Future of food ‘under severe threat’ from biodiversity loss

 Future of food ‘under severe threat’ from biodiversity loss

The plants, animals, and micro-organisms that are the foundation of food production are in decline, putting the future of our food, livelihoods, health and environment under severe threat. This dire warning has been issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in a report released on February 22.

Global crop diversity in decline as just four crops dominate, study

Global crop diversity in decline as just four crops dominate

Crop diversity around the world is declining, presenting a challenge for both the environment and food security. This is the result of new study from the University of Toronto Scarborough, published in the journal PLOS ONE on February 6.

Photos speak at the advocacy group meeting on access to quality seeds by stakeholders from Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and F.c.t holding at Kaduna State.

Photos speak at the advocacy group meeting on access to quality seeds by stakeholders from Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and F.c.t  holding at Kaduna state

The advocacy group meeting is on the validation of Access to Quality seeds by small scale farmers from Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and FCT. This advocacy group is being supported by Partnerships to Engage Reform and Learning (PERL)-Engaged Citizen Pillar (EPI) of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). See more images below.

Experts present new vision for sustainable food systems in Europe

Experts present new vision for sustainable food systems in Europe

A group of leading food experts have mapped out a new vision for reforming European food systems in a report launched on February 7th. EU food and farming systems require a fundamental change of direction in order to address climate change, halt biodiversity loss, curb obesity, and make farming viable for the next generation, says the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food).

Stakeholders say NAADI pro-activeness will checkmate food imports

·       Akure, Bauchi centres soon

Stakeholders have suggested that active utilization of agro processing centres across the country would be effective to reduce high import bills that are being expended on foods annually in the country, just as centres for Ondo and Bauchi states will soon be opened for operations towards market competitiveness through value addition.

Guinness initiative benefits 6,000 farmers, others, says company boss

Group Picture

With investments in Agriculture, local manufacturing and backward integration, the Guinness Nigeria Local Raw Materials (LRM) initiative has benefited over 6,000 subsistence farmers, rural traders and various stakeholders in the production value chains. This was disclosed by Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Baker Magunda, at the launch of a programme tagged “Grow with Nigeria” in Abuja.

Agric research institutes warn farmers against early planting

 

Prof. Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar & Prof James Adediran

With the recent rainfall in some parts of the country, the two major Agricultural Research Institutes in Nigeria, covering the North and South ecologies overall bosses have warned farmers against using the early down pours in February and March as yard stick to embark on planting, saying they should be patient till end of March when steady rainfall would have been available to sustain the survival of any crop from subsequent heat that may follow the early rainfalls.

Joint News Release- FOURTH AFRICA DAY OF SCHOOL FEEDING CELEBRATED IN ABIDJAN, COTE D’IVOIRE

School Feeding

ABIDJAN – The fourth edition of the African Day of School Feeding, celebrated under the theme “Investing in home-grown school feeding for achieving Zero Hunger and sustaining inclusive education for all, including refugees, returnees and internally-displaced persons in Africa” was officially opened today by His Excellency Daniel Kablan DUNCAN, Vice President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, and celebrated under his distinguished patronage.

Global center seeks to promote wheat farming in Kenya to cut food imports

Global center seeks to promote wheat farming in Kenya to cut food imports

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) said on Wednesday it will promote wheat farming in Kenya in order to help the east African nation reduce its food imports, officials said.

U.S. shutdown sends grain traders, farmers hunting for data

U.S. shutdown sends grain traders, farmers hunting for data

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last week that a slew of key farm reports would not be released on Friday due to the partial government shutdown, the phones at crop forecaster Gro Intelligence blew up.