Global Agriculture Posts
Ending the Drought in Agriculture Research Funding
In the 1940s, almost 40 percent of the U.S. government’s research budget was focused on agriculture. Today, only two percent is. This decrease is not just an issue for farmers; it’s dangerous for all of us who depend on agriculture to put food on the table.
What Happens When Cartoonists Get Serious
Kenyan cartoonists are getting serious about putting an end to land grabs. Read on to learn (and see!) how they're doing it.
What Do Drought, Ice Cream and Bird Flu Have in Common?
The U.S. agriculture sector faces many problems these days. Take the ongoing California drought that threatens more than one-third of our country’s vegetables and two-thirds of our fruits. Or have you eaten Blue Bell ice cream recently? Blue Bell recalled ALL of its ice cream products because of Listeria contamination, causing three deaths and 10 hospitalizations. Or check out the avian flu, which killed more than 48 million chickens and cost the USDA more than $500 million since mid-December.
Online Tool Aims to Bring Bounty Harvest in Kenya
If you are a farmer living in Embu County, Kenya, how do you know which seed to plant? Maybe you decide based on what your neighbors plant or what you’ve always planted. But over the last 10 years, plant breeders in Kenya have likely developed new varieties of seeds with specific traits that could thrive on your farm and give you higher yields.
Agriculture and the Africa Rising Narrative
Africa is the next frontier of the global economy. Several African countries boast some of the fastest growth rates in the world. Four of the world’s top 10 fastest growing economies in 2015 and 2016 are forecasted to be in Africa. And yet, the sector that employs as much as 60 percent of Africa’s labor force only accounts for 25 percent of the gross domestic product. Why the disconnect?
Forests Are the New Farms
What would we eat if we ran out of room for farmland? A new report released by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) at the United Nations Forum on Forests last week argues that forests and trees would provide plenty to snack on.
Africa’s First “Water Fund” Offers Hope for Nairobi Residents
The Tana River is critical to the Kenyan economy, serving 9.3 million people. It provides 95 percent of Nairobi’s water and half of Kenya’s hydropower-generated electricity. However, it is troubled by soil erosion and falling reserves, which translate into higher costs for utility companies and businesses at a time of rapidly rising water demand. Enter Africa's first-ever "Water Fund" led by The Nature Conservancy and the publication of the business case for the fund.
New Discovery Saves Seven-Layer Bean Dip from Extinction
The future was looking bleak for common beans, a nutrition-packed protein source that includes everything from navies to pink speckled kidneys. Climate models project that the heat-sensitive crop—enjoyed by billions, but depended on by 400 million in Latin America and Africa for their daily protein—will falter if global temperatures rise.
Your Italian Leather Shoes Are Killing the Rainforest
Could your Italian leather shoes be to blame for deforestation in the Amazon? The answer is yes. A new report found that stretches of forest the size of a football (soccer) field were illegally cleared every 120 seconds between 2000 and 2012 to supply consumers in Europe with palm oil, beef, soy and leather.
Seed Index Sprouts New Hope for Farmers
What does seed mean for farmers? It represents the chance to feed a family and have a surplus to send children to school, buy uniforms, and buy medicine when they’re sick. And yet, farmers in many parts of Africa do not have access to the kinds of seeds that could thrive on the land.
