All posts belonging to the GFAR blog
COVID sparked a scientific response: sharing DNA sequencing, rethinking old ways, and creating a vaccine. But what else can we achieve through concerted data sharing? When COVID struck, the response amongst the scientific community was to share DNA sequencing and to rethink traditional ways of working to solve the urgent challenge of creating a vaccine,… Continue reading Data sharing might not be easy, but it’s the right thing to do
by GFAR How can digital education empower coffee professionals at origin and transform the industry, considering the challenges posed by outdated data collection methods and the limited implementation of digital tools? Gersón Solórzano, a certification technician from the San Marcos area in the Honduran department of Ocotepeque, is employed by UnioCasmo. This local union of… Continue reading Enhancing digital education to empower coffee professionals at origin
by Mark Giller, Founder of Farmlike Can the relationship between the farmer and the community be re-imagined to create a more sustainable system – and one that benefits everyone? We think it can. This is why we created Farmlike, a revolutionary app that is helping to shorten supply chains and introduce new revenue streams for… Continue reading Reimagining the link between farmers and communities: Our experience developing an agritourism app.
by GFAR Following Earth Day on 22 April, CABI’s Executive Director, Global Operations, Dr Ulrich Kuhlmann, looks at two fundamental ways in which smallholders can be empowered to build resilience to climate change – access to better evidence-based agricultural information and a more concerted approach by governments in relation to investment and knowledge sharing. When… Continue reading Earth Day Extra! How can we help smallholders build resilience to climate change?
by GFAR In a new joint mentorship programme, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Agrifood Network (IAFN) have been supporting women agripreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa. In doing so, they have generated a remarkable ripple effect through local communities and regions. Supporting female-led SMEs Rural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the… Continue reading One empowered female agripreneur can rally an entire community.
by GFAR This month is Rural Women’s month on the GFAR blog – and today, we look to the inspiring achievements of Lydia Sasu, a pioneering advocate from Ghana who has dedicated her career to empowering rural women in agriculture. Lydia was awarded the ‘World Women Foundation Award’ in 2011, the ‘World Food Prize’ in… Continue reading “Through both education and teamwork, women can achieve anything.” – The story of Lydia Sasu
by Dinesh Panday and Roshan Babu Ojha Fertile soils are essential for sustaining plant growth and producing sustainable food systems. But around the world, they face unprecedented threats and as of today, approximately one third of the world’s soil is reported to be degraded. Restoring – as well as maintaining – soil fertility is therefore… Continue reading Soils under threat: The view from Asia
by the GFAR Secretariat Half of humanity is fed by fertilized-based foods. But many farmers are struggling to source the fertilizers they need – and chemical fertilizers are also contributing to environmental degradation. So what’s the solution? We all know that healthy, fertile soils are crucial for ensuring efficient, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems—and, in turn,… Continue reading A GFAR webinar: Addressing soil fertility
This think piece by Sayed Azam-Ali, OBE, is written as a reflection on the fifth installment in the GFAR Talks webinar series on the topic: “`Can higher education better meet the needs of rural agricultural communities?“. GFAR Talks is a showcase for debate on challenging and provocative topics related to agrifood system transformation, climate change and innovations… Continue reading Agriculture can be a role model for transformation of higher education
by the GFAR Secretariat Agri-food heritage systems have been recognized for their potential to help address food security and to promote sustainable development worldwide. But significant progress in promoting and developing these systems remains to be made. Can the creation of a new digital knowledge environment help change this? The World Agricultural Heritage Forum thinks… Continue reading Creating a digital knowledge environment to promote agri-food heritage systems.
Maintaining momentum in the implementation of the UN Food Systems Summit National Pathways: A GFAR Webinar.
This think piece by Sayed Azam-Ali, OBE, is written as a reflection on the fourth installment in the GFAR Talks webinar series on the topic: “Forgotten foods are future foods: Bridging food sovereignty between generations“. GFAR Talks is a showcase for debate on challenging and provocative topics related to agrifood system transformation, climate change and innovations in… Continue reading Forgotten foods – a manifesto for the future of food?
This think piece by Sayed Azam-Ali, OBE, is written as a reflection on the third installment in the GFAR Talks webinar series on the topic: "Repurposing food and agricultural policies to make healthy diets more affordable". GFAR Talks is a showcase for debate on challenging and provocative topics related to agrifood system transformation, climate change… Continue reading Healthy diets, healthy planet? – Not likely
The world is at a critical juncture and it is increasingly important to build resilience for improved future global food systems. Youth are an invaluable stakeholder in this mission.
Sayed Azam-Ali, OBE The war in Ukraine has exposed existing fault lines in the global food system which we ignore at our peril. We cannot claim that we were not forewarned but, to date, we have ignored the evidence of vulnerabilities in the global food system at every level, including its fragile supply chains, effects… Continue reading The War in Ukraine and the Global Agrifood System: Implications for Africa and Beyond
World Rural Forum Strengthen Family farming has proven to be one of the paramount strategies to address the challenges facing humanity, including food security, climate change, forced migration. In times of crisis, the resilience, know-how, adaptability and community roots of family farmers are essential in attending the food, social and environmental needs of populations. Today… Continue reading Enabling policy environment towards unleashing the potential of family farming
By Sophia Amoah (Knowledge Management Intern, FARA, Ghana) A picture depiction of a small farmer family. Photo Credit: Brand Spur FAO defines family farming as: “a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral, and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family capital and labor, including both women’s… Continue reading Small-scale family farming in changing food systems
By Lisa Desbordes(Agribusiness Intern, FARA) In both developed and developing countries, family farming is the most common form of agriculture. In the world, there are about 500 million family farms. Peasants, indigenous peoples, traditional communities, fisher folk, mountain farmers, herdsmen, and many other groups represent every region and biome of the world, and include peasants,… Continue reading Shifts in small scale family farming
By COPROFAM Meet Wagner Canal, a family farmer from São Domingos do Norte in the Southeast region of Brazil. He strongly believes that family farming must keep up with the global technological advancements and continuously reinvent itself to stay relevant. Wagner Canal in his farm To this end, the family farmer has invested in internet… Continue reading Brazilian family farmer bets on ICTs and Youtube channels to spread knowledge
Michel Ghanem - Mohammed VI Polytechnic University “Why is it common sense to diversify our investment portfolio, but not the world's food portfolio?” asks Dr. Arif Husain, Chief Economist at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize (quote from Twitter, 23rd March 2022). As we diversify our… Continue reading Africa’s forgotten crops could offset growing food insecurity
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