GFAR blog, Research in society

Being farmer, becoming agripreneur: Imitation is the highest flattery

On October 11, 2017, I attended a side event organized by the World Farmers’ Organization and the governments of New Zealand and Canada at the 44th Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). This side event focused on the role of farmers as stewards of environment, in adapting to climate change and attaining… Continue reading Being farmer, becoming agripreneur: Imitation is the highest flattery

GFAR blog, Partnerships for impact

More walking, less talking

“Is our talk aggressive enough?” was a provocation disguised as a question from an audience member during the CFS44 side event, Key achievements in the fight against climate change in light of the 2012 HLPE recommendations. Indeed, the data looks dire, and the threats are well...threatening. Clearly there is an urgency to act as food security… Continue reading More walking, less talking

GFAR blog, Research in society

Forever young

Indigenous communities have traditionally passed information from one generation to another. Valuable information products of hundreds years of experience and observation of the environment that surrounds them. Information related to specific processes in agriculture, to the management of natural resources, and how to better adapt to climate change. This knowledge exchange has been a way… Continue reading Forever young

GFAR blog, Partnerships for impact

Go Organic, Stay Healthy and Sustainable!

Agriculture is under threat—its sustainability is a big challenge for us all. Many options are being tried to make agricultural practices sustainable, and organic agriculture is one among them. The multiple features of organic agriculture that contribute to food security and help in achieving the SDGs were discussed at the side event on “Increasing food security through sustainable agricultural… Continue reading Go Organic, Stay Healthy and Sustainable!

GFAR blog, Partnerships for impact

Good partnership for good stewardship in the agricultural sector

Climate change has tremendous impacts on the agricultural sector, which increasingly needs new technologies and other innovations to ensure food security and wellbeing for those who depend on it. On the second day of CFS44, I attended a side event hosted by the World Farmers’ Organization and the New Zealand and Canadian Governments on the… Continue reading Good partnership for good stewardship in the agricultural sector

GFAR blog, Partnerships for impact

Why good policies and public funding (only) won’t change the world

We have been cutting trees to plant food crops, since the beginning of time. Forest cover loss is a major contributor to climate change – the biggest challenge of our times. So, we won’t save the world without saving forests. However, while the connection between forests and climate is very well recognized, agriculture is an… Continue reading Why good policies and public funding (only) won’t change the world

Accountability for actions, GFAR blog

Your only job is to lead

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. --John C. Maxwell, leadership expert Strong political leadership, some suggest, is necessary for economic and sustainable development. In developed and developing countries we’ve seen a direct correlation between a growing or thriving economy and sound political leadership. Parliamentarians are tasked… Continue reading Your only job is to lead

GFAR blog, Partnerships for impact

The many P’s of Partnership

...."Peace", "partnerships", "projects", "production", "perspectives", "participation" and "passion", to name just a few. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many ‘p’ words together in my life! This was no English class on alliteration but instead a side event on How Cross-Sectoral Partnerships Help Smallholders Deliver a More Food Secure Future held at CFS44 organised by CABI, IFAD, CropLife International and… Continue reading The many P’s of Partnership

GFAR blog, Partnerships for impact

What a Waste

About one third of all food produced today—some 1.7 billion tonnes—is lost or wasted along the value chain. In developing countries, this occurs mainly in the postharvest phase due to lack of adequate infrastructure. In developed countries, wastage occurs mainly at the retail and consumption levels due to constraining regulations and unsustainable consumption patterns. (Gustavsson… Continue reading What a Waste

GFAR blog, Partnerships for impact

Public-Private-Peasant-Partnership: Who needs who?

“Partnership is like the dark matter of the universe. We all know it’s there but, we are not exactly sure what it is made of.” Nick Perkins The term public–private partnership is not a new buzz word in the development sector and trying to paint a picture of the exact time it was introduced will… Continue reading Public-Private-Peasant-Partnership: Who needs who?

Research in society

Agrobiodiversity: goin’ bananas for people and planet

You should eat a kilo of Cavendish bananas a day, if you’d like to fulfil your recommended intake of vitamin A. Or, you could eat one To’o banana. Too bad the Cavendish variety accounts for 47% of the worldwide production and 99% of the commercial export sale to developed countries; we seem destined to stuff… Continue reading Agrobiodiversity: goin’ bananas for people and planet

GFAR blog, Transformative investments

Food Insecurity Metrics Now in Sync

"If you can’t measure, you can’t manage" -Peter Drucker That is why metrics are important for the government or any institution, and development partners in addressing food insecurity, malnutrition, hunger, poverty. According to FAO, after a prolonged decline since 1990, the number of undernourished people has increased to 815 million in 2016, from 777 million… Continue reading Food Insecurity Metrics Now in Sync