Ugandans urge their government to allow for GMO-friendly policies and also for the need of new technologies and practices to be exhibited to the public at the annual agricultural show. http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/-/689364/1207096/-/12t94pxz/-/
Packaging: Key to More Food and Economic Development
This magazine article illustrates the need to focus on packaging and postharvest technologies as joint efforts in the fight against food losses. http://www.makingitmagazine.net/?p=3685
4m Bags Needed as Maize Stocks Dry Up
Kenya faces serious smuggling problems, all while reserves have dropped to levels sufficient enough for only two months. 4.5 million bags need to be imported to Kenya due to the shortage and the government is counting on an early harvest to abate the problem. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/4m+bags+needed+as+maize+stocks+dry+up+/-/1056/1195992/-/8fodmt/-/
Rising Global Temperatures Melting Away Global Food Security
Lester Brown, President of Earth Policy Institute, says climate change will have devastating effect on Asian crops, especially rice, and would destroy the food security of many countries relying on major rice-exporting countries, like Vietnam. Increased climate change impact on temperature and water in India will lead to even tighter food supply issues. http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/rising-temperatures-melting-away-global-food-security.html
African Union Signs MOU with UN FAO
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the African Union Commission (AUC) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was signed on July 5 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa. The MoU defines the areas of cooperation between the two bodies in support of regional capacity building to reduce post harvest losses. […]
Unified Effort to Tackle Rising Food Prices
Postharvest losses seen as factor in increase in food prices. Recommendation coming out of FAO Regional Consultation on Policy and Programmatic Actions to Address High Food Prices in the Caribbean has called for a Regional Technical Working Group on Monitoring and Managing Food Prices, with responsibilities for monitoring global and domestic prices and policies, recommending policy […]
Conference Covers Past, Present, and Future of International Food Aid and Development Assistance
USDA and USAID collaborated with others at International Food Aid and Development Conference. 600 people from over 25 countries. Had sessions and discussions about reducing postharvest loss. http://blogs.usda.gov/2011/06/30/conference-covers-past-present-and-future-of-international-food-aid-and-development-assistance/
Gates Foundation Grants $11.8 Million for Agricultural Development in Ethiopia
Following its receipt of a $11.8 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme announced today it will partner with the Ministry of Agriculture to support the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA). http://www.ezega.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?Page=heads&NewsID=2961
Malo Traders Win 2nd Place in Dell Social Innovation Competition
2011 Dell Social Innovation Competition – Second place winner was MaloTraders, a group dealing with using cutting-edge technology to help with postharvest loss in Mali. http://studentcompetitions.com/posts/winners-of-dell-social-innovation-competition-2011
Sub-Saharan Africa Loses US$4bn to Postharvest Losses
Postharvest grain losses in sub-Saharan Africa are estimated at around US$4 billion a year, according to a World Bank and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report. The lost food, according to the report, titled: ‘Missing Food: The Case of Post-Harvest Grain Losses in sub-Saharan Africa’, could meet the minimum annual food requirements of at least 48 […]