Environmental Working Group Highlights Agroecology as Solution to World Hunger

A new report from the Environmental Working Group suggests that supporting smallholder farmers demonstrates promising potential in the fight to end world hunger.

Feeding the World: Think U.S. Agriculture Will End World Hunger? Think Again is a new report from Craig Cox and Anne Weir at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) that takes a close look at the United States’ agricultural export economy and its relationship to hunger and undernourishment across the globe. Its findings suggest that the root cause of hunger in the most undernourished countries is not a lack of imports from American farmers, but widespread poverty.

New methods for detecting crop disease

Professor Linton Winder

 
*Protecting our crops

Here’s a scary thought: Each year around 30% of the world’s crops are lost to pests and diseases. But scientists from Unitec, Massey and Lincoln are investigating ways of detecting the presence of destructive fungal diseases in crops much earlier than ever before, giving farmers a powerful new tool in the fight against a pervasive enemy.

Researchers flag threats to Nigeria’s cassava industry

L-R: Jacob Mignouna, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; EnockChikava, Deputy Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Denis Kyetere, Executive Director, African Agricultural Technology Foundation; Dr Claude Fauquet, Director, Global Cassava Partnership for the 21^st Century; and Dr Kenton Dashiell, Deputy Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, during the workshop on “Integrated System for an Effective Cassava Production in Africa,” in IITA- Ibadan, 27-28 October 2016.

*canvass integrated approach to cassava production

Nigeria’s rising population, particularly in the cities, coupled with low productivity (yield per hectare) of cassava roots is threatening the country’s cassava industry andcould impede the gains made in the sector, putting the country at risk of becoming a net importer of staple crops.

1500 workers to lose jobs as Erisco foods relocate to China

Chief Eric Umeofia 

Over 1500 employees of Erisco Foods limited are about losing their jobs as the company has begun the process of winding up its tomatoes paste factory in the country sequel to relocating to China.

Toxic Algae Blooms Linked to Over-Fertilization and Climate Change

Recent toxic algae blooms in Florida have covered over one third of the surface area of Lake Okeechobee.

 

Recent blooms of toxic algae in southern Florida, which have provoked Governor Rick Scott to announce a state of emergency, may be tied to fertilizer chemicals from agricultural and residential origins.

Celebrating International Day of Rural Women 2016

farmer

October 15 is recognized by the United Nations as the International Day of Rural Women.
“Rural women are the backbone of sustainable livelihoods and provide food security for their families and communities,” according to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

At Project Green Challenge 2016 Sparks Change

Project Green Challenge consists of 30 days of environmentally-themed challenges to encourage environmental stewardship amongst students and future generations.

Project Green Challenge (PGC) is calling on high school and college students, globally, to action. PGC consists of 30 days of environmentally themed challenges, enabling students to learn about environmental advocacy and to hone their mentorship and leadership skills.

Towards a Greener Diet on Food Day

Towards a Greener Diet on Food Day

Today, individuals and organizations nationwide are celebrating Food Day 2016. With the theme this year, Towards a Greener Diet, Food Day organizers suggest that improving meals is the first step towards a healthier and more just food system a greener diet could mean healthier food and a healthier planet for all.

How Does It Grow? Tells The Truth About Pumpkins

‘How Does it Grow? Pumpkins’ tells the story of the common seasonal fruit—and its cousins.

The online educational organization How Does it Grow? just released a new video for the fall season about the common seasonal crop: pumpkins.

Castor production: Nigeria partners Ghana, China for global market

Castor Seed

In a bit to reduce import bills of over 40billion naira annually expended on castor oil, the Federal Government (FG) has embarked on joining forces with China and Ghana towards best agronomics cultivation and harvest in this crop that will attract international market.