Senior-level government officials emphasized the need to reduce postharvest loss to achieve global food security, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality. The Department of State hosted a forum dedicated to finding cross-sector solutions to postharvest loss. Assistant Secretary of the Economics and Business Affairs Bureau said in his opening remarks that there is “no silver bullet […]
Waste Less to Feed More
Senior-level government officials emphasized the need to reduce postharvest loss to achieve global food security, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality. The Department of State hosted a forum dedicated to finding cross-sector solutions to postharvest loss. Assistant Secretary of the Economics and Business Affairs Bureau said in his opening remarks that there is “no silver bullet […]
USDA Declares Drought Disaster in Much of Wheat Belt
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
Food in 2013: Pay more, Waste Less
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 […]
2013 Food Trends Get Technical, Sustainable & Healthy
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 […]
Hungering for a Solution to Food Losses
The Wall Street Journal featured an article discussing the need to reduce food loss worldwide. The article highlights the distinction between developed and developing nations’ problems of loss, and describes key interventions such as hermetically sealed bags, metal silos, solar-powered dehydrators, and food recovery programs. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324461604578191860349076882.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
U.S Contributes $7.9 mn to UN’s Food Program
USAID contributed US$7.9 million to the UN World Food Program towards projects that are working to improve agriculture and market access for smallholder farmers in Uganda. Activities include building and upgrading warehouses, repairing feeder roads, and providing market information. http://www.independent.co.ug/news/news/7068-us-contributes-79mn-to-uns-food-program?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRouu6%2FMZKXonjHpfsX86%2BwrXqO1lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSspmI%2FqLAzICFpZo2FFcH%2FaQZA%3D%3D
USAID Mobilizes Record Amount of Private Capital to Support Small Businesses in Developing Countries
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) worked with 23 countries in 2012 to unlock up to US$525 million in private capital to go to “underserved entrepeneurs”. US$219 million will go towards agriculture and food security initiatives, and US$215 million for small enterprises. http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/usaid-mobilizes-record-amount-private-capital-support-small?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRouu6%2FMZKXonjHpfsX86%2BwrXqO1lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSspmI%2FqLAzICFpZo2FFcH%2FaQZA%3D%3D
A $100 Billion Opportunity: Investing in Climate Adaptation
The Global Adaptation Institute (GAIN) recently developed an index that assesses country readiness for various types of investments from public and private sectors. CEO Jose Daboub expects the index to help investors make decisions towards both business and social responsbility goals. Read more about why the index will be useful and to whom in a […]
Wheat Gains for Second Day as Drought May Erode U.S. Supplies
The drought in the United States continues on and now threatens the hard, red winter wheat crop. Warmer temperatures may cause faster maturation, putting the crops at risk if temperatures do eventually drop to colder levels typical of winter months. Scientists from Iowa, a top grain growing state, said the drought demonstrates the strong need […]