from-your-phone-6gEsyI5YS6u8rYZeomaPtQ.html