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Waste Not Want Not: A Weapon for Food Security

Betty Bugusu, Ph.D., Managing Director of the International Food Technology Center at Purdue University, gave a TED talk focused around food security and reducing loss. The talk featured Purdue’s dissemination of ‘Incubation Centers’. http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2013/06/29/waste-not-want-not-a-weapon-for-food-security/  

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Tools Trialed to Curb Postharvest Millet Losses

Compatible Technology International, a non-profit engineering organization, will be testing new hand-held devices for sorghum and millet in Senegal with support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Farmers are reported to lose up to 1/5 after harvest, and the group hopes to reduce these losses, along with the drudgery of labor usually befallen upon […]

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The Potential of Mechanization in Agriculture

The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture continues to allocate funding for farm mechanization, as well as subsidize farm machinery for qualifiying farmer organizations. Experts say increased mechanization can increase production by 5% and reduce postharvest losses by 5% to 10%. The government hopes to attract more young people to farming for employment. http://www.manilatimes.net/the-potential-of-mechanization-in-agriculture/12160/

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USAID Assessment of Market Information Systems (MIS) in Africa

The results of an assessment carried out to determine the sustainability and scalability of MIS in Africa suggests it may be beneficial to combine market price services with other information services. The assessment focused on how MIS enhances trade and competitiveness of smallholder farmers. http://www.ictworks.org/2013/05/20/usaid-assessment-of-market-information-systems-in-africa/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=usaid-assessment-of-market-information-systems-in-africa

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Rwanda: MINAGRI Launches A New Grain Storage System

The Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) system is being piloted in 448 cooperatives across Rwanda in efforts to reduce losses and the use of chemicals in storage. http://allafrica.com/stories/201306170039.html  

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Mycotoxin Occurrence in Maize Milling Fractions

A study by South African researchers concludes that the occurrence of mycotoxin differs per milling fraction, and that dry milling is an effective way to reduce mycotoxins in maize. The article appears in the International Journal of Food Microbiology. http://www.allaboutfeed.net/Process-Management/Feed-Safety/2013/5/Mycotoxin-occurrence-in-maize-milling-fractions-1267126W/

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Giving Power to African Farmers: Learning from the Indian Experience

A group of agriculture professionals from Africa took part in a study in India to gain insights on the role of farm mechanization in sustainable intensification. Participants were exposed to various technologies, including gender-friendly equipment for postharvest operations. Four international research organizations coordinated the tour. http://blog.cimmyt.org/?p=10406

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Tk2.3bn Lost Annually in Traditional Harvesting

A government study in Bangladesh finds that farmers lose up to 7% of paddy each year, valued at $30 million, due to traditional harvesting techniques, which are often delayed. http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2013/jun/03/tk23bn-lost-annually-traditional-harvesting  

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375 Farmers Graduate from Radio University

The Department of Agriculture program to curb rice losses called, ‘University-on-the-Air on Rice Postharvest and Mechanization‘, recently graduated at least 375 farmers. The use of radio allows farmers to participate without spending money on transportation. The government expects the program to cut losses by a minimum of 5%. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/local-news/2013/06/01/375-farmers-graduate-radio-university-285334

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Kenyan Farmers Reap the Benefits of Technology

The Kenyan agricultural sector is a global leader in ICT services for farmers. Technologies growing in popularity offer information and realtime updates, as well as financial services. With gains in innovation, developers still see the massive gap in postharvest IT support as a constraint. http://mg.co.za/article/2013-05-22-kenyan-farms-reap-the-benefits-of-technology

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