Tag Archives: Green Revolution

Special bananas: Africa’s answer to Golden Rice?

Oluwabusayo Sotunde (writing as Busayo in Ventures Africa) tells us about a ‘special banana’ (Musa × paradisiaca) rich in alpha-carotene and beta-carotene. After eating those carotenes, the body converts them to Vitamin A. So they’re ‘provitamins’. This new genetically modified … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, horticulture, human health, knowledge transfer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Call for articles: Nutritional values and family farming

Originally posted on AGRICULTURE BLOG…..:
Farming Matters | 30.2 | June 2014 We are told of the great advances that have been made in ‘modern’ agriculture in the last 60 years. Yet there are more hungry and malnourished people on…

Posted in agriculture, food, horticulture, human health, knowledge transfer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is biodiverse food?

Ann Tutwiler of Bioversity International tells us why in the 21st century, we need biodiverse food. And she tells us what that could mean. Ms Tutwiler doesn’t mince her words, saying that a need for dramatically increased food production is … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, food, horticulture, knowledge transfer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Invest More in Agriculture Not Industries

Originally posted on Foundation for Young Farmers:
A very appropriate theme when Africa is rising, was one of my first thoughts. Participants were researchers, academics, policymakers from the UN, AU, governments and NGOs as well as people like me who…

Posted in agriculture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Biodiversity to feed the world

When people say that the world needs more food, often they’re quoting the United Nations’ (UN’s) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In 2012 FAO predicted that by the middle of this century, the world’s farmers will need to produce 60% … Continue reading

Posted in food, knowledge transfer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Does Africa want a green revolution? Or food sovereignty?

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is working for a food secure and prosperous Africa. Its founders are from the United States. ‘Its programs develop practical solutions to significantly boost farm productivity and incomes for the poor … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, food | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Remember the forgotten crops

This is my 1000th post on this blog. My 500th is here. I use my 1000th post to honour Monkombu Swaminathan, the scientist known as Father of the Green Revolution in India. Here’s an interview with Fred Pearce at Bioversity … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, food, horticulture, knowledge transfer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Debunking Golden Rice myths: a geneticist’s perspective

Michael Purugganan at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) explains why he believes in the genetically modified (GM, genetically engineered, GE) rice called Golden Rice. He says that Golden Rice is part of the ‘answers to global malnutrition’. After dismissing … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, food, human health, knowledge transfer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Update on rice after Haiyan

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) have published a report about the damage Typoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) did to farming. Here it is. Filipino farmers grow rice (Oryza sativa) twice each year: … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, food, weather and climate | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Fight of Our Lives

Originally posted on Day by Day the Farm Girl Way…:
I grew up in the agricultural heartland of America. My parents were farmers, as were their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Farming is my legacy.  And, even though I am not…

Posted in agriculture, food, knowledge transfer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment