Consumers are dramatically changing their food purchasing habits in response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic (Kolodinsky, Sitaker, Chase, Smith, & Wang, 2020; Schmidt et al., 2020; Worstell, 2020). In part this is due to growing public awareness that food supply chains, which normally operate largely  unnoticed and with great efficiency,...

Resilience of food systems is being tested by the COVID-19 disruption. As with any severe disruption, collapse of some systems, innovation in others, and total reorganization of some will occur. Direct delivery of food, online farmers markets, community supported agriculture operations (CSAs), backyard food production, expansion of seed producers and...

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are organizing The Horn of Africa and Sahel Virtual Knowledge Share Fair: Promoting innovation to build resilience against climate shocks. The virtual event will...

Following the outbreak of coronavirus, the European Union's agri-food sector is showing its resilience and continues to provide Europeans with high quality and safe food. Nonetheless, farmers and producers are facing difficulties and increasing pressure. Ensuring food security and an effective food supply chain across the continent remains one of...

Los sistemas agroalimentarios en América Latina vienen enfrentando diferentes retos asociados al clima, principalmente cambios en la temperatura media y los patrones de las lluvias, los cuales ponen en juego la productividad de diferentes sistemas agrícolas y por ende la disponibilidad futura de alimentos. Sumado a lo anterior, la reciente...

Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Mapa), por meio da Secretaria de Agricultura Familiar e Cooperativismo (SAF), anunciou nesta quarta-feira (13) um novo canal exclusivo e gratuito no WhatsApp para que agricultores familiares comuniquem o órgão federal sobre possíveis perdas de alimentos ocasionadas por problemas na comercialização em função da Covid-19. Para acessar a nova ferramenta, chamada Disque Perdas de Alimentos, basta clicar aqui ou salvar o número (61) 9873-3519 na agenda de contatos do telefone e enviar um “Oi” por mensagem no WhatsApp. O atendimento será iniciado automaticamente com o envio de perguntas essenciais para que a situação do agricultor familiar seja analisada. Segundo o secretário de Agricultura Familiar e Cooperativismo do Mapa, Fernando Schwanke, o objetivo do canal é garantir que as informações cheguem ao órgão de forma rápida e organizada para que novas medidas sejam avaliadas.  

Aquaponics is the integration of recirculating aquaculture and hydroponics in one production system. In aquaponics, the aquaculture effluent is diverted through plant beds and not released to the environment, while at the same time the nutrients for the plants are supplied from a sustainable, cost-effective and nonchemical source. This integration...

In Nepal, monsoon rains start around July and end between October and November. Livelihoods of rural populations heavily rely on monsoon rains. However, highly variable and erratic rainfall pattern often causes droughts and floods. To manage the risks of these climate extremes, community action planning is being developed to promote...

Water in Nepal is not scarce in absolute terms, and most areas receive about 1 500 mm of precipitation each year, while certain areas may receive up to 5 000 mm. However, many parts of the country still experience water shortages, in particular during the pre-monsoon season (March to May)....

One severe impact of recurrent flooding and waterlogging in Juye County in the Shandong Province, is the salinization and alkalization of soils. The soil in Juye, mainly Luvisoils, with high salt content due to the water loggings, is rich in calcium, magnesium, ions of chloride, sulfate and carbonate. Salt compounds...

Guinea grass mulching is one of the local drought-mitigation strategies adopted in the low-rainfall areas of Jamaica. After the land preparation, dried guinea grass is applied in a matted form over the area to be cultivated. This practice helps crop to survive during the dry season without having to recur...

Aún cuando no se tiene constancia de ningún informe que sugiera que el COVID-19 pueda transmitirse a través de los alimentos, al tratarse de una enfermedad que se contagia principalmente por las vías respiratorias es central resguardar la salud de los trabajadores al desempeñar sus tareas y prevenir el contagio...

Com a pandemia, o grande problema para os agricultores rurais foi o fechamento das suas principais vitrines, as feiras livres, para conter a transmissão do vírus. Para muitos, essa era a principal forma de relacionamento com o público. Outro complicador foi a suspensão das atividades escolares. Muitos produtores que abasteciam...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service’s Food Expenditures by Outlet data provide insight as to why the lockdowns related to COVID-19 have been so devastating for U.S. farmers. In 2018, American consumers bought a total of $628bn[1] worth of food, of which $460bn was spent at grocery stores and...

The main theme of the conference is “Organic Animal Husbandry systems – challenges, performance and potentials”, taking into account the diversity of organic and sustainable animal husbandry systems. Particular attention has been given to dairy and pig systems, parasites and the replacement of inputs. The Video Pre-Conference 2020 will be...

The creation of an inclusive, equitable and sustainable ocean economy calls for bold political and social leadership, based on a holistic relationship with our ocean planet. The ocean sustains all life on our planet. Our human relationships with the ocean are diverse, complex and evolving. They represent both a time-honoured and...

FONTAGRO anuncia la Convocatoria 2020 para la presentación de proyectos de “Innovaciones para el aumento sostenible de la productividad agropecuaria en América Latina y el Caribe en el contexto del cambio climático". La fecha y hora de cierre es el día 3 de abril de 2020, a la 3:00 PM, hora del Este de EE.UU. El...

Young people are regarded as the drivers of a better future for societies. And rural youth represent the future of agriculture and sustainable farming systems now increasingly being acknowledged as key to solving some of the leading world challenges like food insecurity, livelihood dislocation, environmental destruction and widespread poverty. But...

The Philippines is among the most disaster prone countries in the world. More than 200 climate-related natural disasters were recorded in the last two decades in this country. In 2011 it was hit by 33 disasters, claiming 1 430 lives. These typhoons trigger landslides, flashfloods, mudslides, widespread flooding and cause...

Potato is the second most important staple food in Nepal after rice and it is a source for higher income and a better diet for small-scale rural farmers. Increasing consumption of potato demonstrates its importance for food security; however, seed storage is not easy, especially because temperature fluctuations and excessive...