tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64153778161010062622012-01-25T04:51:53.018-08:00FARA SecretariatNews from the FARA secretariatFARA Secretariathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557564570307551261noreply@blogger.comBlogger12171100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-12794151913279744522012-01-25T04:51:00.001-08:002012-01-25T04:51:53.041-08:00Agricultural Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa: experiences from multiple-stakeholder approachesAgricultural innovation in sub-Saharan Africa: experiences from multiple-stakeholder approaches.
Adekunle AA, Ellis-Jones J, Ajibefun I, Nyikal RA, Bangali S, Fatunbi O and Ange A.
2012.
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Accra, Ghana
ISBN 978-9988-8373-2- 0 (print)
ISBN 978-9988-8373-2- 4 (pdf)
160 pages
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has promoted the François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-32977816544647964462012-01-25T04:43:00.001-08:002012-01-25T04:43:45.170-08:00Commodity associations: a tool for supply chain development?Commodity associations: a tool for supply chain development?
Les associations interprofessionnelles sont-elles un outil de développement des filières?
by
Andrew W. Shepherd
Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division (now value chain expert at CTA Wageningen)
Jean-Joseph Cadilhon
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
and
Eva Gálvez
Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division
FOOD François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-85569371177561985202012-01-20T00:51:00.001-08:002012-01-20T00:51:54.854-08:00AFRICAN UNION RESEARCH GRANTS: OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSAL 2012AFRICAN UNION RESEARCH GRANTS
OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSAL 2012 : DEADLINE 20 APRIL 2012 at 1700H (+3 GMT)
The African Union Commission is seeking proposals for research focusing on the following thematic priorities articulated in Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) and its Lighthouse Projects: (a) Post-harvest and Agriculture, (b) Renewable and Sustainable Energy, andFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-35850651759427858622012-01-19T04:03:00.000-08:002012-01-19T04:03:54.360-08:00FARA Weekly Update<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif][if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif][if gte mso 9]>FARA Secretariathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557564570307551261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-6996456058322277432012-01-07T08:05:00.001-08:002012-01-19T08:09:33.342-08:00WIPO's World Intellectual Property Report 2011WIPO's World Intellectual Property Report 2011 focuses on the Changing Face of Innovation. It describes key trends in the innovation landscape - including the increasingly open, international and collaborative character of the innovation process; the causes of the increased demand for IP rights; and the rising importance of technology markets.
Against this background, the Report explores the François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-56470645220742357122012-01-06T05:29:00.003-08:002012-01-06T05:29:38.277-08:00Feeding the Next Generation: Science, Business, and Public Policy
Discussion Paper 2011-09, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy SchoolDecember 2011Authors: Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development; Director, Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; Principal Investigator, Agricultural Innovation in Africa, Josh Drake, Former Belfer IGA Fellow 2009-2011, Belfer Center for Science and François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-55265409561514658492012-01-04T03:40:00.001-08:002012-01-04T03:40:11.908-08:00Inventory of Foresight Thinking in AgricultureThrough the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), an inventory by means of electronic media is now being launched. This inventory aims to identify and record forward-thinking activities that have been developed, in a systematic and documented way, on issues related to agriculture, rural development and farming systems for the next 10-20 years.
This inventory should help identify a) François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-16657535639825099002012-01-04T03:24:00.001-08:002012-01-04T03:24:39.511-08:00Announcement: Innovation System Perspective in Agriculture and Rural Development for smallholder farmersThe eleventh regional conference of the Southern and Eastern African Association of Farming Systems Research-Extension (SEAAFSRE) will be held on 19-21 November 2012 in South Africa. The conference, whose theme is ‘Innovation System Perspective in Agriculture and Rural Development for smallholder farmers’ is intended to share experiences and best practices in moving agriculture from subsistence François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-64151791762188058592012-01-04T02:37:00.001-08:002012-01-04T02:37:36.213-08:00African nations look to India for seeds, farm inputs
Participants of the 2nd Africa-India Agricultural Economic Mission
during the Business to Business (B2B) meeting in Hyderabad
17 December 2011. Hyderabad, India. 2nd India-Africa Economic Mission laid groundwork for South-South collaboration. It was organized by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Brussels-based EMRC International.
The 25-François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-46277168318063807892012-01-03T10:07:00.001-08:002012-01-03T10:08:54.159-08:00Climate Analogues: Finding Tomorrow’s Agriculture TodayScientists have issued an analysis of East Africa’s future climate as the first step in a new programme that will help farmers grow crops that will best thrive in the changed weather conditions 20 years from now, a new study has shown.
“Climate change will significantly alter growing conditions, but in most places the new farming environment will not be novel in the global context,” said Julian François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-88144816318806621792012-01-03T08:59:00.003-08:002012-01-03T09:04:43.958-08:00Criteria missing from climate investmentsDECEMBER 28, 2011. POSTMEDIA NEWS. The International Development Research Centre, that is distributing millions of dollars of the climate funding, said that research is the first step toward identifying credible projects and ensuring federal dollars are spent well.
``This is really kind of a critical priority because in my view, there's a whole lot of noise around (adaptation issues), but not François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-82995122792376332832012-01-03T06:53:00.001-08:002012-01-03T06:53:43.066-08:00Emerging Policies and Partnerships under CAADPDecember 2011. IFPRI Discussion Paper 01145. Emerging Policies and Partnerships under CAADP Implications for Long-Term Growth, Food Security, and Poverty Reduction.
The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is one of the main components of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). CAADP is an initiative launched by the African Union Commission (AUC) in 2002 François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-73576746153415433002012-01-02T06:03:00.001-08:002012-01-03T02:58:41.845-08:00South Sudan joins ASARECA14-16th December 2011. Entebbe, Uganda. The world’s newest country was unanimously accepted to become the 11th member of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (Asareca) during its first general assembly.
According to Harvard professor Calestous Juma, who gave the keynote address, South Sudan will play a key role in developing agriculture in the François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-26861364417635087572012-01-02T05:45:00.001-08:002012-01-02T05:45:29.650-08:00The Need for Educated People to Take Up Farming28 December 2011. allafrica.com. Joseph Nkandu, executive director of Nucafe (National Union of Coffee Agribusiness and Farm Enterprises), believes that for as long as farming is shunned by the well educated people, it will continue to be largely conceived as an occupation for the poor. He says there is a need for a new generation of farmers capable of blending scientific knowledge and François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-62878187603362848912011-12-27T08:48:00.001-08:002011-12-27T08:48:21.850-08:00China's food security challenge: what role for Africa?Africa will in the next decade increasingly play an important role in China’s long-term food security agenda as demand for food in the world’s most populous nation threatens to outstrip its supply, according to Standard Bank research analysts Simon Freemantle and Jeremy Stevens.
In their latest paper “China’s Food security challenge: What role for Africa?” published in November 2011 (13 pages), François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-30584317310959809112011-12-27T07:00:00.000-08:002011-12-27T07:10:07.576-08:00AFR-Brazil Ag Innovation Marketplace - third call for proposals
The Marketplace aims to benefit primarily smallholder producers. The objective of this initiative is to enhance agricultural innovation for development on the African continent through the establishment and strengthening of partnerships between African and Brazilian organizations.
The Marketplace focus on agricultural innovation thus potentially engaging the full range of actors involved in theFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-161958765527064612011-12-27T01:42:00.001-08:002011-12-27T01:42:53.354-08:00Technology and Innovation Report 2011: Powering Development with Renewable Energy TechnologiesThe Technology and Innovation Report (TIR) 2011 [PDF, 179 Pages, 2360Kb] analyses the important role of technology and innovation policies in expanding the application and wider acceptance of renewable energy technologies (RETs), particularly in the context of developing countries. Technology and innovation policies can promote and facilitate the development, acquisition, adaptation and François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-18187721417669641382011-12-23T05:15:00.001-08:002011-12-23T05:16:21.251-08:00Inventory of African and European CSOs involved in agricultural research for development (ARD) in sub-Saharan Africa.19 November 2011. Nairobi. An international consultation meeting was held to discuss the findings of the inventory of African and European CSOs involved in agricultural research for development (ARD) in sub-Saharan Africa. The meeting was attended by about 30 people from research institutions, NGOs and FOs.
The study identified the formal and informal linkages between CSOs and other stakeholdersFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-62282214930954732982011-12-23T01:38:00.001-08:002011-12-23T01:38:35.288-08:00Boosting Agricultural Higher education into CAADP28th to 30th November 2011. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resource Education (ANAFE), ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Cooperation (CTA), Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the NEPAD Coordinating Agency, CORAF-WECARD and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-66979118318153111122011-12-20T00:58:00.000-08:002011-12-20T00:58:08.863-08:00Agriculture innovation systems: An investment sourcebookForthcoming on February 17, 2012.
Agriculture and Rural Development Series
English; Paperback; 696 pages; 8.5x11
Published February 17, 2012 by World Bank
ISBN: 978-0-8213-8684-2; SKU: 18684
Price: $49.95
Book ordering information
The long-awaited agriculture innovation systems sourcebook is going to be published by the World Bank early in 2012.
According to some pre-materials, “the François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-7480148676142244022011-12-20T00:41:00.001-08:002011-12-20T00:41:46.982-08:00THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL R&D WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS FRAMEWORKThis paper (40 pages) traces the evolution of the innovation systems framework within the agricultural sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, and presents a conceptual framework for agricultural innovation systems. The difference between innovation ecology/ecosystems and intervention-based innovations systems is highlighted, given that these two concepts are used at different levels in promoting and François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-77176977307540676642011-12-16T02:30:00.000-08:002011-12-16T02:30:10.792-08:00Land Rights and the Land Rush: Findings of the Global Commercial Pressures on Land Research ProjectLand Rights and the Rush for Land
Findings of the Global Commercial Pressures on Land Research ProjectAuthor: Ward Anseeuw, Liz Alden Wily, Lorenzo Cotula, and Michael TaylorYear of publication: 2011Country: GlobalThis report, authored by leading land experts, is the culmination of a three-year research project that brought together forty members and partners of ILC, CIRAD and IIED to examine theFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-30694399553442046162011-12-16T02:13:00.001-08:002011-12-16T02:13:34.789-08:00Online forums to further develop the “ICT in Agriculture” SourcebookThe World Bank and the e-Agriculture Community are collaborating in a series of online forums to further develop resources for the recently launched “ICT in Agriculture” Sourcebook (www.ictinagriculture.org).
These discussion forums, available to all e-Agriculture community members, will be vehicles to inform the World Bank of other projects/programmes that e-Agriculture members are carrying outFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-85459964382490505182011-12-07T01:26:00.001-08:002011-12-07T01:26:35.892-08:00AGRICULTURAL R&D: INVESTING IN AFRICA’S FUTURE05-Dec-2011 to 07-Dec-2011. ASTI, together with the International Food Policy Report Institute (IFPRI), where ASTI is based, and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), convened a conference on agricultural R&D in Africa.
The conference focused on the following themes:
Theme 1. Why do African Governments Underinvest in Agricultural R&D?
Theme 2. Human Resource Development for François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-86126356026880630232011-12-07T00:44:00.000-08:002011-12-07T00:44:07.545-08:00ICT in Agriculture e-Sourcebook
ARD and infoDev kindly announce the release of the:
ICT in Agriculture e-Sourcebook
Connecting Smallholders to Knowledge, Networks and Institutions
Click Here to Access the PDF
(http://bit.ly/ICTinAg)
The ICT in Agriculture e-Sourcebook is designed to support development practitioners exploring, designing, implementing, and investing in information and communication François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-39113271128200546892011-12-07T00:42:00.001-08:002011-12-07T00:42:13.416-08:00Work Programme for agriculture at the climate talks in DurbanA group of 15 leading agricultural organisations (including three United Nations agencies, the World Bank, the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), the World Farmers' Organisation, CTA, FANRPAN and the International Food Policy Research Institute) have jointly endorsed a letter to the COP17 climate negotiators with a specific call-to-action, namely to approve a Work Programme for François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-49851300384390591002011-12-07T00:39:00.000-08:002011-12-07T00:39:14.536-08:00PAEPARD Agricultural Innovation Facilitators' Workshop28 November - 2 December 2011. Entebbe. PAEPARD Agricultural Innovation Facilitators' Workshop.
The Platform for African-European partnership for Agricultural Research for Development (PAEPARD) in collaboration with The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) has organised a five-day facilitators' Inception Workshop of the PAEPARD Project. The main objective ofFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-1629082545292443572011-11-25T05:53:00.001-08:002011-11-25T05:53:53.691-08:00Enhancing partnerships between African and US scientists for collaborative GEC research2012 Research Partnership Enhancement AwardsAnnouncing five Awards of $5,000 each to develop and/or enhance partnerships between African and US scientists for collaborative GEC research.
START is offering five grant awards to enhance partnerships between African scientists and US scientists who are currently engaged in Global Environmental Change (GEC) research.
1. Who is eligible?François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-65476217760710210082011-11-25T05:00:00.001-08:002011-11-25T05:46:53.351-08:00Training program on agribusiness incubation for SSA
Dr Ralph von Kaufmann, Technical Coordinator,
UniBRAIN-FARA, in a discussion with Dr Dar and others
21-24 November. Aiming to promote agribusiness ventures in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through value-chain based agribusiness incubators, ICRISAT’s Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) program under its
Agribusiness Innovation Platform (AIP) organized a training program on “Strengthening the capacity of François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-3967922571510450062011-11-22T03:52:00.001-08:002011-11-22T03:52:05.979-08:00Australia International Centre for Food Security (AICFS)28 October. The Australian government will establish an international food security centre to offer research and technical expertise to willing governments and institutions in Africa.The Australia International Centre for Food Security (AICFS) will be established in the second quarter of next year.
It will be set up at a cost of around US$37 million and be hosted by the Australian Centre for François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-16372452854560172792011-11-22T03:51:00.001-08:002011-11-22T03:51:14.218-08:0012 ways how mobile technology can boost African agricultureIn a recent report, titled Connected Agriculture, Vodafone and Accenture identified 12 opportunities for mobile phone technology to increase agricultural income and productivity. Some of these platforms are already widely used in Africa, while others are still in the early stages of implementation.1. Mobile payment systems
Mobile payment systems give farmers without access to financial services François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-11368859274272929452011-11-21T03:14:00.001-08:002011-11-21T03:17:00.500-08:00Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services15-18 November 2011, Nairobi, Kenya. Over 400 academics, researchers, extension agents, farmers´ representatives, media experts, policy makers and representatives from international organizations and donors met in Nairobi to discuss innovations in extension and advisory services for food and livelihoods.
The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), the Forum for François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-42628112575492752382011-11-15T08:17:00.001-08:002011-11-15T08:17:53.384-08:00Impact of the breakthrough pigeonpea genome mapping on poor farmersThe International Crops Research for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and several partners, including China’sBGI-Shenzhen, have mapped the genome of the pigeonpea. The pigeonpea, or toor dāl in India, is an important food for millions of small farmers in semi-arid regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Often dubbed “poor man’s meat,” pigeonpeas are high in protein and amino acids, and François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-89631145686461133012011-11-07T00:13:00.001-08:002011-11-07T04:13:32.450-08:00Video-mediated farmer-to-farmer learning for sustainable agricultureFrom June to September 2011, Agro-Insight conducted a scoping study for SDC, GFRAS and SAI Platform on the production, dissemination and use of farmer training videos in developing countries, with a focus on sustainable agriculture. Literature was consulted, the internet screened, experts and users consulted and a global on-line survey launched in English, French and Spanish.
The survey was François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-43197709953888784032011-11-05T03:28:00.001-07:002011-11-05T03:37:25.430-07:00Innovation with Impact: Financing 21st Century Development4 November. Gates presented his “Innovation with Impact: Financing 21st Century Development” report (pdf) to world leaders in Cannes attending the G20, outlining the steps that should be taken to bring about a fairer, more equal planet.
Outlining the value of international aid, and the lives saved by advances in innovation, he said:“In the past 50 years, a billion people were saved from François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-34320890151107708682011-11-05T03:27:00.003-07:002011-11-05T03:27:45.171-07:00Tigray: Then and Now1 nov 2011. Salim Amin, son of legendary Kenyan videographer Mo Amin, ventures to Tigray Ethiopia -- the place hardest hit by the 1984 famine; the place his dad captured his most iconic footage; and the place that has since been the site of smart, long term investments by governments, donors, and local communities. Drought is still a fact of life in Tigray - but famine is not. These programs haveFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-80415949165105489072011-11-03T09:50:00.001-07:002011-11-03T09:50:30.702-07:00Increasing Agricultural Productivity and Enhancing Food Security in Africa: New Challenges and Opportunities
The November 1–3 conference “Increasing Agricultural Productivity and Enhancing Food Security in Africa: New Challenges and Opportunities,” was co-organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). Speakers and participants François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-36805339129932135012011-10-27T07:46:00.001-07:002011-10-27T08:24:59.192-07:00Global Conference on Climate Smart Agriculture
Alain Ange of FARA
24-26 October. Ede, The Netherlands. “Scientists and technology have a critical role to play if we are to achieve food security in the context of climate change,” said Sir John Beddington, Chair of the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change at the opening of the Global Science Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture in Ede, The Netherlands. He urged the François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-12029271097299949362011-10-27T07:45:00.001-07:002011-10-27T07:45:48.899-07:00PAEPARD: ARD funding opportunitiesA G R I C U L T U R E
FP7 KBBE 2012.
The European Commission invites research proposals in the theme of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology. All topics are open to third-country (non-EU) participation, including with International Cooperation Partner Countries. Cooperation with developing countries is foreseen for research on zoonotic diseases, biowaste, insect protein, global François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-46709560370509083342011-10-25T08:05:00.001-07:002011-10-25T08:05:33.984-07:00Financing agricultural value chains in Africa : a synthesis of four country case studiesThis 87 pages report Financing agricultural value chains in Africa : a synthesis of four country case studies represents the synthesis of a series of studies into agricultural finance in Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso, with a view to identifying strategies and tactics which would improve such access for commercially oriented agricultural value chains.
The policy recommendations will François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-86256710513398508062011-10-25T08:04:00.001-07:002011-10-25T08:04:32.867-07:00Outcome of the Call for Concept notes of PAEPARDPAEPARD launched on 31st May, 2011 a second call for applications for support to the development of multi-stakeholder partnerships that promote demand-driven agricultural innovation and research. PAEPARD partners were asked to disseminate as much as possible the call through their respective channels.
Per 15/07/2011, 69 Concept Notes (CNs) were submitted,
18 Applications did not fulfill the setFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-40774740619370514152011-10-17T03:00:00.001-07:002011-10-17T03:00:20.541-07:00FARA Weekly Update<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>FARA Secretariathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557564570307551261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-69357363980657655522011-10-13T04:00:00.003-07:002011-10-13T04:00:50.193-07:002011 Borlaug DialogueOctober 12-14, 2011 – Des Moines, Iowa. The 2011 Borlaug Dialogue international symposium gathered the top minds and foremost leaders in global agriculture, food and development. The World Food Prize celebrates its 25th Anniversary of bringing hunger issues to the forefront.
The "Next Generation" theme asked several critical questions:
What are the most pressing future challenges that the François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-19612186778114417262011-10-13T03:17:00.001-07:002011-10-13T03:17:01.912-07:0010th African Crop Science Society ConferenceOctober 10 – 13, 2011. Maputo, Mozambique. The 10th African Crop Science Society Conference emphasized the role of research in providing new and improved livelihood opportunities for farmers in Africa, thus improving their income and food security. The event provided a dynamic learning environment, with opportunities to interact and learn from one another, and to open and broaden horizons. The François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-16311526877938796662011-10-13T01:54:00.001-07:002011-10-13T01:54:18.757-07:00Regional Workshop of African and European Research Area programme managers for agriculture research for development11-13 Oct 2011 Uganda. ERA-ARD II together with FARA co-organized a workshop of the African and European Research Area programme managers for agriculture research for development (ARD).
The concept was to create a working mechanism for a real demand-driven co-ordination and alignment of joint research and training activities in Sub-Saharan Africa region especially in developing human and François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-31420883447700760912011-10-13T01:53:00.001-07:002011-10-13T01:53:40.023-07:00PAEPARD MTM in Accra5-7 October 2011. Accra. FARA. The PAEPARD project activities have reached cruise speed with the first and second calls for applications and suggestions concerning the organisation and scheduling of consortia, inception workshops, write-shops, multi-stakeholder consultations in Florence (Italy) and Nairobi (Kenya), and the Leeds meeting that adopted the capacity strengthening strategy. To put François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-4946450521983677592011-10-13T01:52:00.001-07:002011-10-13T01:52:51.008-07:00REGIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS DIALOGUE ON AGRICULTURE
5-7 October 2011. A three-day regional parliamentary dialogue on investments in agricultural value chains in Africa was held in Abuja, Nigeria.
The meeting, dubbed 2011 “Regional Parliamentary Dialogue: Enhancing Competitiveness through increased investments in Agriculture Value Chains in Africa” is been attended by legislators from the regional parliaments and national assemblies, government François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-70734470229482295792011-10-13T01:51:00.001-07:002011-10-13T01:51:58.262-07:00Conference on Scientific Support for Food Security and Global Governance28 September 2011. Brussels. The JRC-organised conference 'Scientific Support for Food Security and Global Governance', held on Wednesday 28 September in Brussels attracted 380 participants for a high-level discussion on the need to reconcile the necessity to increase production and competitiveness while respecting sustainable development in the framework of global governance. The conference François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-82068070264314308172011-09-20T08:50:00.001-07:002011-09-20T09:11:13.127-07:00Role of food and agriculture research at the UN high level meeting September 19-20
On September 7th, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) hosted a seminar and panel discussion about the role that food and agriculture research can, and should, play in the high level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on September 19-20. It was a continuation of their large “Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition and Health 2020 Conference,” held in New François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-33564433353022953202011-09-19T01:04:00.001-07:002011-09-19T01:20:18.282-07:00G20 Conference on Agricultural Research for Development
G20 Conference on Agricultural Research for Development
September 12-13, 2011. The French Presidency of the G20 convened in Montpellier a conference on Agriculture Research for Development, promoting scientific partnerships for food security.
This Conference provided a timely opportunity to consider how G20 Agricultural Research Systems can achieve a step-change in supporting development and to François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-67165406710152108202011-09-13T08:44:00.001-07:002011-09-13T08:45:06.152-07:00Ruralweb helps people apply ICT for development
Ruralweb tries to help people to make the most of the ICT available to them. It wants to help people apply ICT for development. To do that, you must first know how to use ICT (1st time online). Then you can use all the e-learning that is available online, or find and use resources that will foster development.
1st time online
This section of Rural Web is aimed at people who have never or François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-68371297499549492272011-09-08T08:33:00.001-07:002011-09-08T08:49:25.348-07:00New release! Platform study on policy coherence for ARDBonn, 8 Sep 2011. New release! Platform study on policy coherence for ARD (106 pages).
The international community is increasing efforts to foster coherence and institutional reform in the global policy and institutional framework for food security, agriculture and rural development. The UN HLTF, CFA and G8 / G20 work on the L'Aquila Food Security Initiative and on excessive global food price François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-26868256771612661782011-09-06T05:36:00.001-07:002011-09-06T05:36:13.066-07:00Value Chains, Donor Interventions and Poverty Reduction: A Review of Donor PracticeValue Chains, Donor Interventions and Poverty Reduction: A Review of Donor Practice IDS Research Reports March 2010 108 pages.
Value chain interventions are increasingly popular amongst donors aiming to promote market-oriented growth and poverty reduction. Based on the reflections of the community of practice itself and extensive desk research, this review critically examines the causal models François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-28870437603835671942011-09-03T04:07:00.000-07:002011-09-03T04:07:36.404-07:00Under what conditions are value chains effective tools for pro-poor development?Under what conditions are value chains effective tools for pro-poor development? Authors: Don Seville, Abbi Buxton and Bill Vorley, International institute for environment and development (IIED).
Understanding the benefits, costs and risks when connecting small-scale producers to formal markets is critical to informing companies, farmers, NGOs and donors in their decisions. This paper (IIED, François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-82328699102211451112011-09-03T03:58:00.001-07:002011-09-03T03:58:49.297-07:00African parliamentary support for agricultureAfrican parliamentary support for agriculture. Final Report for the Pilot Programme. Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa. 29 pp.
This is the final report of a pilot programme which investigated how parliamentary agriculture committees can be supported to help to provide better oversight on programmes looking at such things as achieving sustainable agricultural growth, food François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-70331941160763035872011-09-03T03:47:00.000-07:002011-09-03T03:47:41.750-07:00DFID backs extra year of RIU activity
Ian Maudlin
RIU Director
A 12-month extension (to June 2012) to the RIU has been agreed with DFID in order to allow certain key activities more time to generate additional knowledge outputs and provide greater and more in depth evidence of impact.
RIU aspires to:Strengthen innovation capacity
Explore patterns of partnerships, alliances or networks that span research, social, economic andFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-10171085402957965402011-09-03T03:27:00.001-07:002011-09-03T03:27:21.435-07:00Farm mechanisation toolkit: Guideline to bundling of demands and supply of mechanised servicesThis is a practical toolkit [24 pp., available in English and Kiswahili of the Research Into Use Programme (RIU)] aimed at helping smallholder farmers and providers of farm mechanisation services to develop a sustainable system for increasing access to mechanisation.
It describes, step-by-step, how farmers and machinery owners can bundle demands and supply of mechanisation services and benefit François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-45911123810592227062011-09-03T03:11:00.001-07:002011-09-03T03:11:15.598-07:00Identifying Market Opportunities for Rural Smallholder Producers
This new English version of the methodological tool kit developed by CIAT’s Rural Agroenterprise Development Project (Copyright © 2007 Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropicahas / Reprint edition published by Catholic Relief Services, Baltimore, 2008) (109 pages) has been extensively updated based on feedback.
The goal of this work is to enable service providers to empower rural François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-88351669131319755122011-09-03T03:07:00.000-07:002011-09-03T03:07:12.024-07:00Guide to making commodity-based projects workEdited by Paul Mundy et al. Published by Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) Website: www.kitpublishers.nl 2011, 150pp, ISBN 978 94 6022 156 9(Pb), €25 or free to download
From sorghum to shrimp is an accessible, sensible and practical, and a very valuable guide to making commodity-based projects work. It draws on the experience of 11 Commonwealth Fund for Commodities projects, from Asia, Africa and François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-75242305217555310682011-08-17T01:11:00.001-07:002011-08-17T01:11:36.120-07:00East African Organization Receives International Library Award For Creating Knowledge Centers in Rural AreasThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation presented on 17/08/2011 its 2011 Access to Learning Award to the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), which provides knowledge and information through a variety of innovative channels in remote communities throughout Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Members of these communities use the technology and other tools at ALIN’s Knowledge Centers to gain information to François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-1054600278072995922011-08-10T23:44:00.001-07:002011-08-10T23:44:50.706-07:00The fuel wood value chain and improved charcoal productionA documentary on the IFDC CATALIST/SEW project's modern charcoal production and agroforestry programs in Burundi, DRC and Rwanda. Run time: 40 minutes.
IFDC has released an educational and inspirational film, “Makala,” that illustrates improved charcoal production (carbonization) techniques that are more environmentally sustainable than traditional methods. “Charcoalers,” farmers and others François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-10636454412313355222011-08-10T03:52:00.000-07:002011-08-10T03:52:02.872-07:00ARD funding opportunitiesA G R I C U L T U R E
Be Fair award
Belgian Technical Cooperation -- Fair Trade in Developing Countries. Belgium's BTC invites small-scale producers and micro-enterprises in developing countries to compete for the "Be Fair" award of €5 thousand. The award is to help promote fair trade in the domestic market, or in markets of other developing countries (South-South trade). BTC will consider François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-41427056924485145822011-08-03T10:15:00.000-07:002011-08-03T10:15:04.518-07:00FARA Weekly Update<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>FARA Secretariathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557564570307551261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-23061008368892059202011-08-03T04:00:00.000-07:002011-08-03T04:14:21.417-07:00AfricaAdapt Innovation Fund 2011 - Deadline extendedThe 3rd Edition of the AfricaAdapt Innovation Fund is already proving to be a great success!
Due to the requests for information and to allow those in areas challenged by poor telecommunications sufficient time to submit their proposals (this call specifically targeting Community Based Organizations – CBOs), we have extended the closing date to August 22nd, 2011.
For details, please see theFARA Secretariathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557564570307551261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-88070808760860620452011-06-29T11:08:00.001-07:002011-06-29T11:08:44.944-07:00FARA Weekly Update<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>FARA Secretariathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557564570307551261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-68898672348258989582011-06-28T06:37:00.000-07:002011-06-28T06:37:11.203-07:00Challenges and innovative processes for Capacity Strengthening in Agriculture for DevelopmentFARA-EFARD-AGRINATURA SIDE EVENT
@ the Gchera - 77th Conference of the Global Consortium of Higher Education and Research for Agriculture
Using the opportunity of the 7th Conference of the Global Consortium of Higher Education and Research for Agriculture (GCHERA - 7), which is held between June 27 to 29, 2011 in Beauvais, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), AGRINATURA and François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-12659684109216655072011-06-28T05:46:00.001-07:002011-06-28T06:12:07.120-07:00Sustainable Nutrition Research for Africa in the Years to comeEU Funded project (2011-2013). Coordinator Prof Dr Patrick Kolsteren ITM Antwerp, Belgium. SUNRAY is a Coordination and Support Action of the EU FP7 AFRICA call under Grant Agreement nr. 266080
The SUNRAY project will develop a nutrition research agenda for sub-Saharan Africa. The main activities in SUNRAY are:Mapping of current research. SUNRAY will identify the main actors and lines of researchFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-90466294756998079132011-06-28T05:36:00.001-07:002011-06-28T05:36:24.121-07:001st Africa College International Conference: Food security, Health and Impact Knowledge Brokering22nd - 24th June 2011, Devonshire Hall, University of Leeds, UK. The goal of this conference was to demonstrate and share lessons on how to translate research results into impact on food security and human health in sub-Saharan Africa. It had two objectives:
To determine how the results of basic science and inter-disciplinary research lead to impact on food security and human health.
To explore François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-31868200027876977902011-06-26T05:43:00.001-07:002011-06-26T05:43:51.231-07:00G20 lacked the teeth to bite the neck of the crisis, according to food experts and NGOs
Olivier De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur
on the Right to Food
24 June 2011 (IRIN) - The agriculture ministers of major economies, rich as well as emerging, meeting for the first time as the world verges on another food crisis in only four years, have disappointed. Their decisions, summed up in a 24-page Action Plan on Food Price Volatility and Agriculture, lacked the teeth to bite the François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-30447552244183610362011-06-26T02:59:00.001-07:002011-06-26T03:24:19.897-07:00IITA PARTNERS LAUNCH INITIATIVES TO TACKLE KILLER AFLATOXIN IN AFRICAN CROPS14 June 2011. A new strategy in combating the aflatoxin-causing fungus Aspergillus flavus was recently launched in Nigeria. The project funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation aims to develop a biocontrol technology that includes the introduction of strains of the non-toxic fungus in the affected fields to outcompete and reduce the population of the toxic ones.
Aflatoxin contamination in François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-29516900245272744262011-06-19T14:01:00.001-07:002011-06-19T14:01:06.106-07:00Enhance the quality and marketability of locally-produced rice through improved harvest and postharvest technologies19 June 2011. A pioneering project to enhance the quality and marketability of locally-produced rice through improved harvest and postharvest technologies in eight pilot countries of West and East Africa has just been launched by the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice).
Describing the project as “one of the first-of-its-kind for rice in SSA,” AfricaRice economist Dr. Aliou Diagne stated that François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-24535335125225746852011-06-16T03:47:00.001-07:002011-06-16T03:47:14.280-07:00SUCCEED WITH SEEDSA farmer field school in Tanzania experiments with new sorghum varieties.
This video is a shortened version and part of a farmer-to-farmer training video series on integrated striga and soil fertility management. The entire series will shortly be available in French and English.
Video produced by Agro-Insight under The HOPE project (ICRISAT), funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-10487896172136131352011-06-16T03:46:00.001-07:002011-06-16T03:46:29.569-07:00Global Community of Practice on AgribusinessinfoDev's Global Community of Practice (CoP) on Agribusiness was formally launched in cooperation with ICRISAT at a kick-off meeting during October 26-28, 2010, in Hyderabad, India and culminated in a Declaration of Cooperation around four key action areas.
According to the World Bank, the potential of agricultural growth to reduce poverty is four times greater than the potential of growth from François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-34137144220105998002011-06-16T03:45:00.001-07:002011-06-16T03:45:31.674-07:00Emerging market SMEs in the information and communication technologies (ICT) and agribusiness sectorsMay 30 to June 3, 2011. infoDev’s 4th Global Forum on Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship was held in Helsinki, Finland. The event was carried out within the framework of a joint program with the Government of Finland and Nokia on Creating Sustainable Businesses for the Knowledge Economy. This €12.9 million program, running from 2010-2012, focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-69443938973255478502011-06-10T00:49:00.001-07:002011-06-10T00:49:35.006-07:00PAEPARD: ARD funding opportunitiesA G R I C U L T U R E
PAEPARD invites innovative partnerships to apply for support
The Platform for African-European Partnership on Agricultural Research for Development (PAEPARD) supports the establishment of innovative partnerships of African and European stakeholders that engage in agricultural innovation and collaborative research to address shared challenges and opportunities of the François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-50885045552212518762011-06-07T00:49:00.000-07:002011-06-07T00:49:12.828-07:00Partnership promoting agricultural development unveiled in Southern Sudan6 May 2011. The United States, Netherlands and two leading agriculture-focused nonprofits are collaborating to back the Southern Sudanese government’s efforts “to transform farms into businesses.”
The communiqué was signed between the U.S. Agency for International Development, Dutch government, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa and International Fertilizer Development Center on May 6 at François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-83027784413573350652011-06-06T01:05:00.001-07:002011-06-06T01:05:58.047-07:00Evergreen AgriculturePhoto: Maize growing under a full canopy of Faidherbia albida in southern TanzaniaEvergreen Agriculture - the combination of trees in farming systems (agroforestry) with the principles of conservation farming - is emerging as an affordable and accessible science-based solution to caring better for the land and increasing smallholder food production.The World Agroforestry Centre has compiled a webFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-3094623126156696822011-06-06T00:40:00.001-07:002011-06-06T00:40:58.087-07:00Missing Food: The Case of Postharvest Grain Losses in Sub-Saharan Africa
Maize crib used as a sack store for dried grain by rendering the sides rainproof and fitting rat guards to the legs, Nigeria.31 May 2011, Rome/Accra - Investing in post-harvest technologies to reduce food losses could significantly increase the food supply in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new FAO/World Bank report released today as technical experts from around the region meet to discuss François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-74731267608521127262011-06-03T09:14:00.001-07:002011-06-03T09:14:42.916-07:00Farmer networks hold key to agricultural innovation in developing countries
This study on farmer networks was co-authored by Pamela Matson, dean of the School of Earth Sciences and senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford.New technologies can improve agricultural sustainability in developing countries, but only with the engagement of local farmers and the social and economic networks they depend on, say Stanford University researchers.“Most François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-3298927793258446362011-06-03T08:56:00.001-07:002011-06-03T08:56:37.950-07:00Oxfam International released a new report predicting that food prices would double over the next twenty years
A new report by Oxfam International warns of rising
food prices over the next 20 years.
(Photo credit: Oxfam International)
Oxfam International released a new report predicting that food prices would double over the next twenty years, leading to more suffering among the world’s poor. For example, in India, the number of hungry people grew to 65 million people between 1990 and 2005, and high François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-34427213667254736492011-06-02T10:34:00.001-07:002011-06-03T05:15:56.489-07:00PAEPARD invite des partenariats à formuler une demande d’appuiPAEPARD invite des partenariats à formuler une demande d’appui
La Plateforme pour un partenariat Afrique-Europe dans le domaine de la recherche agricole pour le développement (PAEPARD) appuie la création de partenariats innovants d’acteurs africains et européens qui s’engagent dans l’innovation agricole et la recherche collectives afin de relever des opportunités et des défis communs aux François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-88121675359941598532011-06-01T11:39:00.000-07:002011-06-02T08:01:18.559-07:00PAEPARD invites innovative partnerships to apply for support1st June 2011. PAEPARD invites innovative partnerships to apply for support
The Platform for African-European Partnership on Agricultural Research for Development (PAEPARD) supports the establishment of innovative partnerships of African and European stakeholders that engage in agricultural innovation and collaborative research to address shared challenges and opportunities of the partners François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-36763551295862465782011-06-01T09:34:00.001-07:002011-06-01T09:34:36.766-07:00Successes in African agriculture: Rwandan agricultural innovator on CNNJune 1, 2011. A maverick entrepreneur and self-made millionaire, Sina Gerard is probably Rwanda's most famous businessman. Having established a business empire from the bottom up, he's now training local farmers to help make Rwanda an agricultural exporter. Twenty-five years ago he had just one employee, who helped him sell the bread he baked at his parents' farm. Now, Gerard says he employs François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-26760986391778273442011-05-31T23:56:00.000-07:002011-05-31T23:56:57.892-07:00Announcement: Agricultural R&D: Investing in Africa’s FutureASTI, together with the International Food Policy Report Institute (IFPRI), where ASTI is based, and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), is convening a conference on agricultural R&D in Africa focused on the following themes: 1. Levels and Stability of Agricultural R&D Investments; 2. Human Resource Development of Agricultural R&D; 3. Aligning and Rationalizing Institutional FARA Secretariathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00557564570307551261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-17219862977091857352011-05-31T07:09:00.001-07:002011-05-31T07:09:46.947-07:00India, Africa to cooperate for increasing agricultural output25 May 2011. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Africa and India laid the foundations for a stronger partnership with the adoption, by proclamation, of two key documents i.e. the Addis Ababa Declaration and the Africa- India Framework for Enhanced Cooperation. It sets out specific agreements to cooperate in the following areas: economic; political; science, technology, research and development; social François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-6205125698834510492011-05-31T06:20:00.001-07:002011-05-31T06:20:07.519-07:00AGRA and USDA explore ways to help smallholder farmers in Africa through coordinated research, exchanges, training and development activitiesMay 26, 2011. WASHINGTON. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore ways to help smallholder farmers in Africa through coordinated research, exchanges, training and development activities.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (left)
and Alliance for a Green François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-18291547086747242032011-05-27T03:30:00.000-07:002011-05-27T03:30:34.700-07:00Leveraging Private Sector Investment in Developing Country Agrifood SystemsTitle: Leveraging Private Sector Investment in Developing Country Agrifood Systems
Authors: International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council (IPC Study commissioned by the Global Agricultural Development Initiative)
The research for this paper (May 2011, 73 pages) involved a myriad of discussions on Transnational Corporations’ involvement in the food and agricultural sectors of developing François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-40041117055593318712011-05-27T03:19:00.001-07:002011-05-27T03:19:50.363-07:00IFAD to help support diaspora investments in rural development and agricultural projectsMay 17-19, 2011. Washington, D.C. The US Department of State, in partnership with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Migration Policy Institute, organized the first ever Secretary’s Global Diaspora Forum, focused on involving US-based diasporas in foreign policy and development efforts to achieve common-interest goals.
The Forum challenged diaspora communities to forge François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-10965160201995561562011-05-27T02:39:00.001-07:002011-05-27T02:39:44.330-07:00International Conference and Exhibition on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa: Fostering Innovation13-15 May 2011. Addis Ababa (Adis Abeba), Ethiopia. This conference, organized by the Institute for Science and Sustainable Development (ISSD), addressed the role of biotechnologies in the transformation of African economies.
It aimed to:
provide a sound scientific knowledge base on issues related to technology transfer and capacity building;
identify more efficient ways and means of building François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-39845481878124469092011-05-27T02:17:00.001-07:002011-05-30T00:42:22.535-07:002011 Progress Report on U.S. Leadership in Global Agricultural Development
Tuesday, May 24th. The Chicago Council on Global Affairs held its annual Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security in Washington, D.C. , featuring keynote presentations from Bill Gates, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Rajiv Shah, and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tom Vilsack. The event coincided with the release of the François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-81071645255777280172011-05-26T08:27:00.001-07:002011-05-26T08:27:49.171-07:00India, Africa and Food Security: Between the Summits,09 March 2011. SOUTH- SOUTH COOPERATION. This is a report of a conference held on the 10th and 11th of January 2011. Organized by: the Centre for African Studies University of Mumbai.
The conference on South- South Cooperation (SSC): India, Africa and Food Security: Between the Summits, was organized in collaboration with Nordic Africa Institute (Uppsala, Sweden) and the World Trade Centre François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-40659278953280930912011-05-24T00:28:00.001-07:002011-05-24T00:29:47.442-07:00Announcement: Second Global Share related to agriculture, food security, price volatility, climate change, etc.
26 – 29 September 2011. Rome, IFAD Headquarters. The Second Global Share Fair will provide a forum for participants to learn and share their knowledge, experience and innovations on emerging trends relating to agriculture, food security, price volatility, climate change, changing demographics, and other rural development related issues.
Building on the success of the first global knowledge François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-48379259199249333232011-05-24T00:08:00.001-07:002011-05-24T00:08:04.905-07:00EU-ACP Proposal Writing Training Course with focus on neglected and underutilized species of plants
When: August 29th – September 2nd, 2011
Where: Lilongwe, Malawi
Deadline: June 3rd, 2011
For whom: Prospective applicants for IFS Research Grants from: Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya & Uganda
The International Foundation for Science (IFS), Bioversity International, RUFORUM, and the University of Malawi – Bunda College, will conduct a Proposal Writing Training Course with focus on François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-31949572011848412022011-05-23T23:54:00.001-07:002011-05-23T23:54:39.756-07:00Announcement: Student Conference: Climate Change and Indigenous Knowledge15th to 17th August 2011, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The African Young Scientists Initiative on Climate Change and Indigenous Knowledge (AYSICCIK) is organising an International Student Conference: Climate Change and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), (CCIKS2011)
The objectives of the conference are:
To create an international platform for students and youth to exchange ideas and François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-54213306165079991392011-05-23T23:49:00.001-07:002011-05-23T23:49:55.246-07:00Announcement: FERTILIZER POLICY AND MARKETING STRATEGIES IN AFRICAJuly 4-8, 2011. Nairobi, Kenya.The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) announced an international workshop entitled “Fertilizer Policy and Marketing Strategies in Africa”.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?The workshop is designed for policymakers, private sector entrepreneurs, producer organizations, agro- input dealers, financial institutions and development partners François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-82450880311429711482011-05-23T05:41:00.000-07:002011-05-23T05:41:40.209-07:00PAEPARD's contribution to Public consultation on the EC Green PaperOn 9th February 2011, the European Commission presented a Green Paper 'From Challenges to Opportunities: Towards a Common Strategic Framework for EU research and innovation funding' (COM (2011) 48).
This paper proposed major changes to EU research and innovation funding to make participation easier, increase scientific and economic impact and provide better value for money.
The changes, to be François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-48950566413826186932011-05-23T03:27:00.000-07:002011-05-23T03:36:13.471-07:00The Story of Agriculture and the Green Economy... ahead of G8 SummitFarming First has launched a six-part online infographic called “The Story of Agriculture and the Green Economy”, which uses data from leading research organisations to tell the story of agriculture’s potential contribution to building a global green economy.
All of the images have been designed so that they can be Tweeted and embedded on external websites and blogs so that others can share the François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-41580835574558645702011-05-23T02:25:00.001-07:002011-05-23T02:42:12.149-07:00Protecting and restoring forest carbon in tropical Africa: A guide for donors and funders
This report on forests in tropical Africa is the first to be published by the Forests Philanthropy Action Network (FPAN). The culmination of nearly two years of desk and field research, it provides an introduction and some initial guidance on important questions such as: which interventions to protect and restore Africa's tropical forest carbon are likely to be successful? Under what François Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-57746050659219594392011-05-23T01:18:00.001-07:002011-05-23T01:38:54.244-07:00Announcement: Second African Diaspora Marketplace18/05/2011. The FINANCIAL - Business Initiative for U.S.-based African Diaspora Announced at Secretary Clinton’s Global Diaspora Forum. The Western Union Company a leader in global payment services, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced they will launch a second African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM) in the fourth quarter of 2011.
The ADM encourages sustainableFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6415377816101006262.post-20513415361072460742011-05-23T00:26:00.001-07:002011-05-23T00:26:55.432-07:00AMITSA: web- and mobile-based market information system on agro-inputsAMITSA is a multi-country, web- and mobile-based market information system on agro-inputs for eastern and southern Africa implemented in collaboration with IFDC, Esoko, COMESA and EAC.
The lack of accurate, up-to-date information on agro-inputs is one of the major constraints to agricultural productivity and to the development of business linkages and trade in the region. To address this problemFrançois Stepmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09437969068162640227noreply@blogger.com