I recently participated in the GODAN Summit. What really struck me was that every speaker at the summit, especially those who spoke at the plenaries, recognised that “Open Data” is much more than opening access to data. They all stressed that it is about managing data from generation to effective use, about equity in its … More Opening Agricultural Data: Going Beyond Access
It is well known that the biological world makes sure that nature’s balance can be maintained. Among the biggest contributors are pollinators, whose link with plants has been most useful to the planet. By transferring pollen from one plant to other, pollinators help in the production of fruits, nuts and seeds. They account for more … More Shrinking pollinator numbers: to bee or not to bee
By Marco Marzano de Marinis, Secretary General, World Farmers’ Organisation Antimicrobial resistance, often referred to as AMR, is an increasingly serious threat to global public health. As the international community is now on the way to implement the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, there is still an urgent need to increase attention and policy … More World’s farmers unite to tackle antimicrobial resistance
Open and equitable access to data and information is a vital and tremendously powerful instrument for change. Yet despite tremendous potential value, open access to data is not without risks. Data and associated information and communication technologies by their nature tend to favour those who hold them, or can most readily access and make use … More The importance of open and equitable access to agricultural data
Melissa Benn, Associate at the Agriculture and Food Security Practice at Chemonics International, prepared this article for the September 2016 issue of WFO’s F@rmletter. Why focus on fish? Aquaculture is on the rise globally, and has grown at an impressive rate over the past decades, promising to play a major role in satisfying the protein requirements of both the … More The Future of Fish: Incomes, Nutrition and Global Security
By MARK HOLDERNESS, GFAR Executive Secretary This article on GFAR’s role was originally published on the G20 Portal on the occasion of the 2017 G20 Summit held 4–5 September 2016 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. We all know that humanity faces huge challenges in achieving sustainable development and that we must act now. Our agri-food systems, and our very … More Shaping the Future of Agriculture and Food Together
This article by Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, is featured in the September 2016 issue of WFO’s F@rmletter. Fishermen often describe fishing as much more than a job – it’s a way of life. And surely a deep love for the sea is a prerequisite when you’re getting up long before the crack … More Europe is working for sustainable fisheries and prosperous fishing communities
This story is one of a series of features written during CIMMYT’s 50th anniversary year to highlight significant advancements in maize and wheat research between 1966 and 2016. It has been republished with the permission of CIMMYT. HARARE, Zimbabwe (CIMMYT) — When practiced unsustainably, agriculture has led to environmental degradation and famine, which have plagued … More Building a sustainable future: A history of conservation agriculture in southern Africa
On June 3rd, 2016, I created a WhatsApp group for farmers to meet one of the research objectives of my doctoral programme. It is a small WhatsApp group of 96 farmers, who were chosen from 8 different districts of a hilly state Himachal Pradesh, India. Initially, I was little unsure about the type of conversations … More An Expert-backed WhatsApp group that works for Farmers
The Gender in Agriculture Partnership (GAP) has the pleasure to invite you to a webinar: Closing the gender data gap for agricultural policy and investment Date: 4 October 2016 Time: 15.30 Rome (GMT+2) Duration: 1.5 hours max Women represent, on average, 43 percent of the global agricultural labour force, and considerably more in many developing … More Announcing first in a series of GAP Webinars!
Growing up on the farm, in the rural area, provides a unique life experience. You learn many life skills and lessons. It can be exciting but there are times that it can be challenging as well. I live in Kumasi, Ghana and I work with a social enterprise that serves the needs of smallholder farmers … More The experience of rural life: A wisdom pot for the modern world
by Robin Bourgeois, GFAR Senior Advisor, Foresight and Development Policies There is a wide recognition today that international civil society organisations (ICSOs) are currently facing challenges that might as well mean their disappearance[1]. This would not be necessarily bad news if that disappearance meant that ICSOs had been successful in “working their way out of … More Why future-smart ICSOs are needed
Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals on hunger and poverty will require a 50 percent increase in food production in the next 15 years. In fact, a global food revolution is urgently needed, argues a recent paper by a number of leading scientists working with the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). Without … More Agriculture: From foe to friend of the environment
Is the world approaching “peak farmland?” Could the abandonment of fields to nature seen in recent decades in parts of North America and Europe soon spread to the developing world? Might the regreening of New England soon be a model for Brazil or Indonesia? This proposition, long deemed an impossible dream, is now being seriously … More Ecomodernism and the human-nature divide
Over the last decade, Laos and Cambodia have seen a sharp increase in private investment, particularly in the resource sector.[1]Mekong region governments have strategically promoted foreign direct investment (FDI) under the assumption that FDI can bring prosperity and development opportunities to their countries. But does FDI benefit all? Many of the Mekong governments have pursued … More Who really benefits from foreign investment?
“The miracle is this – the more we share, the more we have.” ― Leonard Nimoy As a global forum, GFAR truly believes in the power of communications. Be it to work with our partners, to bring our common messages to the public, or to network within our communities. We also strongly believe in the … More GFAR webinars on “Search Engine Optimization” and “Website Revamps”
Napandaela is a 63-year-old woman living in small village in northeastern Tanzania. Speaking of competition over water among villagers, she says: “In the face of water scarcity, upstream users and powerful individuals take as much water as they can and leave little for others.” Napandaela, a former chairperson of the village’s irrigation committee, says that … More How to ensure Africa’s irrigation boom benefits everyone
Africa is developing fast. Growing economies, burgeoning middle classes and a booming technology industry are all propelling the continent forward. However, the agricultural sector still lags far behind many other sectors, in part due to underutilized water resources. African countries are some of the least irrigated in the world. Less than 4 percent of the … More Stronger together: unlocking Africa’s food production potential
I am just addicted to meeting agripreneurs and hearing about their amazing experiences in doing agriculture better. They do farming a bit differently than ordinary farmers routinely do. Their passion for farming creatively compels me visit them again and again. I can’t stop myself from capturing their motivating stories and sharing with you all. Last … More Minting Organic Money!!
In April, the six finalists in GFAR and YPARD’s Youth Agripreneur Project headed back to their homes in the four corners of the world after an intense week of orientation and skills building at the GCARD3 Global Event, to embark on their personal adventures–and tackle their particular challenges–in agricultural entrepreneurship. Over the last three months, … More On Finding Knowledge in the Most Unexpected Places
