Food and Agriculture

The U.S. Assault on Mexico’s Food Sovereignty

By Timothy A. Wise
On June 2, the U.S. government escalated its conflict with Mexico over that country’s restrictions on genetically modified corn, initiating the formal dispute-resolution process under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Climate Disasters Have Major Consequences for Informal Economies

By Catherine Wilson
In the Pacific Islands and many developing and emerging countries worldwide, the informal economy far outsizes the formal one, playing a vital role in the survival of urban and rural households and absorbing expanding working-age populations.

Rocky Point Fishers Await Sanctuary To Ease Environmental Issues, Low Fish Catch

By Zadie Neufville
Long before the COVID-19 Pandemic, fishers at the Rocky Point fishing beach in Clarendon were forced to venture farther out to sea to make a living or find alternatives to make ends meet.

Peru’s Agro-Export Boom Has not Boosted Human Development

By Mariela Jara
Peru’s agro-export industry is growing steadily and reached record levels in 2022. But this has not had a favorable impact on human development in this South American country, where high levels of inequality, poverty, childhood anemia and malnutrition persist, as well as complaints about the poor quality of employment in the sector.

Kenyan Scientist’s Trend-Setting Research into Health Benefits of Snails

By Wilson Odhiambo
Snails and slime are usually followed by the thought ‘EEW!’ from most people … some might even scream at seeing a snail near them. For Dr Paul Kinoti, however, these slimy creatures could earn him international recognition because his research on snails landed his institution, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), a Ksh. 127 million (USD 1 million) grant.[related_articles]

How Farmer Producer Organisations Benefit Small Scale Farmers in India

By Rina Mukherji
Until a decade ago, marginal farmers Gangotri Chandrol and Sunitabai lacked livelihood options in the post-monsoon season.

World Hunger Day: Renewing Our Commitment to Elevating Women as Change Agents for Ending Hunger

By Elodie Iko
This upcoming weekend, on May 28, we are commemorating World Hunger Day. The day serves as a reminder that more than 800 million people around the world are living with hunger and malnutrition. That number is staggering, but there is hope.

Nothing Beats Bushmeat, Not Even the Risk of Disease

By Busani Bafana
Meat from wild animals is relished across Africa and widely traded, but scientists are warning that eating bush meat is a potential health risk, especially in the wake of pandemics like COVID-19.

Why Quality Seeds Are among the Most Valuable Currency in Climate Finance for Africa

By Michael Keller
At long last, momentum is growing for an overdue rethink of climate finance and development assistance to support countries on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

Acute Hunger an ‘Immediate Threat’ To Over a Quarter of a Billion People

By Paul Virgo
While King Charles III’s coronation in Britain was hogging much of the international media’s attention at the start of this month, it was easy not to notice another story that deserved at least as many headlines.

A Short Tale of a Tree and a Moroccan Wedding Party

By Baher Kamal
A much needed break amidst so many alarming news, with a brief story of a tree, a bottle of liquid gold, and a wedding gift.

Finding Ways to Feed South Africa’s Vast Hungry Population

By Fawzia Moodley
In the deep rural village of Jekezi in South Africa's Eastern Cape, most young and able-bodied people have fled the area, leaving behind people with disabilities, the elderly, and children.

Unceasing Human Attacks on the Source of 80% of Food, 98% of Oxygen

By Baher Kamal
Two big facts are impressive enough: plants are the source of 80% of all food, and as much as 98% of all oxygen. Logically, it would be taken for granted that human beings would do whatever is needed to protect this essential source of life. But do they?

Can African Farmers Still Feed the World?

By Baher Kamal
Less than a decade ago, Africa was home to 60-65% of the world’s uncultivated arable land and 10% of renewable freshwater resources, as reported by the African Union in 2016, while concluding that African farmers could feed the world.

Livestock Producers Seek to Integrate Biogas and Animal Protein Market in Brazil

By Mario Osava
It is the “best energy,” according to its producers, but biogas from livestock waste still lacks an organized market that would allow it to take off and realize its potential in Brazil, the world's largest meat exporter.

Of Africa and The Magic Formula of The Italian Taxi Driver

By Baher Kamal
Some days ago in Rome, the Italian taxi driver switched on the radio during a longish ride through the usual traffic jam. Music, gossip, and the hourly news bulletin. All of a sudden, the man strongly hit the steering wheel. “They are stupid, those bastards…,” he shouted.

To Confront Our Current Crises, It’s Time to Put Our Money Where Our Mouth Is

By Ayesha Khan, Éliane Ubalijoro and Yuriko Backes
The finance sector’s role in the current global crises – notably climate, biodiversity, and food security – is significant. Polluting activities and environmentally-destructive practices for short-term economic gains have catapulted us to our current untenable situation. We're ‘sawing off the branch we’re sitting on’ by sacrificing life-giving ecosystem services for profit, and that branch is sagging and splitting under our weight.

Rural Women’s Constant Struggle for Water in Central America

By Edgardo Ayala
“This is a very difficult place to live, because of the lack of water,” said Salvadoran farmer Marlene Carballo, as she cooked corn tortillas for lunch for her family, on a scorching day.

Empowering Women is Key to Breaking the Devastating Cycle of Poverty & Food Insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa

By Danielle Nierenberg and Emily Payne
Studies consistently show that women have lower rates of agricultural productivity compared to men in the region, but it’s not because they’re less efficient farmers.

UNDP Assistance Helps Farmers to Meet New EU Deforestation Rules

 
 
The UNDP has assisted cocoa farmers from the Peruvian Amazon to ensure the commodities meet European Parliament regulations. The regulation prohibits the placing of products on the market if their production has led to deforestation.

What Local Food Challenges and Choices Across Vietnam Reveal About a Global Push for Food Systems Transformation

By Tuyen Huynh
Last month, Nature spotlighted three insightful new studies chronicling food-related challenges from a global perspective. One presented worrisome new data on the global rise in the prevalence of diabetes, high blood pressure and liver disease, all linked to obesity. Another presented a new assessment revealing that half of the greenhouse emissions generated by food systems globally are caused by food waste. Finally, the third study found that food consumption could add “nearly 1 degree Celsius to warming by 2100,” with most of that attributed to global methane emissions from meat, dairy and rice production.
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