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Agriculture and Food Security

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Fri, 2009-05-08 10:00 — mdmcdonald

The mission of this Working Group is explore new directions in Agriculture and Food Security.

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This Working Group is focused on Agriculture and Food Security.
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admin Albert Gomez Anthony Carrielaj ChrisAllen Corey Watts
efrost Elhadj Drame gsharma Hank Rappaport John.R.Falco.VMD jranck
Kathy Gilbeaux Maeryn Obley mdmcdonald MDMcDonald_me_com philippe.neeser samanthadas
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UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - Launches Flagship Publication on State of the World's Refugees

Mon, 2012-06-04 20:48 — Kathy Gilbeaux

unhcr.org - May 31, 2012

NEW YORK, United States, May 31 (UNHCR) – UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres warned on Thursday that factors causing mass population flight are growing and over the coming decade more people on the move will become refugees or displaced within their own country.

In comments marking the launch in New York of "The State of the World's Refugees: In Search of Solidarity," Guterres said displacement from conflict was becoming compounded by a combination of causes, including climate change, population growth, urbanization, food insecurity, water scarcity and resource competition.

All these factors are interacting with each other, increasing instability and conflict and forcing people to move. In a world that is becoming smaller and smaller, finding solutions, he said, would need determined international political will.

Country / Region Tags: 
Global
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Capacity
Demographics
Limits
Population
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Situation Report

Food Security Slipping Ever Further Away - Global Monitoring Report 2012: Food Prices, Nutrition, and the Millennium Development Goals

Sun, 2012-05-20 23:33 — Kathy Gilbeaux

 

CLICK HERE - Global Monitoring Report 2012: Food Prices, Nutrition, and the Millennium Development Goals

ipsnews.net

WASHINGTON, Apr 20, 2012 (IPS) - Continuing near-record high food prices around the world are highlighting international inattention to a looming threat, observers here warned on Friday.

According to speakers at the launch of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund (IMF) Global Monitoring Report 2012, on the sidelines of the Bank-IMF spring meetings, a lack of focus on agriculture and nutrition in development priorities could prove disastrous in the event of another spike in food prices.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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Global
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Agriculture
Economics
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Fish from the Sky with Vegetables. Globe / Hedron a Rooftop Farm.

Wed, 2012-05-16 20:42 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Albert Gomez

conceptualdevices.com

GLOBE / HEDRON is a bamboo greenhouse designed to organically grow fish and vegetables on top of generic flat roofs. The design is optimized for aquaponic farming techniques: the fish’s water nourishes the plants and plants clean the water for the fish. Using this farming technique, GLOBE / HEDRON is optimized to feed four families of four all year round.

GLOBE / HEDRON is designed to be manufactured and retailed at a low cost. Easy-to-set-up units can be combined to scale up food production capacity.

Using a geodesic dome, the load of the fish tank rests on the frame of the greenhouse and is redistributed to a larger surface. Because of this design, the aquaponic farm can be housed on more roofs without any structural building adaptation. The dome structure is designed to be built with bamboo, so that it is biodegradable and organically farmed.

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Global
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Agriculture
Food
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Tilapia Aquaculture Training for Healthier and More Sustainable Communities

Thu, 2012-05-10 23:31 — Kathy Gilbeaux

May 14 - 23, 2012

Aquaculture, the farming of aquatic species, is the world fastest growing food sector.  Aquaculture is also called the “blue revolution” because it has demonstrated its ability to decrease malnutrition, reduce poverty, generate wealth and contribute to economic growth in many countries.  Tilapia is the most farmed aquaculture product and its world production has gone from 830,000 tones in 1990 to 1.6 million tones in 1999 and 3.5 million tones in 2008. The overwhelming success of tilapia farming is because the fish is very hardy, prolific, fast growing, disease resistant and does not require extensive knowledge to breed and grow.

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What is a Food Forest?

Mon, 2012-04-30 23:08 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Albert Gomez

      

A Food Forest is a gardening technique or land management system that mimics a woodland ecosystem but substitutes in edible trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals.  Fruit and nut trees are the upper level, while below are berry shrubs, edible perennials and annuals.  Companions or beneficial plants are included to attract insects for natural pest management while some plants are soil amenders providing nitrogen and mulch.  Together they create relationships to form a forest garden ecosystem able to produce high yields of food with less maintenance.

Beacon Food Forest - http://beaconfoodforest.weebly.com/

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Ecosystems
Food
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Rapid Climate Change Threatens Asia’s Rice Bowl

Sun, 2012-04-22 23:51 — Kathy Gilbeaux

      

Rice production in Asia is threaten by rapid climate change. Photo: T. Sunderland (CIFOR)

Researchers Focus on Innovations to Adapt Agriculture to Wild Swings in Climate Extremes, as Vividly Manifested by Southeast Asia’s Catastrophic Flood-drought Cycles

Bangkok (12 April 2012)—As Asia’s monsoon season begins, leading climate specialists and agricultural scientists warned today that rapid climate change and its potential to intensify droughts and floods could threaten Asia’s rice production and pose a significant threat to millions of people across the region.

“Climate change endangers crop and livestock yields and the health of fisheries and forests at the very same time that surging populations worldwide are placing new demands on food production,” said Bruce Campbell of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). “These clashing trends challenge us to transform our agriculture systems so they can sustainably deliver the food required to meet our nutritional needs and support economic development, despite rapidly shifting growing conditions.”

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Global
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Agriculture
Climate
Food
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Problem

Pesticides to Blame for Bee-Colony Collapse

Sun, 2012-04-08 17:47 — Kathy Gilbeaux

A bee is seen sitting on a Marigold flower in a field of a private plantation near the village of Pishchalovo, about 220 km (138 miles) east of Minsk in this July 18, 2011 file photogaph.  Credit: Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko/Files

(LINKS TO THE 3 STUDIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST)

SEATTLE TIMES - A new study released yesterday, and two published last week, strengthen the case that neonicotinoid pesticides are key drivers behind declining bee populations — alone and especially in combination with other stressors. This class of pesticides covers 143 million acres of U.S. countryside, and more damning studies are awaiting publication. (Read this article in link below)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2017923620_beeslet.html

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Global
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Agriculture
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Video - Everything Old is New Again: Time to Get Growing with Biochar and Victory Gardens

Sat, 2012-04-07 21:27 — Kathy Gilbeaux

The TrackerNews Project / J.A. Ginsburg, editor - April 5, 2012

Straight biochar can be a little tricky for the novice to use, so Black Revolution is a blend of biochar, nutrients and sustainably harvested coconut husks. Compared to conventional growing media, which is made from composted factory farm manure, Bornean peat moss and Kenyan vermiculite, it has a better carbon footprint right out the bag (the recycled burlap coffee bean bag). According to Aramburu, each bag contains enough carbon negative goodness to offset emissions from 60+ miles of driving.

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Global
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Agriculture
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Solutions

French Village Pince to Hand Out Chickens to Cut Waste

Sat, 2012-03-31 22:35 — Kathy Gilbeaux

As well as reducing waste, officials hope the chickens will provide at least 200 eggs per year

BBC News - March 28, 2012

A French village has proposed giving two chickens to each household in order to cut down on organic waste.

Officials in the village of Pince in north-western France say the chickens should each consume 150kg (330lb) of rubbish per year.

It is hoped that as well as reducing waste, the chickens will help families save money by providing eggs.

Those who express an interest will receive their chickens in September, officials say.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Country / Region Tags: 
Global
General Topic Tags: 
Food
Waste
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Solutions

Firefly Technology Sheds New Light

Thu, 2012-03-22 13:34 — Kathy Gilbeaux

The light-producing enzyme in the firefly is the key to rapid pathogen detection // Source: cri.cn

submitted by Luis Kun

Homeland Security News Wire - March 22, 2012

A new device, employing the same chemical which lights up fireflies, can easily detect food contamination; the researchers who developed the system hope it will soon be used to test for other diseases, including HIV-AIDS.

Food contamination can now be detected easily by a new device based on the chemical which lights up fireflies.

The Bioluminescent Assay in Real-Time (BART), jointly invented by Professor Jim Murray of the Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences and Dr. Laurence Tisi of Lumora, allows users to test rapidly and simply for food poisoning bacteria. Professor Murray and his partners at technology company Lumora Ltd. hope to develop the system to test for other diseases, including HIV-AIDS.

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