An opinion editorial in The Nation comments on the negative impacts of global food loss and food waste. MS Swaminathan, famous for his work in spurring the Indian ‘green revolution’, remarks that issues of loss and waste are becoming central to discussions on food security and sustainable development. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Food-waste-statistics-leave-a-bad-taste-30213623.html
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RSS feed for this sectionUS Expertise Can Resolve Food Wastage Issues
US Congressman Ami Bera advocates for collaboration between the US and India on postharvest loss issues. Bera worked towards a MOU when recently in Delhi, focused on bringing US expertise to India on how to better manage, store, and move food to market. http://ht.ly/oqaQN
Authorities Target Rice Millers Over Paddy Grading, Prices
Farmers in Venezuela dispute with a milling company over pricing, saying millers paid farmers well under and below market prices. Venezuelan rice market regulations require millers to pay farmers in appropriate time frames, but now face the challenge of curbing unfair grading and pricing practices. http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2013/08/23/authorities-target-rice-millers-over-paddy-grading-prices/
Guiding Value Chain Development: Comparing Approaches
The World AgroForestry Centre and The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation released a report that reviews 11 guides for value chain development (VCD). The tool is meant for practitioners and field workers implementing VCD programs and activities. http://clippings.ilri.org/2013/09/02/vcd-reviews/
Smallholder Farmers’ Highway to Food Markets
A July 2013 FAO report, “Smallholder Integration in Changing Markets”, emphasizes the heterogeneity of subsistence farmers, concluding there is no one-size-fits-all approach. It also emphasizes the reluctance of farmers to increase production when proper postharvest facilities and infrastructure are non-existent. http://www.rural21.com//nc/english/news/detail/article/smallholder-farmers-highway-to-food-markets-0000806/
‘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/
Nearly 20 Percent of Chinese Grain Wasted From Farm to Fork
A report by the American Chemical Society says that 19 of every 100 pounds of grain produced in China is wasted before reaching its intended end. Consumer waste accounts for the highest portion, says the report, at 7%. http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/91152-nearly-20-percent-of-chinese-grain-wasted-from-farm-to-fork
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