Knowledge for development

In this issue, we place the spotlight on food and nutrition security, which can be considered as one of the “hot topics” on the national and global agendas of policy and decision makers. We need to broaden and deepen our analysis and reflections on food and nutrition security issues to be better able to provide policy options and take actions that can demonstrate measurable impact.  24/05/2013
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Dates: 05 - 07 June 2013 Venue: Port of Spain, Trinidad The National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST), Trinidad and Tobago, the Organization of American States (OAS) and CSIR-National Institute of Science Technology & Development Studies (NISTADS), India, invites you to participate in their first joint conference entitled International Conference on Science and Technology for Economic Diversification: INSCITED 2013. Click to download the programme.  Click to download the opening ceremony programme. INSCITED 2013 will serve as a platform for interactive learning between India, Trinidad & Tobago, and international experts, policy-makers and researchers in the various areas of higher education and training, labour markets, and science and technology. More information.  10/04/2013
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This CTA commissioned report reviews the impacts that state marketing boards and agencies have had on the agricultural sector. The broad findings are that state boards and agencies are generally operating within a set of traditional parameters and are required to respond to often quite different commercial, regulatory and policy agendas at the same time. These agendas are to a large extent no longer relevant in the 21st century, and often lead to confusion in achieving the desired outcomes. In addition, such entities tend to be ‘followers’ rather than ‘leaders’ and innovators. Their contribution to creating value and improving food and nutrition security in the region has not been significant and the Caribbean has become a net importer of food.[CTA REPORTS: ADDING VALUE TO LOCAL FOODS FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY: MYTH OR STRATEGIC OPTION]Image:Empire Marketing Board (1927) poster 'Highways of Empire' by Macdonald Gill (1927); Source: UK National Archives. Catalogue reference: CO 956/537. 22/05/2013
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The Cassava Value Chain Roadmap was developed from the proceedings of a national workshop which was held as an off shoot of the regional workshop Adding value to local foods for food and nutrition security: myth or strategic option – Leveraging the research, innovation and entrepreneurship network, 26-29 November 2012. Industry experts, researchers and practitioners delivered key presentations on various aspects of the industry. Gaps, and proposed solutions or options were identified for moving the industry forward.[CTA REPORTS: ADDING VALUE TO LOCAL FOODS FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY: MYTH OR STRATEGIC OPTION] 22/05/2013
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This study reviews nine major global food security scenario in the literature, published between 2000 and 2012. Four out of the nine studies focus explicitly on agriculture and the food system. Four others have a broader or different perspective (e.g. climate change, environment and ecosystems) but include elements relevant for food security analysis. The study finds that all of the scenarios only deal with two of the four dimensions of food security: food availability and food accessibility, while food utilisation and stability are hardly covered. (FoodSecure.eu and LEI Wageningen UR, 14/02/2013) 22/05/2013
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The programme for the Finals of the 3rd CTA/FARA/IFS/ANAFE/NPCA/RUFORUM/AGRA Africa-wide Women and Young Professionals in Science competitions is available. 22/05/2013
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CTA is a member of a consortium of 25 partners involved in the EU 7th Framework Programme CAAST-Net Plus project ‘Advancing SSA-EU cooperation in research and innovation for global challenges’. The project focuses on food security, climate change and health. In collaboration with several partners, CTA is working on the food security global challenge. Their first task is the ‘Analysis of the impact of research cooperation on food security between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa’.CTA and partners are expected determine to what extent research cooperation in food security supported by the EU´s framework programme, bilateral MS programmes and by private research funds has impacted on joint food security priorities. The outcomes will provide a knowledge base for the elaboration of a food security platform to address Europe-Africa joint food security priorities. The climate change and health teams are undertaking similar tasks. The CAAST-Net project is coordinated by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, UK and the kick off meeting for the project was held in Brussels in February 2013. The first annual project meeting is planned for June in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Visit www.caast-net.org. 22/05/2013
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Planned reforms in European agricultural policy could facilitate the implementation of functional agrobiodiversity (FAB) concepts in the sector. However, impediments to the adoption of FAB approaches still exist, mainly (i) translation of general knowledge to tailored, ready-to-use management practices, (ii) limited information on the effectiveness of FAB measures in terms of crop yield and quality, profitability, and reduction of agrochemical inputs, (iii) lack of appropriate financial accounting systems that allow fair accounting of the private investments and public benefits, and (iv) the implementation of FAB measures at the right spatial scales, which requires coordination among the various actors in a region. This paper explores the current and new legislation that may provide incentives to address these limitations. (via ELN-FAB Newsletter, April 2013) 22/05/2013
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These guidelines describe the type of agreements that can be used in access and benefit sharing in research projects. Their primary audience are scientists working with crop genetic resources and related traditional knowledge in research organisations. They can also be useful for authorities involved in legislative processes on the matter and for local populations who participate in research and development projects dealing with the conservation and use of agricultural biodiversity. This publication is based on the experience gained during the implementation of the project ‘In situ/On farm Conservation and Use of Agricultural Biodiversity (Horticultural Crops and Wild Fruit Species) in Central Asia’. (Agrobiodiversity Platform, 12/4/2013)  22/05/2013
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Andrew Clappison tracks the impact of public-goods research related to international development. Relating the debates from the Future of Impact Conference (UK Higher Ed), he senses the risk of bureaucratising institutional approaches to the Research Excellence Framework that could stall innovation. (Research to Action, 11/04/2013) 22/05/2013
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Malnutrition could be greatly reduced and food security improved by ensuring improved access to nutrient-rich forest-derived foods like berries, bushmeat, roots, insects and nuts for the world’s poorest populations. The critical role forests could play in improving food security and nutrition is poorly reflected in national development and food security strategies. Forest foods haven´t received much attention in part due to the current method of measuring food security in terms of energy (or calories) and not in terms of micronutrients, which has meant that foods that aren´t a good source of calories – but have plenty of micronutrients – have been overlooked. (IRIN and CIFOR, 10/04/2013) 22/05/2013
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