With the polar ice caps melting and the polar bears facing extinction, the world is forced to evaluate the state of its environment. Climate change caused by global warming is an issue that demands attention and immediate care. Measures are being taken to reduce green house gases (i.e. recycling, driving hybrid cars, other energy sources) … Continue reading
Category Archives: Agriculture
Farmers face growing climate change dilemma: Scientist
Farmers of the future will have to use cattle and sheep that belch less methane, crops that emit far less planet-warming nitrous oxide and become experts in reporting their greenhouse gas emissions to the government. Green Business Agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gases and globally that share will rise as demand for food … Continue reading
Agriculture and Rural Development Day 2009 on 12 December
With a focus on “The road after Copenhagen: priority strategies and actions for ensuring food security and rural development in the face of climate change”, the event will bring together policy makers and negotiators, rural development practitioners, producers, civil society and the agricultural and climate change scientific community to highlight the importance of agriculture in … Continue reading
Innovation systems help put technologies into farmer context
Speaking at the December 2009 CGIAR System-wide Livestock Programme meeting in Addis Ababa, Andre Van Rooyen (ICRISAT) explained the ‘innovation platform’ approach they use to engage with smallholder farmers in Southern Africa. “Our hypothesis is that farmers will only invest in improved technologies when they are part of an effective marketing system.” ‘Innovation platforms allow … Continue reading
The future of animal agriculture
Look in the crystal ball and envision what animal agriculture might look like in 2030. Sound like a tough assignment? Now try getting people from the Humane Society of the United States and the National Pork Producers Council to agree on what animal agriculture should look like in 2030. Sound impossible? It probably is. But … Continue reading
Africa / Agriculture / East Africa / Egypt / Eritrea / Kenya / Livestock / North Africa / Research
Improved pastures revive Kenya’s livestock exports
Exporters of live animals to Mauritius are preparing to resume the business following the recent rainfall that has improved pasture in Coast province. The growing demand for live Kenyan animals in Mauritius was interrupted by the recent drought that affected many parts in the country, leading traders to suspend exports since they could not get … Continue reading
Africa / Agriculture / East Africa / Ethiopia / Livestock / Pastoralism
IFAD provides USD 39 million to Ethiopia to improve the lives of pastoralists and their families
A US$19.5 million loan and a US$19.5 million grant from IFAD to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will support the delivery of basic social services to some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the country – pastoralists and their families. After the success of its first phase, the Pastoral Community Development Project … Continue reading
Agriculture / Animal Health / Cattle / Climate Change / Europe / Livestock / Sheep / Small Ruminants / UK
UK report on health and climate change calls for livestock production cuts
According to the Cattlesite, a new report in the medical journal The Lancet has called for a 30 per cent reduction in livestock production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the UK emission targets for 2030. According to the Farmers Guardian, the UK Government has been slammed by critics over the report: “The controversy … Continue reading
Proven successes in agricultural development in Ethiopia
Launching the ‘Millions Fed’ book in Addis Ababa yesterday, Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development H.E Ato Tefera Derebew congratulated IFPRI and the authors: “It is good that we have best practices identified and that we have menus that help us choose what suits our situation.” He also noted that Ethiopia has many best … Continue reading
Agriculture / Dairying / East Africa / ILRI / Kenya
If words were food, nobody would go hungry
Investment in agriculture is soaring. So, worryingly, is distrust of markets and trade At the height of the food-price spike in 2008, many of the biggest food producers banned the export of crops (they sought to cushion the domestic impact of rising world prices). Most of these restrictions have been lifted and replaced by a … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 