Monthly Archives: November 2010

Africa / Agriculture / Animal Production / Climate Change / Crop-Livestock / Environment / ILRI / Livestock Systems / LivestockFutures / PA / PLE / Poultry

Turkeys and spinach: Green foodies beware–the foods in our food systems are not always what they seem

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Seen at the Barrington Living History Farm (USA), this is most likely a Black-Spanish turkey, which was a common breed in the 19th century (photo credit: Big Grey Mare’s Photostream on Flickr / Carol Von Canon). Agricultural systems analyst Philip Thornton, of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), was interviewed last week by the American … Continue reading »

Animal Products / Dairying / Ethiopia / ILRI / IPMS / Livestock / Markets

National Forum calls for set up of Ethiopian Dairy Board

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A first National Dairy Forum was organized this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Scientists, experts, representatives of farmer cooperatives and farmers, from the private sector as well as non-governmental and international organizations, attended the Forum. On behalf of the state minister, Berhe G/Egziabher, director of the Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Directorate of the Ministry … Continue reading »

Climate Change / PA

Why the climate talks at Cancun matter

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‘Will the Cancun climate summit be more productive than the one in Copenhagen? ‘After a year of anticipation and two weeks of frenzied negotiations, last December’s Copenhagen climate summit ended in frustration and acrimony. It’s no surprise, then, that as negotiators descend on Cancun today for the next round of U.N. talks, many have concluded … Continue reading »

Africa / Climate Change / ILRI / LivestockFutures / PA / PLE

Forscher warnen: Vier Grad sind zwei zu viel

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‘Um nicht mehr als zwei Grad Celsius soll sich die Erde erwärmen. Darauf hatten sich die Teilnehmer des letzten Klimagipfels verständigt. Zu Beginn des diesjährigen UN-Klimatreffens im mexikanischen Cancún an diesem Montag ist allerdings fraglicher denn je, ob dieses unverbindliche Minimalziel überhaupt noch erreicht werden kann. Zum einen, weil weiter verbindliche Ziele zur Treibhausgasminderung fehlen. ‘Zum … Continue reading »

Africa / Climate Change / Crop-Livestock / Directorate / Food security / ILRI / LivestockFutures / PA / PLE

Could rising temperatures overwhelm Africa’s adaptive capacity and resilience?

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‘A new study warns of the potential problems Africa faces from rising temperatures. ‘The Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) says the continent must learn to adapt to shorter growing seasons. The report was released as the U.N. Climate Change Conference is held in Cancun, Mexico. ‘Most warnings about climate change are based on a … Continue reading »

Africa / Climate Change / Crop-Livestock / Directorate / Food security / ILRI / Livelihoods / LivestockFutures / PA / PLE

Climate change may force many southern African crop-and-livestock farmers to migrate–ILRI director general Carlos Sere

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‘The unsolved puzzle of what to do with people forced from their homes by the effects of climate change—a hot topic a couple of years ago—seems to have slid down the agendas of aid agencies, policy makers and the media. . . . [A] comprehensive international framework for dealing with environmental migrants is still a … Continue reading »

Africa / Climate Change / Food security / ILRI / LivestockFutures / PA / PLE

Shorter growing season for sub-Saharan Africa – ILRI systems analyst Philip Thornton

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‘. . . [T]he UK’s Royal Society has published detailed study of how the world will look when it is 4 °C warmer. . . . ‘Most of sub-Saharan Africa will see shorter growing seasons, according to Philip Thornton of the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, and colleagues. As a result, average maize … Continue reading »

Africa / Animal Production / Climate Change / Goats / Livestock / Mozambique / Small Ruminants / Southern Africa

Mozambique adapting to climate change with goats

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People in the floodplains of Mozambique’s Zambezi Valley have always relied on the rains October and November so they could sow their seeds for a good harvest in the New Year. But, there are droughts and the rains are erratic, often coming very late and falling so heavily that everything is washed away. Crops fail, … Continue reading »

Africa / Animal Products / Dairying / East Africa / Kenya / Markets

Why do dairy farmers ‘hawk’ milk through informal channels?

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In Kenya, low prices offered by the formal milk marketing channels are forcing farmers countrywide to seek alternatives to get better deals. Milk hawkers have continued to thrive even as restrictions are put on their way as concerns heighten over hygiene standards. Every morning more than 40,000 milk hawkers are out on their bicycles, motorcycles … Continue reading »

Climate Change / PA

Connecting the dots at Cancun

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Delegates arrive at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen, Denmark, one year ago, in December 2009 (photo credit: Neil Palmer/CIAT). Kenyan environmentalist, tree planter and Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai writes in the Guardian today that the latest meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 16), being held … Continue reading »