Knowledge for development

7th international CIGR Technical Symposium "Innovating the food value chain" and 2nd International Conference on Postharvest Technology and Quality Management "Postharvest Africa 2012" 25 - 28 November, 2012 Stellenbosch University, South Africa Following the success and scientific reputation of the previous CIGR Section VI Postharvest Symposia held in Beijing (China), Warsaw (Poland), Napoli (Italy), Iguascu (Brazil), Potsdam (Germany) and Nantes (France), and the 1st International Conference on Postharvest Technology held in Muscat (Oman), you and your colleagues are invited to the next event to be held in the beautiful and historical 'Oak City' of Stellenbosch, South Africa. The Conference will highlight recent scientific advances and technological tools to handle, preserve, process, maintain and control quality and reduce losses in fresh and processed foods and agro-industrial raw materials, including fruit and vegetables, grains, roots and tuber, meat, seafood, herbs, spices, and cut flowers. http://www0.sun.ac.za/postharvest/cigr2012/index.php 26/01/2012
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For most of the twentieth century, two economic models competed with each other in the political arena as the best way to organize the economy: the ‘centrally-planned economy’ and ‘the market economy’. With the falling apart of the former USSR and the Eastern Bloc, the market economy model seems to have won this battle. Nowadays, most countries have adopted, often under guidance of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, some form of market economy model. While this ‘Washington Consensus’ (Williamson, 1989) has been heavily criticized in the past for its extreme market fundamentalism, the point is that also most of its critics concur with the market economy model but in a more moderate form. 11/01/2012
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Policymakers not only have to make decisions about whether government support is needed, but also about how much support should be given and in what form (tax deduction facilities, subsidies, or direct provision of services). 11/01/2012
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Agricultural policymakers are usually too busy with day-to-day problems and lack the time for real reflection on their role in agricultural innovation vis-à-vis the private sector and on how to optimize public as well as private investments in agricultural innovation. In this section we want to explore the policy implications of the ideas discussed in the previous two sections. 11/01/2012
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Tesfay Belay, Mulugeta Gebreselassie and Tadesse Abadi. 2011. Description of cactus pear (opuntia ficus-indica (l.) mill.) cultivars from Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Research report No. 1. Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) has colonised many parts of northern Ethiopia. In Tigray alone, uncultivated cacti cover about 32,000 ha. Farmers there plant and maintain backyard and edge rows cacti, though most of the harvested fruit comes from wild-growing cactus plants. Nowadays, cactus pear is an integral part of the culture and economy of Tigray’s inhabitants. Cactus fruits are eaten fresh in months of July to September. Cladodes are used as livestock feed and are planted for soil and water conservation purposes. Recently, other uses like nopalitos, jam and carmine have been introduced. Cactus fruits are now a stable source of income, as they are sold at prices well above those of bananas and oranges in the supermarkets of Addis Ababa. 12/01/2012
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The Nairobi declaration was developed by more than 400 participants comprising: extension practitioners from public, private and civil society organisations, farmers, policy-makers and representatives of the research and development community, academia, the private sector, donor agencies, financial institutions and the media from more than 75 countries; who congregated in Nairobi, Kenya from 15 to 18 November 2011 for the international conference on ‘Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services: Linking Knowledge to Policy and Action for Food and Livelihoods’. http://extensionconference2011.cta.int/sites/default/files/NairobiDeclaration30112011.pdf They called upon the coalition of partners established through this conference to remain committed to advocating for and implementing clear policies and strategies for extension and advisory services in a participatory manner and to putting coordination and quality assurance mechanisms in place to support small-holder farmers and agricultural and rural development. The participants also called upon the conference organizers to continue to provide platforms at different levels for extension professionals and researchers and farmers to meet, exchange and improve their capacity to mobilize smallholders’ knowledge, labour, access to land water and genetic resources for global food security. All available conference presentations and reports are available on the conference website extensionconference2011.cta.int. 12/01/2012
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The members of the Advisory Committee (AC) on Science and Technology for ACP Agriculture and Rural Development held their 10th meeting in Dominica from 9–13 October, 2011. The theme of the meeting was ‘Science and Technology for ACP Agricultural & Rural Development: Safeguarding the ACP Food System through Science, Technology and Innovation’. It was the view of the AC that ACP countries face a daunting challenge regarding food and nutrition security – high and volatile food prices; climate change and vulnerability to natural disasters; improved agricultural productivity. However, it is not all gloom and doom, but countries need to act urgently by adopting systematic, focused and evidence-based approaches in partnership with strategic allies (north-south and south-south); the report of this year’s meeting which coincided with the 10th Anniversary of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture, is now available. See below. 05/01/2012
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The African Young Scientists Initiative on Climate Change and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AYSICCIKS) held Round Table Discussions on the Role of Young Scientists and Indigenous Knowledge Systems on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation at the COP 17 UN Conference on Climate Change. The communiqué can be downloaded below. More information on the AYSICCIKS can be found at http://aysiccik.blog.com/. 12/01/2012
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Devag is a Research & Development project, in cooperation and for the insular Caribbean, funded by the INTERREG IV Caribbean programme and supported by the Cooperation services and cultural actions of the French Embassy of Cuba and Haiti. The project is planned for 4 years and started since October 2009. The project is based on a largely shared assessment of an insufficient development of horticultural agro-ecological or organic production in the Caribbean – even if these productions are identified as an essential element for a healthy diet, food self-sufficiency and as an important source of income (high value crops). The project has a global objective which is accelerating the implementation of the innovative and adoptable crop systems to satisfy a huge demand from local markets in fresh and healthy products, reducing the negative impact of these crops on insular and fragile environments under high anthropic pressure. To do so, it mobilizes the competences of the present partners (CIRAD, IIFT, IIHLD, UNICA, MARNDR and FAMV) on four Caribbean islands: Cuba, Haïti, Martinique and Guadeloupe. IPS reports on the project. http://devag.tropical-agroecology.org/index.php?lang=en 12/01/2012
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UPDATE DEC 2011: The communiqué is out. Get it here. The theme for the 10th AC meeting in the Commonwealth of Dominica is “Safeguarding the ACP Food System through Science, Technology and Innovation”. It will be held during the Caribbean Week of Agriculture, in Dominica and the outputs will be presented during the Alliance Meeting to contribute to decisive actions that policymakers can take for safeguarding the ACP food system. This is appropriate as AC members continue their efforts to advocate for policy and institutional change and adequate financial resources, for undertaking innovative research and teaching to generate and apply new and existing knowledge in support of agricultural innovation and enhanced performance for socio-economic development. The meeting programme (day-to-day schedule) can be downloaded below (DOC file). Venue: Garraway Hotel, Commonwealth of Dominica Dates: October 09-13, 2011 NOVEMBER 2011 UPDATE: READ THE KEY MESSAGES HERE. 26/09/2011
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This document provides an overview of global aquaculture status and development trends as a synthesis of such status and trends in six regions of the world: Asia–Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Near East and North Africa, North America and Sub-Saharan Africa. Global production of fish from aquaculture has grown substantially in the past decade, reaching 52.5 million tonnes in 2008, compared with 32.4 million tonnes in 2000. Aquaculture continues to be the fastest-growing animal food producing sector and currently accounts for nearly half (45.6%) of the world’s food fish consumption, compared with 33.8% in 2000. Lemonde.fr has an in-depth report on farmed fish research and production. 12/01/2012
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I.R. Willet and K.S. Porter. 2001. ACIAR Working Papers No. 51. This report provides an outline of the implementation of watershed programs in the United States and indicates where research fits in with watershed implementation programmes. It provides examples, from simple initial estimates to those requiring the application of geographical information system (GIS) and modelling approaches. Research to support watershed projects can be identified and established at the planning phase. The planning stage involves the application of scientific knowledge such as the interpretation of routine water quality monitoring data, GIS and other geographic tools, determination of target reductions of pollutant loads to water bodies, identification of priority problem areas, and the assessment of the technical feasibility of objectives. Once implementation gets underway scientific input may be arranged through a scientific support group within the management of the watershed project. This may lead to increased relevance of the scientific, social and economic research to the particular watershed improvement activity. The report concludes with an outline of particular features of watershed activities that may be expected in less-developed countries. 12/01/2012
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Graham Dutfield. Nov 2011. Shaping sustainable markets Series, IIED. Small producers and indigenous communities face significant difficulties in acquiring IP rights in important markets. But particular forms of IP -- such as geographical indications and trademarks, which can recognise and support group rights -- may be better suited to use by groups or associations of small producers and may help protect their bio-cultural heritage. This review suggests that achieving appropriate design of intellectual property tools will be a significant challenge for developing countries and producers, requiring strong organisational and institutional structures, equitable participation among producers, strong market partners who can help to promote bio-cultural products over the long term, and effective legal protection. Some developing countries have already been able to benefit from geographical indications and trademarks. 12/01/2012
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As Jamaica seeks to slash high import food bills, the country and its farmers are reaping success with greenhouse technology. This report by the Miami Herald tells the story of Jamaican farmers and entrepreneurs who successfully developed, vegetable-growing greenhouses to grow the food crops that are normally imported to the island, helping reduce prices at food stalls and dependence towards imported agricultural commodities. Such initiative to use technology should encourage farmers in the Caribbean to compete with food imports. (Miami Herald, 31/10/2011) 12/01/2012
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Over the last two years the Kenyan Government has funded the construction of 46,000 fish ponds in 160 of the 210 constituencies in the country. The government has also provided catfish and tilapia fingerlings and fish feed as a start up measure, but many farmers have little access to basic extension services or long-term access to inputs. To complement and enhance the government's extension services in aquaculture, FARM-Africa has established six franchised Aqua Shops in western Kenya to provide smallholders with inputs and technical advice on best aquaculture practices. The hubs also provide market information and teach fish farmers how to link their businesses with markets to generate additional income. Over 600 farmers have also been trained and equipped to set up and run viable fish farming businesses. (New Agriculturalist, 11/2011) 12/01/2012
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Malum Nalu’s blog features among other exclusive posts on agriculture in PNG, a piece by Joel Waramboi, Senior Scientist with PNG’s NARI. Waramboi explains in detail what progress the agricultural sector has made in terms of harvested volume and crop diversification. He also makes the case for a greater commitment to post-harvest technologies within the country, taking the sweet potato as an example. This post is rich in data and has insights into PNG’S NARI work and efforts. Other recent blog posts on PNG’s agricultural sector can be found on Malum’s blog. (Malum Nalu, 16/11/2011) 12/01/2012
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