How Fatty Foods Curb Hunger

Fatty foods may not be the healthiest diet choice, but those rich in unsaturated fats - such as avocados, nuts and olive oil - have been found to play a pivotal role in sending this important message to your brain: stop eating, you're full. A new study by UC Irvine pharmacologists shows that these fats trigger production of a compound in the small intestine that curbs hunger pangs. This discovery, the researchers say, points toward new approaches to treating obesity and other eating disorders. Daniele Piomelli, the Louise Turner Arnold Chair in Neurosciences, and his colleagues have studied how a fat-derived compound called oleoylethanolamide regulates hunger and body weight. In their current work, which appears in the Oct. 8 issue of Cell Metabolism, they found that an unsaturated fatty acid called oleic acid stimulates production of OEA, which in turn decreases appetite. Oleic acid is transformed into OEA by cells in the upper region of the small intestine. OEA then finds its way to nerve endings that carry the hunger-curbing message to the brain. There, it activates a brain circuit that increases feelings of fullness. In previous studies, Piomelli found that increasing OEA levels can reduce appetite, produce weight loss and lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Piomelli believes OEA could be used in a variety of drugs because it is a key to the way the body naturally handles fatty foods and regulates eating and body weight. "We are excited to find that OEA activates cell receptors that already have been the focus of successful drug development," he said. "This gives us hope for a new class of anti-obesity drugs based on the savvy use of natural appetite-controlling mechanisms." Nearly 30 percent of Americans are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has declared obesity an epidemic disease. The occurrence of obesity has risen by almost 60 percent since 1991, and it greatly increases the risk of premature death, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Source: Cathy Lawhon, University of California - Irvine 08 Oct 2008 Article adapted from original press release. (Source: Medical News Today; Rachel Leach - HOPE network and network Co-Ordinators)

HHS Announces Physical Activity Guidelines For Americans, USA

Adults gain substantial health benefits from two and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic physical activity, and children benefit from an hour or more of physical activity a day, according to the new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The comprehensive set of recommendations for people of all ages and physical conditions was released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The guidelines are designed so people can easily fit physical activity into their daily plan and incorporate activities they enjoy. Physical activity benefits children and adolescents, young and middle-aged adults, older adults, and those in every studied racial and ethnic group, the report said. "It's important for all Americans to be active, and the guidelines are a roadmap to include physical activity in their daily routine," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "The evidence is clear -- regular physical activity over months and years produces long-term health benefits and reduces the risk of many diseases. The more physically active you are, the more health benefits you gain." Regular physical activity reduces the risk in adults of early death, coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression. It can improve thinking ability in older adults and the ability to engage in activities needed for daily living. The recommended amount of physical activity in children and adolescents improves cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness as well as bone health, and contributes to favorable body composition. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are the most comprehensive of their kind. They are based on the first thorough review of scientific research about physical activity and health in more than a decade. A 13-member advisory committee appointed in April 2007 by Secretary Leavitt reviewed research and produced an extensive report.

Key guidelines by group are:

Children and Adolescents -- One hour or more of moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity a day, including vigorous-intensity physical activity at least three days a week. Examples of moderate-intensity aerobic activities include hiking, skateboarding, bicycle riding and brisk walking. Vigorous-intensity aerobic activities include bicycle riding, jumping rope, running and sports such as soccer, basketball and ice or field hockey. Children and adolescents should incorporate muscle-strengthening activities, such as rope climbing, sit-ups, and tug-of war, three days a week. Bone-strengthening activities, such as jumping rope, running and skipping, are recommended three days a week.

Adults -- Adults gain substantial health benefits from two and one half hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity. Walking briskly, water aerobics, ballroom dancing and general gardening are examples of moderate-intensity aerobic activities. Vigorous-intensity aerobic activities include racewalking, jogging or running, swimming laps, jumping rope and hiking uphill or with a heavy backpack. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes. For more extensive health benefits, adults should increase their aerobic physical activity to five hours a week moderate-intensity or two and one half hours a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Adults should incorporate muscle strengthening activities, such as weight training, push-ups, sit-ups and carrying heavy loads or heavy gardening, at least two days a week.

Older adults -- Older adults should follow the guidelines for other adults when it is within their physical capacity. If a chronic condition prohibits their ability to follow those guidelines, they should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow. If they are at risk of falling, they should also do exercises that maintain or improve balance.

Women during pregnancy -- Healthy women should get at least two and one half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week during pregnancy and the time after delivery, preferably spread through the week. Pregnant women who habitually engage in vigorous aerobic activity or who are highly active can continue during pregnancy and the time after delivery, provided they remain healthy and discuss with their health care provider how and when activity should be adjusted over time.

Adults with disabilities -- Those who are able should get at least two and one half hours of moderate aerobic activity a week, or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week. They should incorporate muscle-strengthening activities involving all major muscle groups two or more days a week. When they are not able to meet the guidelines, they should engage in regular physical activity according to their abilities and should avoid inactivity.

People with chronic medical conditions -- Adults with chronic conditions get important health benefits from regular physical activity. They should do so with the guidance of a health care provider. For more information about the "Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans," visit http://www.hhs.gov or http://www.health.gov/paguidelines. 08 October 2008 (Source: Medical News Today; Rachel Leach - HOPE network and network Co-Ordinators)

Obesity boom will cost tax payers

Soaring obesity levels look set to drain local health and public service budgets, which will mean higher taxes for all, experts warn. Obesity could cost NHS in England £6.3bn by 2015 if no effective action is taken says the Department of Health. Local councils in England and Wales are already shelling out tens of thousands of pounds on "fat-friendly" services, like widening crematoria furnaces. This comes as work shows obesity levels may have been grossly underestimated. The Local Government Association, which represents over 400 councils in England and Wales, says that Britain is fast becoming the "obesity capital of the world" and even more must be done to stop the nation's waistline continuing to expand. Cllr David Rogers, LGA spokesperson on public health, said: "It's a massive issue for public health but it also risks placing an unprecedented amount of pressure on council services. "Obesity is increasingly costing the council taxpayer dear. It falls to social services to care for the house-bound obese adults, to invest money in encouraging people to be active and to replace school furniture that is just too small for larger pupils. "Council equipment and infrastructure is having to be modified to deal with a population that is getting larger and larger." He said social services were increasingly having to consider taking action in cases where parents consistently placed their children at risk of morbid obesity through bad diet and lack of exercise. He called for a national debate about the extent to which it is acceptable. Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum said "draconian" interventions were necessary. He warned that, as a nation, we are all getting fatter and risked early death as a result. Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said: "Nothing has changed in my mind about the seriousness of this threat to the country's future health. "In England almost two-thirds of adults and a third of children are either overweight or obese. "Without action this could rise to nine in 10 adults and two-thirds of children by 2050." A US doctor says Britain's health calculations are wrong and that three out of four adults in this country are now overweight or obese, not two-thirds. Dr Francisco Lopez-Jimenez of the Mayo Clinic told the National Obesity Forum in London many people with a normal body mass index or BMI - the figure typically used to determine obesity - still weigh too much because this measure does not distinguish between fat and muscle, which weighs more. His study of more than 2,000 men and women with a normal BMI found one in five still had excess body fat, which Dr Lopez-Jimenez says is a true marker of obesity. 7 October 2008 (Source: BBC News; Rachel Leach - HOPE network and network Co-Ordinators)

Three out of four British adults 'are too fat'

Three-quarters of British adults are too fat, according to new research that suggests the traditional way of calculating body mass is wrong. The study claims 10 per cent more people are overweight or obese than previously believed, putting them at risk of suffering serious health problems such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It says that although they may have a normal Body Mass Index, the calculation usually used to determine obesity, this does not distinguish between lean mass and body fat and so they may still weigh too much. Dr Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, the Harvard-trained associate professor of Medicine at America's Mayo Clinic, told delegates at the National Obesity Forum conference in London: "I believe that the UK's obesity problem is significantly worse than we thought. "Our research has proved that one out of every five subjects with normal BMI has excess body fat, and that these people are at risk from metabolic abnormalities that lead to diabetes and eventually, to heart disease. "Therefore, it is important to correctly identify these patients from a public health standpoint and be more precise about the changing conceptualisation of obesity." He went on: "It is currently reported that 66 per cent of UK adults are either overweight or obese but based on our research, it is more likely to be at least 75 per cent. This clearly highlights that health care professionals must adopt body composition monitoring at an individual level to avoid mis-classifying patients with excess body fat as non-obese. If we do, we miss the opportunity to intervene and reduce the health risk in such individuals." BMI is calculated by dividing weight by height squared. A BMI of 25 to 29 is classed as overweight, while over 30 is obese and anyone with a score over 40 is morbidly obese and in danger of causing serious damage to their health. The Mayo Clinic studied 2,127 men and women who had a normal BMI – between 18.5 and 24. Their body composition was examined and it was found that one in five still had excess body fat. Dr Lopez-Jimenez concluded that doctors should use a technique called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis to work out how fat their patients are, rather than BMI. By sending an electric current through the body, this allows experts to detect when it encounters fat tissue and so calculate their body fat percentage. The NOF's conference describes obesity as "the scourge of modern civilisation", creating serious health problems for individuals and costs for the taxpayer in terms of medical treatment and society in terms of lost productivity. As The Daily Telegraph reported this week, the conference will hear tomorrow that dangerously overweight children should be taken away from their homes and given radical weight-loss surgery. Dr David Haslam, Clinical Director of the NOF, said: "We have become a nation where overweight is the norm and it is only getting worse. This growth in obesity and its legacy of disease demands that health care professionals move forward with urgency to prioritise the way in which weight management is delivered. "The NHS costs attributable to the problem are already estimated to be £5 billion per year while the wider costs to society and business could be four times higher. Appropriately, it really is time to tighten our belts, stop paying lip service to the problem and take serious action at all levels." David Rogers, the Local Government Association’s public health spokesman, said: “The nation’s expanding waistline threatens to have a devastating impact on our public services. It’s a massive issue for public health but it also risks placing an unprecedented amount of pressure on council services. “The UK is fast becoming the obesity capital of the world and the effect of spiralling obesity amongst children is particularly worrying.” The study claims 10 per cent more people are overweight or obese than previously feared, putting them at risk of suffering serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Although many people have a normal Body Mass Index, the calculation usually used to determine obesity, they may still weigh too much as this figure does not distinguish between lean mass and body fat. The warning came at a conference of the National Obesity Forum in London, where the obesity epidemic was described as "the scourge of modern civilisation", creating serious health problems for individuals and costs for the taxpayer in terms of medical treatment and for society in terms of lost productivity. Official NHS figures published today show £4.2billion was spent on tackling obesity-related diseases in 2007, a figure which could rise to £6.3bn by 2015 if no action is taken. A person's genes are the main factor in determining whether they will become overweight, delegates were told. But the easy availability of cheap junk food and a steep decline in the amount of exercise people take have led to an obesity epidemic unprecedented in human history, experts said. Dr Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, the Harvard-trained associate professor of Medicine at America's Mayo Clinic, added that the unreliability of the BMI calculation means the true scale of the problem is even worse than feared. He told the conference: "I believe that the UK's obesity problem is significantly worse than we thought. "Our research has proved that one out of every five subjects with normal BMI has excess body fat, and that these people are at risk from metabolic abnormalities that lead to diabetes and eventually, to heart disease. He went on: "It is currently reported that 66 per cent of UK adults are either overweight or obese but based on our research, it is more likely to be at least 75 per cent. This clearly highlights that health care professionals must adopt body composition monitoring at an individual level to avoid mis-classifying patients with excess body fat as non-obese." A person's BMI is calculated by dividing their weight by height squared. A BMI of 25 to 29 is classed as overweight, while over 30 is obese and anyone with a score over 40 is morbidly obese and in danger of causing serious damage to their health. The Mayo Clinic studied 2,127 men and women who had a normal BMI - between 18.5 and 24 - and discovered that one in five still had excess body fat. Dr Lopez-Jimenez concluded that doctors should use a technique called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis to work out how fat their patients are, rather than BMI. By sending an electric current through the body, this allows experts to detect when it encounters fat tissue and so calculate their body fat percentage. Latest figures from the NHS's Health Survey for England show the proportion of obese men in the country rose from 13 per cent in 1993 to 24 per cent in 2006, while 43 per cent are now overweight. The proportion of obese women over 16 rose from 16 per cent in 2003 to 24 per cent in 2004 while 32 per cent are overweight. In addition, it is feared a third of 13-year-olds are obese or overweight. Thanks to scientific advances and studies of twins, researchers now believe inherited characteristics to be the most important influence on weight. They have identified a range of genes that, when mutated, greatly increase a person's risk of becoming overweight at an early age and are developing drugs to target them. The mutant genes affect parts of the brain associated with appetite and reward, leaving individuals who have them feeling hungrier. So discovering which people have them could mean the obese are treated like sufferers of other diseases rather than condemned for their gluttony, experts hope. Dr Stephen O'Rahilly of the University of Cambridge said: "This growing understanding could lead to a more humane treatment of obesity." However some believe more drastic action must be taken and the conference will hear today that dangerously overweight children should be taken away from their homes and given radical weight-loss surgery. Dr David Haslam, Clinical Director of the NOF, said: "We have become a nation where overweight is the norm and it is only getting worse." A new NHS survey shows just one in 10 parents with fat children recognised the problem, while fewer than half of adults know that obesity can lead to heart disease and cancer. The Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, said: "Obesity is the biggest health challenge we face - every year 9,000 people die prematurely. And many people simply just don't know that being overweight can lead to major health problems including heart disease and cancer. "We are leading the world when it comes to facing up to the problem and tackling obesity. From this autumn we are aiming to change the way we all live our lives." Source: Martin Beckford, Social Affairs Correspondent 07 October 2008 (Source: telegraph.co.uk; Rachel Leach - HOPE network and network Co-Ordinators)

Chinese schoolchildren must run one kilometre a day, government says

Chinese schoolchildren will have to run at least one kilometre a day, the government has announced. Under the new scheme, dubbed "Winter Sunshine Sports", primary school children will have to run one kilometre, junior students will run one-and-a-half, while high school and university students will run two. The programme kicks off on October 26 and students are expected to have to complete their runs in their break times. The sports departments of provincial governments will enforce the scheme, which will continue until the end of April. Chen Zhiyong, an official at the General Administration of Sport, said schools will arrange where the students can run, but races along busy roads will not be allowed. The government is concerned by a rapid increase in child obesity after a report last year from the Health ministry showed that urban six-year-old boys are 2.5 inches taller and 6.6 pounds heavier on average than 30 years ago. China's increasing wealth has led to the wider consumption of meat and a more sedentary lifestyle. "The speed of the increase greatly exceeds the growth trends found in Western developed countries," said Yang Qing, director of the child health department of the Health ministry. Around eight per cent of 10 to 12-year-olds in cities are now thought to be obese and another 15 per cent are overweight. In the United States, around 19 per cent of children between 6 and 11 are overweight. The winter running scheme will also have a political element. The total distance run by the students will be a multiple of 60 in order to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party this year. Primary school children will have to complete a minimum of 120km, while older students will run 180km to 240km. The government has promised that the performance of the students will not be recorded in their long-term files. Source: Malcolm Moore in Shanghai 06 October 2008 (Source: telegraph.co.uk; Rachel Leach - HOPE network and network Co-Ordinators)

New Study Proves Beacon Street Girls Books Fight Childhood Obesity

Popular Series for Preteen Girls Has Significant Positive Impact on Weight, Body Mass Index (BMI); Helps Teach Tweens Healthy Habits -- A new study from Duke Children's Hospital indicates the Beacon Street Girls' popular book series helps tween girls improve their eating and exercise habits, and significantly improve their Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles. The study was presented over the weekend at the Obesity Society annual scientific meeting. The most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (2003--2004) shows that approximately 18 percent of children aged 6 to 19 years old are overweight. The Beacon Street Girls brand was specifically designed to entertain while providing healthy role models and positive messages. "We are extremely proud to be associated with this important study, as well as delighted that our dedication to quality media had a concrete impact on the health of a group of young girls," said Addie Swartz, CEO, B*tween Productions, Inc., the home of the Beacon Street Girls. "This study confirms what we had previously heard from parents -- that girls take life lessons from the Beacon Street Girls and actually change their behaviors." Study Overview and Findings The study, Can Children's Literature Promote Healthy Lifestyles?, tested whether an age-appropriate novel can improve BMI as well as exercise and nutrition-related knowledge and behaviors in tween girls enrolled in a childhood obesity treatment program. A group of overweight and obese girls enrolled in The Duke Healthy Lifestyles Program read Lake Rescue, the sixth book in the Beacon Street Girls 18-book series, or Charlotte in Paris, one of the Beacon Street Girls special adventure books. A control group was not given a book. Lake Rescue tells the story of an overweight girl whose adventures help her learn the importance of appropriate nutrition and exercise. The book was developed in consultation with five healthy lifestyle experts. Charlotte in Paris features the Beacon Street characters and signature positive messages designed to promote self-esteem but does not directly address weight issues. According to the study, girls who read either Beacon Street Girls book as part of the program decreased their BMIs more significantly than other girls in the study. After 6 months, researchers found the girls who read Lake Rescue experienced a significant decrease in their Body Mass Index (BMI), when compared to girls who hadn't read the book. (Because kids are still growing, BMI is the most accurate measure of a healthy weight.) Surprisingly, the Charlotte in Paris readers also had positive results, losing more than non-readers but not as much as Lake Rescue readers. The only other proven and effective strategies for adolescent weight loss today involve medication, surgery or other invasive techniques. Online World Provides Another Avenue to Reach Girls with Positive Messages Both the books and the Beacon Street Girls website help girls grapple with issues they face as adolescents. The online world of the Beacon Street Girls provides a friendly format for receiving the most up-to-date advice and guidance from leading experts in adolescence. These experts also work with B*tween to cover a variety of tween-specific issues, including body image, online safety, diet and healthy lifestyles. Book "extras" from Lake Rescue are available online, including "Healthy You" recipes, lifestyle and exercise tips. The Beacon Street Girls' safe social network is modeled on a virtual junior high, complete with lockers to decorate and personalize, and a myriad of online activities designed to satisfy tweens' ever-growing need to create and communicate with each other. Tied to the literary world of the award-winning Beacon Street Girls, now published by Simon & Schuster, the free online club provides a fun and excitement for preteen girls around the globe. And like the books, its positive and healthy messages help girls feel empowered to be their best selves. The Beacon Street Girls world and Club BSG can be found online at http://www.beaconstreetgirls.com Beacon Street Girls books are available wherever books are sold. 6 October 2008 (Source: Beacon Street Girls; Rachel Leach - HOPE network and network Co-Ordinators)

Obesity triples prostrate cancer death risk

Prognosis worse if insulin levels high Obese men are nearly three times as likely to die from a diagnosis of prostate cancer than normal weight men. And the prognosis is even worse if they have high insulin levels as well. Harvard and McGill universities' researchers who analyzed data from more than 2,500 men have not only confirmed what smaller studies have found -- namely, prostate cancer death rates get higher as men get heavier -- they may have also discovered why: overweight men make more insulin. And because human prostate cancers have insulin receptors, they respond to insulin. The finding may lead to a better way to identify men with life-threatening prostate cancer who could benefit from more aggressive treatment. Many men undergo surgery and other treatments for prostate cancers that may never become dangerous. The study, which will be published online Monday in The Lancet Oncology, comes as men living in affluent societies are facing twin "epidemics" of obesity and prostate cancer. An estimated 24,700 men in Canada will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and 4,300 will die of the disease. In 2005, 41 per cent of men were overweight and 26 per cent were obese. Researchers assessed data from 2,546 men diagnosed with prostate cancer during the 24 years of followup in the U.S. Physicians' Health Study. Compared with men of a healthy weight, overweight men were 47 per cent more likely to die from their prostate cancer. For obese men, the risk was 2.66-fold. "These things tend to go together. Most obese people are hyperinsulinemic people. And that combination is actually the worst," said Dr. Michael Pollak, Alexander Goldfarb Research Chair in McGill's oncology department. "Doctors are always saying, 'don't be overweight.' What's so amazing is the magnitude of the effect," Pollak said. "All prostate cancer patients should pay attention to this." When researchers transplanted human prostate cancers into mice and then fed the rodents a high-energy diet, the mice gained weight, produced more insulin and their tumours grew faster. Until now, people thought the only hormone that mattered to prostate cancer is testosterone. "Now, unexpectedly here is insulin scoring as a hormone that is also associated with outcome," said Pollak. Source: Sharon Kirkey, Canwest News Service 06 October 2008 (Source: © The Calgary Herald 2008; Rachel Leach - HOPE network and network Co-Ordinators)

A Little Exercise Goes A Long Way For Severely Obese

A little exercise goes a long way toward helping severely obese individuals improve their quality of life and complete important daily tasks, according to researchers at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center. In a pre-program assessment where patients reported, on average, just under one hour of exercise per week, individuals who were more active reported better overall-quality of life. They also reported improvements in their ability to perform daily tasks as measured on a physical functioning scale. "Things that many people take for granted like tying one's shoes, getting dressed, or simply moving around were easier for those who reported routine exercise," says Martin Binks, Ph.D., research director at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center, a residential weight loss program at Duke University Medical Center. He presented the research, which included more than 1,200 participants, at the Obesity Society's annual scientific meeting in Phoenix AZ. Other quality of life improvements associated with higher activity levels included the ability to complete basic daily tasks, such as getting up from chairs, using the stairs, dressing and undressing, and improved physical symptoms like feeling short of breath. "These folks weren't reporting high levels of activity yet they still felt better," he said. "This supports what we've been teaching for years - no amount of exercise is too little to have an impact. And it's beneficial no matter what you weigh." That's important news for the severely obese population, in which the benefits of exercise have not been studied as extensively as in mild or moderately overweight populations. At the same time, Binks hopes news that even a little activity offers benefits may spur some severely obese people to be more active. "When you are 100 pounds overweight, as the average participant in our program is, people often feel defeated. They have trouble moving, and they think 'why bother.' This study shows why they should bother. It shows the value of starting to move no matter how overweight you are." Becoming even more active can lead to greater weight loss success, overall health, and better quality of life, says Binks, but he stresses, "every little bit counts when it comes to quality of life improvements." 6 October 2008 Adapted from materials provided by Duke University Medical Center. (Source: ScienceDaily; Rachel Leach - HOPE network and network Co-Ordinators)

Mental Barriers Hamper Obese Women's Efforts To Get Exercise

For arachnophobes, it's difficult to kill a spider as it scurries across the floor. Those who are scared to fly might not ever set foot on a plane. While nothing physically stops people with these aversions, a mental barrier can keep them from the task at hand. The same could be said for obese women when it comes to physical activity, according to research presented at the Obesity Society's Annual Meeting on Oct. 5. Researchers from the Center for Obesity Research and Education and the department of kinesiology at Temple University found that obese women face a significant number of barriers when it comes to exercise, more so than their normal weight counterparts. "This is the first time we've been able to systematically look at what stops obese women from getting the activity they need," said Melissa Napolitano, associate professor of kinesiology and clinical psychologist at the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University. Napolitano and her team surveyed data collected from 278 women, both normal weight and obese, enrolled in a yearlong physical activity encouragement study. At baseline, and at a 3- and 12-month follow up, all participants were administered a questionnaire to determine what factors kept them from getting exercise, including:

- Feeling self-conscious;

- Not wanting to fail;

- Fearing injury;

- Perceived poor health

- Having minor aches or pains

- Feeling too overweight to exercise.

At all time points, obese women reported greater barriers to being active than normal weight women. For obese women, barriers they identified at the beginning of the study predicted how much or how little they would be exercising at the 12 month follow-up. "These might sound like excuses to some people, but for those who have these aversions, they're real problems," said Napolitano. She theorizes that tailoring programs to maneuver around these barriers is the key to curbing some of that aversion and improving adherence to a weight loss goal. She cites the popular Curves® gyms as a step in the right direction, because they offer a comforting, welcoming environment for women to exercise in. "There is an underlying attitude about weight loss, that it's easy if you just eat less and exercise more," she said. "But if losing weight were easy, we wouldn't have the obesity epidemic we have today." This study was co-authored by Kelley Borradaile, research assistant professor of public health at the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University. Funding for this research was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and assistance from the American Heart Association. 5 October 2008 Adapted from materials provided by Temple University, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. (Source: ScienceDaily; Rachel Leach - HOPE network and network Co-Ordinators)

Endocrine Society Releases Clinical Practice Guideline On Pediatric Obesity

The Endocrine Society has released a new clinical practice guideline for the prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity. A rapid release version of the guideline has been published on line and will appear in the December issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). The prevalence of obesity in 6- to 11-year-old children increased almost four-fold between 1970 and 2000. Although rates vary among different ethnic groups, the overall prevalence of childhood obesity is 17.1 percent. "The increased prevalence of childhood obesity is particularly important as it is predictive of adult obesity which is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension," said Dr. Gilbert August of the George Washington School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and chair of the task force that developed this guideline. "This new guideline provides evidence-based recommendations to prevent and treat this growing epidemic." The guideline recommends that:

-- Overweight be defined as having a body mass index (BMI) > 85th percentile by < 95th percentile, and obesity as BMI > 95th percentile.

-- Prescribing and supporting intensive lifestyle (dietary, physical activity, and behavioral) modification as the prerequisite for any treatment.

-- Evaluating for obesity-associated co-morbidities in children with BMI > 85th percentile.

-- Pharmacotherapy (in combination with lifestyle modification) be considered in 1) obese children only after failure of a formal program of intensive lifestyle modification and in 2) overweight children only if severe co-morbidities persist despite intensive lifestyle modification.

-- Pharmacotherapy should be provided only by clinicians who are experienced in the use of anti-obesity agents and aware of the potential for adverse reactions.

-- Bariatric surgery should be pursued for adolescents with BMI > 50, or > 40 with severe co-morbidities in whom lifestyle modification and/or pharmacotherapy have failed.

-- Clinicians should emphasize the prevention of obesity by recommending breast-feeding of infants for at least 6 months and advocating that schools provide for 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous daily exercise in all grades.

Other members of the task force that developed this guideline included Sonia Caprio of Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.; Ilene Fennoy of Columbia University in New York, N.Y.; Michael Freemark of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.; Francine Kaufman of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles in Calif.; Robert Lustig of University of California San Francisco in Calif.; Janet Silverstein of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla.; Phyllis Speiser of Scheider Children's Hospital in New Hyde Park, N.Y.; Dennis Styne of University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, Calif.; and Victor Montori of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones, and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 14,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at http://www.endosociety.org. Endocrine Society 8401 Connecticut Ave., Ste. 900 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 United States http://www.endo-society.org 04 Oct 2008 (Source: medicalnewstoday; Rachel Leach - HOPE network and network Co-Ordinators)

Food supervision and product safety strong in Finland

“A recent study conducted by the Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation shows that food industry supervision and product safety requirements are particularly rigorous in Finland. And that our food companies are nevertheless succeeding in meeting new statutory requirements despite the increased costs associated with doing so. All this makes Finnish food products especially safe for consumers everywhere,” said Tarja Kujala, a member of the Food Legislation Committee of the Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation (FFDIF) and R&D Manager, Vaasan & Vaasan Oy, during the annual Finnish Food Congress held at Helsinki Fair Centre on 6th May 2008.

Safety through in-house control

Finnish State authorities conduct the first phase of food safety management by ensuring that a company operates in accordance with Finnish law. All food businesses have been required since 2006 to have an in-house control plan. The high standard of food quality supervision and product safety was borne out by an FFDIF survey conducted among its member companies in February 2008, which showed that 92% already operate an in-house control system monitored and approved by State authorities. Effectively, the survey responses covered three-quarters of the total volume of Finnish produced food for sale on the domestic market.

Critical control points

In-house quality control involves the planning and implementation of e.g. ensuring the correct process temperatures and microbiological quality of raw materials and products, testing for contaminants therein, as well as securing traceability. 79% of the companies surveyed run HACCP systems (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point), which are also in common use throughout Europe. The high quality and efficiency of in-house control is illustrated by the fact that during the last three years only 10% of Finnish produced product withdrawals, from shops or retailer warehouses, were made at the request of an authority, while 80% resulted from in-house control analyses. The remaining 10% stemmed from e.g. consumer feedback.

Quality systems spreading

Quality systems constitute another key aspect in securing product safety. 62% of the respondents reported that they have an approved and maintained quality management system, most commonly ISO 9001. Other quality systems related to food safety include ISO 22000, BRC, AIB, and IFS, as well as the ISO 14001 environmental certificate. Compliance is supervised by the Finnish Standards Association (SFS) and other commercial bodies that set up and administer standards. B2B requirements also impact food company supervision, since key customers such as retail and restaurant chains audit their suppliers. Product safety is thus driven by customers’ purchasing departments and quality managers, who ensure that their suppliers have in-house control plans approved by the relevant authorities, that quality systems and certificates are up-to-date, that the supplier is financially stable and achieves sufficient and consistent supply chain performance. 74% of the survey respondents stated that a customer has audited their operations. Further information: Tarja Kujala, Research and Development Manager, Vaasan & Vaasan Oy, tel. +358 40 725 6239 Elisa Piesala, Food Specialist, Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation, tel. +358 9 1488 7228, mobile +358 40 754 6824 Seppo Heiskanen, Director, R&D, Food Legislation, Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation, tel. +358 9 1488 7230, mobile +358 400 612 329 The Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation (FFDIF) represents and promotes the interests of the Finnish food and drink industry. The Federation has some 300 member companies and two member associations, who together cover more than 90% of food industry production in Finland. The annual Finnish Food Congress is the largest professional educational event for the food sector in Finland and is organised by the FFDIF Finnish Food Research Foundation. 14.05.2008 (Source: ELINTARVIKETEOLLISUUSLIITTO ry, Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation, www.etl.fi)

Buckwheat benefits health and the environment

Buckwheat is a promising source of health promoting food products useful in fighting, for instance, the modern epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The grain also offers a number of environmental benefits as a crop. It requires hardly any fertilisers or pesticides, absorbs nutrients efficiently from the soil, attracts a larger number of pollinating insects than many other cultivated plants, and could be valuable for growth in fields with low biodiversity and a high risk of runoffs. These are just some of the conclusions reached by the “Healthiness from buckwheat” research project run by MTT Agrifood Research Finland and completed at the end of 2007.

Healthiness from buckwheat

The Finnish research project focused on the relationship between the buckwheat plant and the environment, its sensory profiling, how to increase the harvest yield, its adaptability for use in different types of food product, and its low glycemic (GI) index offering health promoting carbohydrates. Buckwheat has long been cultivated in Finland. Today, it is particularly popular among coeliac patients who cannot consume ordinary grain products, but has the potential for much more widespread application.

Research produces a tasty buckwheat-oat bread

The University of Helsinki developed a buckwheat-oat bread on the back of the MTT project, partly driven by the fact that many coeliac patients also have type 1 diabetes, so a new baking technology would benefit them and people with type 1 or 2 diabetes. The bread combines the soft flavour of oats with buckwheat’s stronger aroma, which on its own has tended to inhibit use among the wider population. “A portion of the oats underwent mild fermentation with lactic acid bacteria, which toned down the flavour of the buckwheat fraction and extended the bread’s shelf life,” says Tuula Sontag-Strohm, lecturer at the University of Helsinki’s Department of Food Technology. The bread has a fresh taste, improved structure and does indeed keep better.

Beneficial buckwheat sugars and antioxidants

The starch, protein and small amounts of specific sugars and phenolic compounds found in buckwheat differ from those in other crops. The phenolics in particular accord buckwheat greater antioxidant activity than other grains and this inhibits oxidisation. Buckwheat’s composition offers many opportunities for its use as part of a beneficial diet and in managing diseases such as obesity, hypercholesterolaemia and type 2 diabetes that are becoming increasingly common health threats in modern society.

New varieties, richer harvest

Buckwheat cultivation in Finland today covers an area of as little as 500 hectares. In addition to setting aside more land, the MTT research suggested that new buckwheat varieties could increase the harvest by up to 600 kg/ha. 14.05.2008 (Source: Finfood)

Finland needs berry pickers

The Berries and Health seminar organised by Kuopio Innovation Ltd, the Finnish Innovation Fund (Sitra), and the Food Development Competence Cluster, was held in Helsinki on 2nd April 2008, and discussed how the Finnish berry industry could be developed at home and abroad, looking at the potential to promote berry product exports. One issue that arose is the industry’s mounting reliance on foreign labour to help pick the berries during the summer months and the extent to which their work has increased the volume of wild berries gathered from the forests. “The difference is quite dramatic. Although the wild berry crop hasn’t been especially good in the last couple of years, professional picking has increased the size of the harvest,” says Vernu Vasunta, Managing Director of the berry processing company Kiantama Oy.

Ensuring conditions of employment

Finland has, however, decided to tighten up on visa restrictions for foreign seasonal workers this year, since the work has proved unprofitable for some of the pickers. Finnish embassies have been told they may only grant visas to those seasonal workers that have been invited by a Finnish company. Some 12,000 seasonal workers are expected to seek visas to enter Finland this summer, mostly from Russia but also recruited from Thailand, the Ukraine and Poland. “I think it’s good that the Finnish authorities want to be involved in developing the industry,” comments Mr Vasunta, who finds the new visa instructions useful.

Advancing Finnish lingonberries

Mr Vasunta also suggests the industry is reaching a consensus in Finland that resources should be focused on the lingonberry. Successful clinical studies may result in the berry’s right to an EU approved health claim, a status already granted to the cranberry. It is estimated that an annual average of approximately 250 million kilos of lingonberries grow in the Finnish forests, of which some ten per cent are gathered. In 2007, this amounted to around 6 million kilos picked commercially and 20 million kilos for personal use. 14.05.2008 (Source: Finfood news)

Snack drinks make a hectic life easier

Several consumer surveys conducted in recent years have suggested that people want quicker, healthier, and tastier snack products. A hectic lifestyle calls for food that can be eaten on the move, too. This is evident e.g. in the growing demand for cereal bars.

Berries, oats and fruit

Consumers who value snack drinks with health promoting properties have been given a helping hand in Finland this spring. Raisio Group launched its wild berry flavour Elovena snack drink at the beginning of the year, and is expanding its selection of drinks containing oats and berries with a new item flavoured with sea buckthorn and apricot.

Beneficial bacteria + more

In March, Valio Ltd launched two drinkable yoghurts in its A+ series, in raspberry-muesli and muesli flavours, containing stomach-friendly Lactobacillus Acidophilus & Lactobacillus Bifidus strains with added calcium. Taina Lampela-Helin, Corporate Communications Manager at Valio, commented that the drinkable A+ yoghurts combine a range of health benefits, correspond well to consumer market trends, and have indeed been well received by the Finnish consumer.

Wellness drinks from the brewing sector

The Finnish brewing industry is also emphasising well-being as it launches new high-fibre and wellness drinks. Sinebrychoff’s Hyvää päivää drinks have been on sale for several years and compete for thirsty, health-conscious consumers with e.g. Olvi’s KevytOlo. Snack drinks are typically marketed as being beneficial for your health. The key ingredients include fibres, berries and exotic herbs. Snack drinks that contain flavonoids, added calcium, or are fat free, are highly beneficial in comparison to snacks with a lower nutritional value.

Offering dietary support

Mikael Fogelholm, Director of the UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research (Academy of Finland), and docent in nutritional sciences, believes that there is now a critical mass and positive cycle in the marketing of health promoting food products. As people receive more information, they become eager to try the products and the industry responds to this demand. “Of course it’s important to recommend that snack drinks should not replace fruit or vegetables as they cannot offer the same nutritional diversity,” explains Dr Fogelholm. “Snack beverages certainly are beneficial in replacing unhealthy foods however, and so offer a good alternative to for instance chocolate.”

Health at school

From the Finnish perspective, snack drinks could become an excellent vending machine product at schools instead of the soft drinks and chocolate bars more generally available. 29.04.2008 (Source: Finfood news)

Nordic countries pooling food expertise

The Nordic Innovation Centre’s ID-NORFOOD platform arranged its first seminar, held on 1st–2nd April in Gothenburg, as Nordic food sector players combine their efforts to boost and broaden product development initiatives. Two more seminars are planned, one in Denmark in November this year and another in Finland in February 2009. Finland was represented by Foodwest, a centre of excellence for food industry solutions, Norway and Sweden by delegates from around ten different companies including bakeries, a vegetable wholesaler, and milk and fish processors. A further 5–8 Finnish SMEs will participate in the project itself.

Project design

“The structured project process outlined at the seminar will enhance product development within the Nordic food sector by facilitating overall operations management,” commented Salme Haapala, Programme Manager of Foodwest Ltd.

A platform for publicising Nordic food

The ID-NORFOOD platform for Nordic Identity of Regional Foods run by the Nordic Innovation Centre is part of the New Nordic Food programme launched by the Nordic Council of Ministers. It aims to support and develop a common understanding of the concept of “New Nordic Food” and its commercialisation. 29.04.2008 (Source: Finfood news)

Growing interest in Finnish barley product development

The potential to capitalise on barley’s health promoting effects could make it as popular a food ingredient as oats. Barley contains many beneficial components, most notably fibre with beta-glucan, which constitutes 3–5 per cent of both oats and barley. As part of a healthy diet, soluble fibre has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, and particularly that of harmful LDL cholesterol, as well as balance blood sugar levels. The potential to develop barley into a more employable crop is being examined in Finland and further afield, and barley based products may come to complement the already diverse range of Finnish-made health promoting foods.

The oldest cultivated plant in Finland

Barley is the oldest cultivated plant in Finland and today farmed throughout the country with more arable land devoted to it than any other grain. Most however ends up as animal feed or is used for malts, rather than in food products where it is significantly underutilised compared to other key Finnish grains. Hard and yellowish, those qualities have made barley a less popular choice for food products than, above all, wheat.

Research investment rising

R&D efforts to explore barley’s potential as a food product have accelerated around the world in recent years. Increased awareness of barley’s potential, health effects, and applications will make the barley product market a more competitive environment and open up new avenues for development. Funded by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Agrifood Research Finland and a number of Finnish food companies, VTT is co-ordinating a two-year research programme in 2007–2008 to develop barley into a raw material for financially viable food processing. The project aims to collect data on for instance technology solutions and safety and quality factors, and to implement the results in short order.

Barley based foods, food fractions and innovation

Research in Finland has mapped four potential product groups where barley is a competitive ingredient and introduces new properties to the product. A study has indicated that barley could travel an innovative path e.g. in fibre products or snacks with fibre fractions, bread and other bakery products, in enzymes, and in antimicrobial and antioxidative extracts. “Development of barley into a raw material for economic food processes.” (comment on the development of barley as a food ingredient, 22nd August 2006) Veli Hietaniemi, Agrifood Research Finland; Anu Kaukovirta-Norja, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Interview with Anu Kaukovirta-Norja from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland on 10th April 2008 29.04.2008 (Sources: Finfood news)

Finnish food product exports performing well

Finnish food sector exports continued to grow in 2007, up almost 17% by value on 2006 according to statistics published by the Finnish National Board of Customs.

Meat and dairy sector

Beef exports more than doubled and poultry was up almost 40%. Pork, however, did slightly less well than in 2006. Dairy product exports continue to rise, with the exception of milk and cream. The most significant increases were in ice-cream (+41%), milk powder (+24%) and yoghurts (+17%). Exports of butter and malt products were also clearly up on the previous year, although margarines were down more than 10%.

Grain products

Grain exports showed very strong growth in 2007, rising by 80% overall. Leading the way were wheat which almost quadrupled by value and barley which more than tripled. Alcoholic beverage exports also continued to grow, exceeding the previous year’s figures by more than 16%. Sugar industry products remained stable while bakery products were up by around 10%.

Acting locally

The increases are largely explained by rising world market prices and growth is expected to slow as the Finnish food industry looks to increase local production in its key export markets in the Baltic Sea region, a trend already ongoing e.g. in Russia and the Baltic States. All figures refer to exports by value. 15.04.2008 (Source: Agriculture and food sector forecast, spring 2008; Pellervo Economic Research Institute (PTT))

Finnish shiitake for European and Asian cuisine

Shiitake mushrooms are gradually finding their way into European kitchens. Finnish producer Polar Shiitake Ltd also sees the increasing popularity of Asian food as a new opportunity for exceptional types of mushroom. “Our sales tripled last year,” says Managing Director Markku Leppänen. The company has devoted serious investment in recent years to promoting its products in Finland and abroad, with positive results.

Out of Asia

Mushrooms are a typical ingredient of Asian cuisine, although Europeans cooking them at home may not consider the fungi an exotic food. “Oriental cuisine utilises a lot of mushroom,” Mr Leppänen explains, e.g. in sauces, soups and wok dishes. “Shiitake is particularly popular, both fresh and dried, and plays an important part in Japanese cooking, too.” In China and Japan, shiitake are also eaten for their presumed beneficial health effects such as e.g. combating a high level of cholesterol.

Hand-picked quality

Originally from the Far East and eaten in Finland for just over ten years, shiitake is fairly new to the country compared to the native wild mushrooms, and is cultivated over a six-month period on processed pulp logs from broadleaf deciduous trees for optimal growth. “We try to duplicate autumnal conditions in our production facilities so that the air is humid and sufficiently warm,” says Mr Leppänen. “The mycelium are sprouted on the pulp logs for a month, after which the mushrooms grow for around half a year, and the crop is ready to harvest two or three weeks later. We manufacture the pulp logs but pick the mushrooms by hand.”

Finnish shiitake in Russian export drive

Polar Shiitake exports 90% of its shiitake production and has now acquired certificates for Russia, too. The company is already seeking Russian trade partners interested in the exotic product. For more information: 3F Trade Directory / Polar Shiitake Ltd Finnish mushrooms www.siitake.fi 15.04.2008 (Source: Finfood news)

Poro – Rebranding reindeer at Eat&Joy

Eat&Joy is a celebration of Finnish restaurant culture and has made its home in Helsinki from where it promotes and participates in events focused on raising the international awareness of Finnish cuisine and dining out. The Eat&Joy Helsinki festival was first held in 2005 and has since attracted hundreds of foreign journalists to learn more about contemporary Finnish food. Eat&Joy Berlin was recently staged from 3rd–5th April and further events are planned in for instance Paris and St Petersburg. Eat&Joy Helsinki 2008 runs from 18th–30th September.

What is Poro?

Poro is Finnish for reindeer, one of the country’s most iconic foods, and just like another Finnish word, sauna, which has lent its name to steam baths of all kinds all over the world, we’re spreading the word Poro, explained Eeropekka Rislakki, Editor-in-Chief of Viisi Tähteä (“Five Stars”) magazine, co-organiser of the recent Berlin event. “People from all over the world are interested in eating reindeer but their enthusiasm is tempered by the association with Santa Claus.” Poro heart sashimi style was served at Berlin’s chic Shiro i Shiro restaurant as part of reindeer meat’s international rebranding, a memorable and exotic dish with which to launch the project, Eeropekka Rislakki commented. It’s important to encourage the use of all parts of the animal and the heart is quite a challenge to prepare.

Finnish food for the future

“We aim to present Finnish food culture as a vibrant contemporary concept, not a museum piece,” stresses Mr Rislakki. More information: www.eatandjoy.com 15.04.2008 (Source: Finfood News service)

Finland gathering world-famous water expertise

“International comparisons have repeatedly ranked Finland as the world’s best country for water,” stated Kari Kinnunen at a press conference celebrating World Water Day on 18th March 2008. Mr Kinnunen is Project Manager at the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE). The new Water programme organised by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (TEKES) aims within twenty years to make Finland one of the world’s leading centres of expertise in water provision services. To create an international brand for Finnish expertise in a market generating worldwide demand for complete solutions, says programme manager Ritva Heikkinen.

Enough mineral water to quench the world’s thirst

“Climate change is especially visible in the uneven distribution of water throughout the world, which will lead to the need for long-distance transportation of water. Low cost sea water desalination is set to become a great challenge,” stated Risto Laukkanen, President of the Infrastructure & Environment Business Group of Pöyry Plc, a global Finnish consulting and engineering firm. One of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals is by 2015 to halve the number of people without access to water and sanitation, at a cost estimated by the UN commissioned Human Development Report 2006 of around 10 billion dollars per year. A sum that is less than five days’ spending on military operations worldwide, and less than half of what is spent annually on mineral water in the rich countries.

Turning on the tourism tap

Lea Kauppi, Director General of SYKE, has expressed her concern over the constantly increasing consumption of bottled water, even in Finnish restaurants despite the fact that Finnish tap water compares favourably with the bottled variety in terms of hygiene. “High quality tap water is an increasingly rare commodity worldwide, and Finland’s could become one of the country’s tourist attractions,” concludes Mr Kinnunen. 02.04.2008 (Source: Finfood news)

Double victory for Finland in international chef competition

Finnish chefs Jussi Kumpulainen and Pasi Pärssinen came first and second in the Euro-Toques Finlande International Chef Award competition held at the Gastro 2008 fair in Helsinki on 17th March. The competition attracted entrants from Finland, Germany, Holland and Russia. Chef Kumpulainen from the Oppipoika restaurant in Rovaniemi made the best use of the allotted four hours to take first place, while another Finnish chef, Pasi Pärssinen from contract caterer Fazer Amica came, in a creditable second. The contestants were invited to prepare a vegetarian appetizer using Jerusalem artichoke and potato as the main ingredients, and a main course using spring chicken, king oyster mushrooms and smoked loin of pork.

Creativity and efficiency

Mr Kumpulainen prepared potato and Jerusalem artichoke terrine, olive and potato purée, braised apple, and Jerusalem artichoke stew with herb butter sauce as his appetizers. For the main course, glazed breast of spring chicken; breast of spring chicken with king oyster mushrooms; braised leg of spring chicken with lemon risotto; and roast smoked pork loin with king oyster mushrooms, vegetables, and lemon sauce. The judges praised in particular his efficiency and organisation in the kitchen. Mr Pärssinen prepared Jerusalem artichoke pudding, roast Lappish potato and basil gnocchi, vegetable beurre blanc sauce, and carrot foam appetizers. And for the main course, spring chicken with herbs; lemon glazed leg of spring chicken; lentil ragout with an oyster mushroom and smoked pork croquette; and parsnip and king oyster mushroom purée, vegetables, and thyme sauce. Third place was taken by Sergei Selyanov from Russia, with Michael Harr from Germany and Evert van Dilst from Holland awarded fourth and fifth. 02.04.2008 (Source: Finfood news)

Valio Innovative Concepts and Technologies Group creates value added food products

Valio is getting innovative health concepts and food products to market faster and more efficiently without compromising research ethics, product quality or taste. We evaluate, assess and guide R&D health initiatives to select and focus on those concepts that will best translate into real health benefits for the consumer and good business for our partners, explains Elli Siltala, Marketing Team Leader.

Maximising R&D

Valio R&D is investing in the opportunity to spread its expertise with greater penetration, more effectively communicating established concepts and prioritising new ones to ensure that the innovation stream is not diluted. Working first with R&D to identify the concept and health message, we can then weigh up its business potential and decide whether to develop a specific product or license the technology or do both.

Country by country, market by market

Some concepts work better in one country than another so we can seek good business more naturally. We assess by country, market and concept where to leverage the Valio brand and when to outsource by licensing functional technology to our partners.

Integrated solutions

We combine R&D and marketing in a way that is beneficial for both Valio and our partners. For licensing customers this means we offer a benefit-focused communications platform with fully developed solutions rather than just technology or ingredients. This new innovation function allows us to act with a shared vision, generating products that stem from both research push and market led thinking. R&D, marketing and licensing communicate and co-operate effectively from the outset. The team blends science and commerce, combining branding and research expertise in a joint learning environment. We are bringing marketing and brand management experience to bear on developing health concepts, and devoting greater resources to our partners for local launch support. For more information contact Elli Siltala at Valio Ltd, tel. +358 10 381 2112 02.04.2008 (Sources: Finfood, Valio)

Finland welcomes spring with non-alcoholic beverages

Consumer concerns over health and well-being are helping to drive the current surge of interest in non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages. Major Finnish breweries such as Sinebrychoff have invested in product development and new items are now appearing in shops and restaurants. “Non-alcoholic products are a matter of health. People want to be able to enjoy their drinks as before but without the alcohol that, for instance, simply doesn’t fit our increasingly hectic lifestyle,” states Anikó Lehtinen, Brand Activation Manager at Sinebrychoff.

Health and taste

Consumers are looking for products with locally sourced ingredients, Asian style flavours, clean and delicious tastes, and Scandinavian simplicity. Spices and flavourings such as ginger, vanilla, chilli and lemongrass previously used only in hot drinks can now be found in cold drinks such as iced tea and flavoured waters. Health-promoting soft drinks have become significantly more popular in the last decade and new drinks are coming onto the market every year. Research gathered by the Just-food business information service forecasts that functional food and beverage products are set to account for around five per cent of total food consumption, with yoghurt drinks demonstrating the fastest growth globally. Beverage manufacturer Hartwall launched new especially high fruit content Jaffa smoothies and a mineral water with added calcium in March. The company says that one 0.33 litre bottle of the strawberry-banana smoothie contains an average of five strawberries, twelve grapes, one third of an apple, two thirds of a banana and one third of an orange. Hartwall Jaffa smoothies are just one output from Hartwall’s in-house product development and are made in Germany. Smaller Finnish companies are also getting deeply involved in the fruit drinks market. At the Gastro 2008 fair in March, Kaskein Marja presented its Aito ILO drinks which contain whole berry juice, ideal for drink mixes in particular, and will be offered exclusively to restaurants this year.

Young men prefer light drinks

Sinebrychoff is becoming increasingly active in the non-alcoholic beer sector and making a significant investment in the light beer market, says Anikó Lehtinen. Alongside its new non-alcoholic Nikolai beer introduced in January, the company is launching new Koff Lite beer in April and Carlsberg light beer in Finland by the summer. New light ciders are launched successfully every year and are especially popular during the summer months, accounting for more than a half of cider sales according to ACNielsen. “Light pear ciders are particularly popular among younger men, who cite their increasing concern about health and appearance,” states Tom Jansson, Innovation Director at Sinebrychoff. In another market development, Hartwall launched a new low alcohol wine in convenient retail packages last year. 26.03.2008 (Source: Finfood news)

The best Finnish baby food bearing the Swan Flag

Demand for baby food is rising in Finland with figures for 2007 indicating growth by both volume and value of some four per cent on sales amounting to 9.9 million kilos with a market value of MEUR 61.3. According to the Alkuperämerkit study on indications of origin conducted in 2006 by Finnish market research company Taloustutkimus, seven out of ten Finns consider products bearing the Food from Finland Swan Flag safer. The Lapsi study conducted in 2007 suggested that safety and Finnish origin are equally valued criteria in choosing baby food.

Guaranteeing foods of Finnish origin

The Swan Flag denotes food products made in Finland that contain no less than 75 per cent Finnish ingredients, while all meat, fish, eggs and milk used in the products must be 100 per cent Finnish. Baby foods produced by Nutricia Baby Oy are the only ones that meet these stringent requirements. Over half of the company’s products made at its Turenki plant have earned the right to carry the Swan Flag and contain around 90 per cent Finnish origin ingredients. Nestlé Finland’s Piltti and Bona baby food products are entitled to use the Avainlippu Key Flag awarded by Suomalaisen Työn Liito (The Association for Finnish Work) which denotes a product made in Finland with over 50 per cent Finnish ingredients. Further information: Finfood – Finnish Food Information / Esa Anttila, Marketing Director, Tel. +358 40 586 8009 esa.anttila@finfood.fi 26.03.2008 (Source: Finfood)

Workshop Presents New Findings on Why Some Households in Rural Bangladesh Stay Poor, While Others Move Out of Poverty

Bangladesh’s high economic growth during the last decade has resulted in significant reductions in poverty. However, 36 million people—about one quarter of the country’s population—still face acute poverty and hunger. Addressing this challenge is the focus of the workshop, “Understanding Chronic Poverty and Poverty Dynamics in Rural Bangladesh,” starting here today. Government officials, researchers, and civil society representatives will discuss new findings on why some households and communities in rural Bangladesh remain trapped in poverty, while others have successfully moved out. These findings will help identify key factors that keep people poor. The workshop is organized by the Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC), Data Analysis and Technical Assistance Ltd. (DATA), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Drawing on information collected from 1,800 households across rural Bangladesh, the study found that while close to half the households surveyed moved out of poverty, around one-fifth remained chronically poor and a small percentage fell into poverty. These households were found to be extremely vulnerable to unexpected shocks, such as illness, dowry and wedding expenses, and floods. The study focused on three key aspects of poverty in rural Bangladesh: poor people’s perceptions of what makes them poor; the factors that create and perpetuate their poverty; and the patterns of loss and gain that they directly experience. “Unlike previous studies, this research integrates two types of important data—household survey data and individual life histories—to provide a deeper understanding of the causes of chronic poverty in rural Bangladesh.” said Bob Baulch, coordinator for the poverty dynamics and economic mobility theme at CPRC. The study found that those households that have lower education levels, own less land, hold fewer non-land assets and livestock, and have many young children and elderly members, face the most difficulty escaping poverty. Unexpected shocks, such as injuries, illness and livestock deaths, significantly increase the likelihood of chronic poverty. Dowry payments and wedding expenses are a heavy burden for most households. “This study makes it clear that rural households are particularly vulnerable to crises,” said Md Zihadul Hassan, managing director of DATA. “The impact of a crisis, however, greatly depends on how much schooling the head of a household has received, whether property has been divided, and household ownership of livestock and other assets.” Additionally, the study documented eight types of life trajectories based on accounts by people of their direct experiences of moving in and out of poverty. Many of these life trajectories displayed a “saw-tooth” pattern in which improvements in people’s lives are reversed by illnesses and large medical expenses, wedding expenses, and legal disputes. “The life histories collected for this study reveal how improvements in poor people’s lives tend to occur gradually, while declines occur suddenly,” said Peter Davis, lecturer at the University of Bath and co-researcher of this study. “People’s lives follow upward and downward patterns, not a smooth pattern of either progress or decline which is often suggested by more conventional research approaches.” The households in the study are based in 102 villages located in 14 of the country’s 64 districts and were originally interviewed between eight and 14 years ago. The researchers revisited the same households in late 2006 and early 2007 to assess the changes in poverty and well-being that occurred over time. “Unexpected shocks keep people in poverty and prevent them from moving out,” said Agnes Quisumbing, senior research fellow at IFPRI. “This study provides a better understanding of these issues and can guide the design of more effective social protection systems for poor people in rural Bangladesh.” 18 August 2008 (Source: CGIAR, www.ifpri.org)

ICRISAT and DBT to establish new facility for agri- biotechnology research

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is collaborating with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, to establish a DBT-ICRISAT Platform for Translational Research on Transgenic Crops (PTTC) at ICRISAT’s global headquarters at Patancheru, near Hyderabad in India. The proposed project was recently approved by the DBT. The approval comes with a funding commitment of Rs 248.79 million (US$ 6.25 million) for five years (2008-2013). According to the Director General of ICRISAT, Dr William Dar, the PTTC will strengthen transgenic research for crop improvement by providing a platform, building synergies among institutions. ICRISAT will continue to harness transgenic research to solve problems that cannot be solved through conventional breeding. The mission of PTTC will be to “translate transgenic technology and harness its products to meet the needs of agricultural growth”. Transgenic technology, also known as genetic modification or engineering, involves the import of genes from another organism to improve the resistance to disease or pest, or to improve productivity in agricultural crops. The aim of establishing PTTC is to facilitate a coordinated approach for the translation of existing genetic engineering technologies in developing transgenic crop varieties for product development and commercialization. Under this, priority crops and constraints will be identified and a well-coordinated approach set in place. PTTC will evaluate and advance the potential of new genetic engineering options to enhance agricultural productivity. PTTC will also provide expertise and facilities for the production and assessment of transgenic crop plants developed through collaborative projects. This platform will serve as a facility of reference to strengthen national, regional and international linkages and collaboration in transgenic research and development, exchange of materials and information, as well as support training, consultation and technology commercialization. This platform is expected to generate research products that are national and international public goods. 14 August 2008 (Source: CGIAR, icrisat)

South Asian Women Farmers Reap Few Benefits, Despite their Significant Contributions to Agriculture

Conference Highlights Challenges, Strategies facing Women in Agriculture in Region While women comprise nearly 40 percent of South Asia's agricultural workforce, their low social status limits them from fully reaping the benefits of their efforts. Overcoming this challenge is the focus of the two-day conference, "Women in Agriculture in South Asia," starting here today. More than 120 development practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and private sector representatives will discuss the constraints facing South Asian women involved in agriculture and identify strategies to enhance their status and benefits. The conference is co-organized by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and supported by the European Commission. South Asian women involved in agriculture often face limited access to and control of resources such as land, water, credit, and training and extension services, all of which undermine their ability to earn income, provide food, and ensure adequate nutrition for themselves and their children. "Development policies have paid too little attention to how gender roles affect agricultural productivity and rural economic growth," said Joachim von Braun, IFPRI Director General. "Without a specific focus on gender, the policies and programs on technology and market access, and for rural services, are prone to reinforce, and even exacerbate, social and economic inequalities between women and men." The conference will focus on three areas affecting South Asian women involved in agriculture: (1) access to productive resources and services; (2) access to markets and market opportunities; and (3) access to food and the corresponding impact on nutrition. While South Asian women primarily provide the labor necessary for agricultural work and related activities, they have little voice when it comes to making decisions over the use and management of assets. Since most agriculture development programs and policies are linked to ownership, women are generally denied access to assets since they often do not own land. Women involved in agriculture in South Asia also face obstacles in accessing markets and lack appropriate knowledge and information about them. One of the constraints women face is cultural, particularly social norms, which values female seclusion and prevents them from marketing their products directly. "This conference will help identify strategies to improve women's access to markets and business development services as well as ways to connect women to emerging opportunities through agricultural diversification," said Tinni Sawhney, Senior Programme Officer-Rural Development, Aga Khan Foundation India. Additionally, the low status of women in the region can undermine their ability to provide food, generate income and ensure adequate nutrition for themselves and their children. As primary caretakers of children, women are generally responsible for their health and nutrition. "Despite South Asia's strong economic record, it has some of the highest levels of undernutrition in the world," said Purnima Menon, IFPRI Research Fellow. "A key reason for this is the weak status of women in the region." Studies have shown that women with higher status have better nutrition, are better cared for and provide higher quality care for their children. "If South Asian women involved in agriculture are to succeed, future efforts must focus on increasing their empowerment and their control of critical resources," said Christopher Gibbs, CEO, Aga Khan Foundation India. 12 August 2008 (Source: CGIAR, ifpri)

Community watersheds combat drought

The monsoons came late over the semi-arid regions of central India this year. While several farming villages suffered from drought, Kothapally village in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh had water in their wells for drinking and irrigating crops. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and a consortium of partners including international, national, governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) empowered the people of Kothapally to cope with drought for more than nine years through community watersheds. “Thanks to ICRISAT, water shortage in our village belongs to the past,” says Mohammed Azam, farmer in Kothapally. ”We have enough water, but the villages that did not pick up the innovations are suffering.” Adds Azam: “The productivity in Kothapally has increased immensely due to the water saving systems but also because of ICRISAT’s improved crop varieties, integrated pest management and the judicious application of fertilizers. I was one of the first farmers to adopt these ideas and today I can send my five grandchildren to good schools in town.” T Janaiah, another Kothapally farmer, emphasizes: “I have benefited incredibly. Ten years ago our groundwater level was about 300 feet deep and today we are at about 60 feet thanks to the water saving facilities that we built together with our partners from ICRISAT. Even with a late monsoon we have sufficient drinking and irrigation water.” The community watershed at Kothapally has become a model replicated in many other sites in India, China, Thailand and Vietnam, and now in East and Central Africa. According to Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, the use of community watersheds as an entry point for agricultural and rural development, has converged many interventions to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods of poor farmers. Dr SP Wani, ICRISAT’s principal scientist on watersheds, said, “Once we found solutions for immediate problems, the farmers became our ambassadors for implementing these interventions.” The people of Kothapally have embraced many new technologies. The construction of check dams were based on the community needs and executed by the villagers themselves. The introduction of improved varieties and hybrid crops, integrated pest management, the restoration of wastelands together with a continuously growing groundwater level resulted in significant higher yields and greater income for the poor. Women farmers play a key role in utilizing new technologies. Several women’s self-help groups were trained in vermicomposting. They in turn trained others in neighboring villages. B Lakshmi, 47, from Kothapally, received the Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy fellowship for Rural Prosperity in 2007 for training peers in vermicomposting.

Scaling out in Asia

The consortium’s success in Kothapally led to its replication in other Indian states. The state government took the lead in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, while in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand, the Sir Dorabjee Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust funded the spread of the program. In select watersheds in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, the Confederation of Indian Industry supported the projects. The idea also spread to other parts of Asia – China, Thailand and Vietnam. The Asian Development Bank supported watershed projects in these countries, which included introduction of improved crop varieties, rainwater harvesting, rehabilitation of farm ponds, introduction of legumes, vegetables and fruit in the cropping systems, innovative integrated pest management techniques and diversifying cultivation with horticultural crops, and increasing incomes with the rearing of pigs and rabbits.

Into sub-Saharan Africa

A team of researchers from East and Central Africa (ECA) visited India in March 2004 and identified ICRISAT’s watershed experience as a potential solution to many of the challenges being faced in their region. Rwanda took the lead through its agricultural research institute and initiated implementation of pilot sites for the adaptation and demonstration of Indian experiences. A pilot integrated watershed management project was initiated at Lake Kivu learning sites in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo in 2006 as part of the Challenge Program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research for sub-Saharan Africa.

Measuring success

An ICRISAT-led consortium undertook a comprehensive assessment of impact of watershed programs in India. The assessment shows that community watershed is a growth engine for development of dryland areas. Watersheds recorded an average benefit to cost ratio of 2 with an internal rate of return of 27%. Only 1% of the watersheds studied showed less than 1 benefit to cost ratio in the country. In 2007-08, 500 farmers’ participatory action research trials for enhancing water use efficiency were conducted in the states of AP, Rajasthan, MP and Chattisgarh. They demonstrated that crop yields could be doubled with balanced nutrient management along with the use of improved cultivars and suitable landform treatments. 7 August 2008 (Source: CGIAR, icrisat)

ICRISAT now a top ranking global research institution

Bouncing back from a challenging period in the nineties, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) turned itself around to join the ranks of top international agricultural research centers today. Delivering a keynote address on ICRISAT's turnaround at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, India, recently, the Director General of ICRISAT, Dr William D Dar, said that the turnaround was made possible by pursuing a strategy that built synergies across the Institute's core strengths, especially its human resources. Dr Dar was invited by the premier business school in India to talk about ICRISAT's turnaround in the last nine years. "The aspects of change included making the governance and organizational structure more effective; fine-tuning the organizational strategy and institutional culture for success; strengthening organizational capacity and institutional innovations; improving financial performance and delivering impacts," Dr Dar said. Through this concerted effort, ICRISAT surmounted the challenges it faced during the mid-1990s, to be rated as an 'Outstanding' Center of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) for two consecutive years - 2006 and 2007. Prior to this, ICRISAT was also rated as 'Superior' from 2003 to 2005. These top ratings by the CGIAR recognize ICRISAT's good science, great impacts, institutional health and financial health. It places ICRISAT's performance on top of the 15 international agricultural research institutes of the CGIAR. ICRISAT's Governing Board, with a well-diversified membership and a good mix of regional, gender and multi-disciplinary skills, significantly strengthened governance at the Institute. The Board ensured strong and dynamic leadership and an effective oversight covering strategy, program, resource and risk management. The Board also established robust financial and internal control systems and introduced effective delegation of authority. Organizationally, programs and projects were unified into thematic groups driven by a lean organizational structure, Dr Dar said. The research themes were streamlined into four, namely: 1) crop improvement; 2) agro-ecosystems development; 3) biotechnology; and 4) institutions, markets, policy and impacts. Broad responsibilities and authority were delegated to the Directors of the African regional hubs. Regional work plans were developed and aligned with the Institute's medium term plan. ICRISAT's research strategy focuses on integrated genetic and natural resource management (IGNRM), and results are delivered through public-private-farmer partnerships. The Agri-Science Park (ASP) at ICRISAT was established to strengthen these partnerships, enhancing the development, promotion and utilization of ICRISAT's innovations. ICRISAT has delivered cutting edge research impacts across the globe, said Dr Dar. A total of 609 improved varieties and hybrids developed by ICRISAT and partners have been released in 77 countries between 1976 and 2007. Other innovations include hybrid pearl millet developed through molecular-marker selection technology, and the world's first pigeonpea hybrid commercially released in India as Pushkal. According to Dr Dar, ICRISAT's effective planning and management has ensured sound financial health for the Institute. Innovative resource mobilization strategies included tapping non-traditional sources for special project funding, marketing the Institute's work, cutting edge products and impacts, and emphasizing cost optimization. These measures have resulted in a leap in ICRISAT's financial health in the last five years, with gross revenue of US$24.2 million in 2003 growing to US$42.1 million in 2007. The Institute also registered a financial surplus during these five years. 31 July 2008 (Source: CGIAR, icrisat)

ICRISAT scientist elected President of the International Congress of Entomology

A scientist from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Dr Hari C Sharma, Principal Scientist – Entomology, has been elected as the President of the Council of the International Congress of Entomology (ICE). Dr Sharma was elected President at the 23 rd International Congress of Entomology, held from 6 to 12 July at Durban, South Africa. Over 2,500 delegates from 102 countries participated in the ICE in Durban. Dr Sharma will hold the office of President of the ICE till the next Congress in 2012 in Daegou, South Korea. This is for the first time in the 102-year history of the International Congress of Entomology that an Asian has been elected to this post, which is the highest level of recognition for an entomologist by his peers. Congratulating Dr Sharma, Director General of ICRISAT Dr William Dar said that Dr Sharma’s election as the President of the ICE is a recognition of the world-class talent at ICRISAT. This is another indicator of ICRISAT’s tradition of using world-class science for the benefit of the poor and marginal farmers of the semi-arid tropics. In his acceptance speech Dr Sharma said: “The office bearers of the ICE and I will make all efforts to advance the cause of the science of entomology for fighting hunger and serving humanity. It was in Durban in 1914 that the ‘Great March to Independence’ was undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi, and nearly a century later, let us commit ourselves to undertake the Great March to fight hunger, poverty, and disease through excellence in the science of entomology for the service of mankind and the environment.” 29 July 2008 (Source: CGIAR, icrisat)

The Koli workshop 2008: Forests in the changing environment. 3-5 September 2008, Koli, Finland

The workshop is an integral part of the Work Programme of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) and it lays a basis for a regional contribution to the eighth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF). The workshop will provide an excellent opportunity for experts in forestry, natural resources management, biodiversity, climate change, land-use and economic development to exchange their views on the theme "Forests in the changing environment", which will also be the overall theme at the eighth session of the UNFF. The output of the workshop will be presented at the European Forest Week (20 - 24 October 2008) and at the MCPFE Expert Level Meeting (12 - 13 November 2008). The second announcement of the workshop (attached) contains further information, including the workshop programme. The workshop will be conducted in English. The workshop is organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Finland in close cooperation with MCPFE Liaison Unit Oslo, and with financial contributions from the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. We kindly ask you to register to the workshop by 18 July 2008 through the workshop website www.mmm.fi/en/index/frontpage/forests/koli2008.html The participants are requested to take care of their own travel arrangements. Attached you will find practical information related to travel and accommodation arrangements. Kindly note that reservations for accommodation should be made by 25 July 2008. 29 July 2008 (Source: CGIAR,CIFOR)

US$3 million IFAD grant to Djibouti for surface water and land management

A US$11.6 million programme in Djibouti will help improve the living conditions of pastoral communities through better management of natural resources in the regions of Tadjourah, Dikhil and Arta. IFAD will cofinance the Programme for the Mobilization of Surface Water and Sustainable Land Management with a US$3 million grant. The grant agreement was signed in Rome today by Mohamed Moussa Chehem, the Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to Belgium, and Kanayo Nwanze, the Vice-President of IFAD. Djibouti is affected by recurrent droughts. About 50 per cent of the rural population have no access to water for drinking and for livestock needs. Underground water capacity has been used up and, as an alternative to drilling boreholes, the Ministry of Agriculture is launching an ambitious strategy for mobilizing more efficient capture and use of surface water. The new programme helps implement this national strategy. With a combined investment of US$2.5 million from the government and project participants, the programme will help tackle water scarcity by developing infrastructure and facilities for capture and delivery of surface water for human and livestock consumption. The capacity of rangelands to feed more livestock will be improved along with national capacity for the institutional, technical and social management of natural resources. The programme will reach 6,000 households and will introduce two different surface-water mobilization techniques. The first includes construction of small dams in 10 selected sites spread over the five regions of Djibouti. The second includes construction of cisterns, earth tanks and corollary works for soil and water conservation, range resting, reseeding and regeneration of the area of Day Forest and its periphery. The programme will also support vocational training in the manufacture of forestry products involving the poorest and most food-aid-dependent households. It is expected that targeted households will be able to satisfy their drinking water and livestock water needs, particularly during the dry season and increase their average incomes by 20 per cent. It is also expected that nutritional standards will improve as a result of increased milk consumption. Release number IFAD/14/08, Rome, 13 February 2008 (Source IFAD)

Invest in smallholder farmers to fight climate change and poverty, says IFAD President

The President of IFAD, Lennart Båge, has called on the international community to increase investment in sustainable, smallholder agriculture to end poverty and fight climate change. Despite urbanization, the majority of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas and are dependent on agriculture. Hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers and herders in Africa, Asia and Latin America live in marginal areas and are at serious risk from degradation and desertification. “I call upon the international community to invest in smallholder farmers to help them to address the triple scourge of poverty, climate change and rising food prices. Their lives – and our common future – depend on it.” Båge told delegates from 164 member nations at the UN agency’s 31st Governing Council “Poor rural people are often powerless but they are not irrelevant,” said Båge. “How they manage their land matters to us all. Whether or not they store or release carbon will depend on the opportunities they have and the incentives they are offered. We can help them to become part of the solution.” Government spending on agriculture in most poor countries has fallen dramatically over the past 30 years. Development aid for the sector fell from 18% of all aid in 1979 to 2.9% in 2006. Concerns about climate change make it even more urgent that governments put funds into sustainable development in rural areas. “Those least responsible for the problem will be those first and hardest hit,” said Båge. “Put simply, the price of development just went up. Substantial and additional money will be needed to help poor countries adapt to climate change and make our investments “climate-proof”, he said. Release number IFAD/12/08, February 13, 2008 (Source IFAD)

IFAD and AfDB sign memorandum of understanding to increase collaboration in eradicating rural poverty in Africa

IFAD and the African Development Bank (AfDB) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their partnership as they work together to help poor rural people in Africa overcome poverty. The MoU was signed by the President of IFAD, Lennart Båge, and the President of AfDB, Donald Kaberuka, during the 31st Session of IFAD’s Governing Council. The signing of the MoU marks another milestone in the relationship between AfDB and IFAD. In 1978, the two organizations signed their first cooperation agreement, which has been instrumental in guiding their work together and helping them mobilize cofinancing of more than US$2.4 billion for 35 projects. The MoU underscores IFAD’s and AfDB’s commitment to strengthening the alignment of their resources and instilling a culture of accountability for results in order to increase their development effectiveness in Africa. The enhanced relationship should serve as a model for other development partners in the context of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. Future cooperation efforts will focus on aligning the operational policies of IFAD and AfDB within their own organizations and in the countries in which they both have programmes and projects. This will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their combined development assistance. The MoU provides a framework for IFAD and the Tunis-based AfDB to design and implement work programmes within a number of thematic areas and sectors, including microfinance, capacity building, good governance, and post-conflict intervention. The partnership will support interventions in the fields of agribusiness and agroprocessing, rural community empowerment, microenterprise development and renewable energy. The two organizations will undertake joint missions to African countries to identify, prepare, appraise and supervise projects and will create technical networks to coordinate, monitor and evaluate activities. They will also implement capacity building programmes for professional and technical personnel of African governments. The parties will hold consultative meetings every six months to elaborate and approve joint annual results-based work plans and promote regular exchange of information and knowledge. Release number IFAD/10/08, Rome, 13 February 2008 (Source IFAD)

IFAD to support US$70.9 million programme for rural development in Inner Mongolia

A US$70.9 million development programme will pilot innovative approaches to help 125,000 households overcome poverty in Inner Mongolia, China. The programme will assist them to improve their access to information, technology, financial services and markets. It will also contribute directly to the ongoing reform of the rural banking system. The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Rural Advancement Programme will be partly funded by an IFAD loan of US$30 million. The loan was signed in Rome today by IFAD President Lennart Båge and China’s Zheng Xiaosong, Director General of the Ministry of Finance. The Rural Credit Cooperatives will contribute a loan of US$5.7 million to the programme and the Government of China will contribute US$31.1 million. Participants in the programme will contribute the balance of the funding (US$4.1 million). Despite the country’s impressive economic growth and an unprecedented decline in poverty, inequalities between and within regions in China are increasing, particularly in disadvantaged areas of the western provinces. “So far, government and donor-funded programmes have used the same poverty reduction strategies in different locations,” said Thomas Rath, IFAD’s country programme manager for China. “Sometimes this has led to reduced results. This suggests that we need to try new approaches. We need to target with specific approaches tailored to the local needs of people and their institutions. “This programme will put poor people at the centre of its activities and work with them to boost their potential,” Rath said. The programme will promote greenhouse and organic crop production with links to markets and buyers. And it will set up village development funds to pay for infrastructure and activities selected by the community. IFAD’s new country strategy for China focuses on the organization’s catalytic role as a promoter of innovation. In line with the strategy, the new programme will pilot innovative approaches in selected sectors. At the end of the six-year programme, innovations that have proved to be effective and sustainable in reducing rural poverty will be ready for the government and other donors to scale up. The programme targets families living in extreme poverty and low-income households with per capita incomes of less than US$1 a day, particularly those headed solely by women. Farmers and poor women who head households have low skills levels and very limited access to financial services such as microcredit or savings schemes. Labour resources are scarce because of high migration to the cities, and the productivity of economic activities is low. The programme has the potential to reach about 125,000 households in more than 720 villages in nine counties. With this programme, IFAD has funded 21 programmes and projects in China, with loans and grants worth US$528.2 million. Four programmes and projects are currently ongoing. In 2007, China and IFAD published a picture album commemorating 25 years of partnership in the fight against rural poverty. Release number IFAD/09/08, Rome, 12 February 2008 (Source IFAD)

IFAD-supported US$19 million project in Burkina Faso will improve irrigation schemes to boost crop production and farm incomes

A new project in Burkina Faso will help people from about 20,000 poor rural households intensify and diversify crop production through new and newly refurbished and innovative small-scale irrigation schemes. The US$19 million Small-scale Irrigation and Water Management Project will be partly financed by a US$11 million loan and a US$400,000 grant from IFAD. The loan agreement was signed today by Léné Sebgo, Burkina Faso’s Director-General for Cooperation, and Kanayo F. Nwanze, IFAD’s Vice-President. The OPEC Fund for International Development will provide US$5 million in cofinancing. The Government of Burkina Faso will contribute US$2.6 million, and project participants a further US$50,000. The project will be carried out in six provinces in the southwestern part of the country: Bougouriba, Ioba, Noumbiel and Poni in the South West region, Sissili in the Centre West region, and Nahouri in the Centre South region. As these provinces border Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana – two of West Africa’s most vibrant economies – the project is expected to enhance national and cross-border trade. “There is a new political will to boost small-scale irrigated agriculture in the country,” said Norman Messer, IFAD country programme manager for Burkina Faso. “New, affordable micro-irrigation technologies and improved roads to get products to markets will encourage farmers to take advantage of the emerging opportunities for increasing incomes in the region.” The project will begin with an in-depth information, education and communication campaign delivered through a variety of formal and informal channels. This will strengthen the capacity of participants to take part in project activities that help them instensify and diversify crops under irrigation and in inland valley bottoms. The project will support marketing activities to increase incomes and food security. It will also work in communities affected by conflict. The six provinces have received an influx of migrants. As a result, there is now less and less land for more and more people. Irrigation is one way of producing higher-value crops on smaller plots of land, thereby descreasing population pressure and potential conflict. “By supporting negotiations for access to land and water before undertaking physical investments, the project will give precedence to ‘software’ over ‘hardware,’” Messer said. “This will promote local empowerment, ownership and sustainability. At the same time, activities will be geared to increasing the productivity of people who have had limited access to land, and will focus particularly on women and young people.” Following negotiations over land and water access, the project will build 250 hectares of vegetable gardens equipped with low-pressure micro-irrigation technology. It will also refurbish 200 hectares of gravity-based, small-scale irrigation sites downstream from dams and construct small community-based irrigation sites and dams for agricultural and pastoral use. Estimates show that by the fifth year of the project, yearly agricultural production could increase by 4,700 tonnes of rice, 1,800 tonnes of vegetables, 314 tonnes of maize, and 1,700 tonnes of bananas. With this project, IFAD has financed 11 programmes and projects in Burkina Faso, investing a total of more than US$140 million. Release number IFAD/08/08, Rome, 30 January 2008 (Source IFAD)

Working together, pressing new challenges in agricultural development focus of meetings with Saudi officials and IFAD Assistant President

IFAD Assistant President Matthew Wyatt will meet key government officials in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss future cooperation and strengthen collaboration in the face of new and growing challenges for poor rural people. “Saudi Arabia’s vision and wisdom played a critical role in the creation of IFAD 30 years ago to fight hunger and poverty,” said Wyatt. “The Kingdom has continued to champion those causes ever since. “Now with urgent new challenges such as climate change, a precarious global food supply and rising commodity prices, our long and successful partnership is more crucial than ever,” he said. Wyatt is on a three-day official visit to Riyadh to meet with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, the Saudi Fund for Development, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. He will seek the government’s view on IFAD’s progress in realizing the vision of Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members when they founded IFAD 30 years ago. “I see the meetings as an opportunity to look back on our shared achievements,” said Wyatt. “But even more importantly, I see this as a chance to look forward and together plan for the future during a time when so many new challenges are creating more uncertainties for poor rural people.” IFAD is especially eager to work with Saudi Arabia more closely on the growing challenge of climate change. Last November, IFAD participated in the Third OPEC Summit Symposium in Riyadh. During the summit, the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Abdullah, announced an initiative to allocate US$300 million to finance research in the areas of energy and environment, particularly climate change. “For IFAD, climate change has a special significance because our mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty and hunger,” said Wyatt. “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said very clearly that climate change will hit the poorest and most vulnerable people hardest. “This is why there is a clear economic, social and moral imperative to help poor rural people adapt to climate change in a sustainable way,” he said. IFAD has 30 years of experience helping poor rural people tackle desertification and environmental degradation and building resilience to weather shocks. Most of its programmes and projects are in marginal, rainfed areas that are at risk from water shortage, land degradation and desertification. Through loans and grants to developing country governments, IFAD is addressing such issues as desertification and changes in cropping patterns due to climate variability. Saudi Arabia is a founding Member State of IFAD, and gave the organization its first President, Abdelmuhsin M. Al-Sudeary. The Kingdom is IFAD’s second largest contributor; to date, Saudi Arabia has provided nearly US$400 million to combat hunger and poverty in developing countries. Release number IFAD/07/08, Rome, 29 January 2008 (Source IFAD)

Rural poverty reduction is focus of talks between Prime Minister of Yemen and IFAD Assistant President

The prime Minister of Yemen, Ali Mohammed Mujawar, will meet Matthew Wyatt, Assistant President of IFAD, when Wyatt arrives in Sana’a today on a three-day official visit to Yemen. During his stay in Yemen, Wyatt will also meet the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Abdul Karim Ismaël Al-Arhabi; the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Mansur Ahmed Al-Hawshabi and other senior government officials. The main purpose of Wyatt’s visit is to discuss rural poverty programmes and IFAD’s new Country Strategic Opportunities Programme with key officials in the country. This programme includes four project proposals - the Al Baida Development Project, the South-west Coastal Zone Development Project, the Lahij Area Development Project and the Taiz Rural Development Project. IFAD’s investments aim to assist Yemen in realizing its Development Plan for Poverty Reduction 2006-2010 by mobilizing cofinancing and strengthening partnerships with other international and regional development organizations and financial institutions. IFAD’s interventions in the poorest and most marginalized parts of the country aim to increase and diversify production, improve food self-sufficiency and raise the incomes of poor rural households. Since 1979, IFAD has invested about US$191 million in 19 rural development projects in Yemen, benefiting almost 56,000 poor families. With cofinancing, the total cost of these projects is about US$600 million. There are currently four IFAD-supported projects in Yemen. In addition, the recently-approved Rainfed Agriculture and Livestock Project will begin early this year. It will help reverse the accelerating natural resource degradation in the poorest areas of the governorates of Al-Mahweet, Hajjah, Hodeidah, Lahej and Sana'a. Worth a total of US$42.2 million, including IFAD’s low-interest loan of US$16.6 million, the project will help about 185,000 poor households currently facing severe drought and water scarcity as a result of climate change. Wyatt and IFAD’s Country Programme Manager for Yemen, Abdallah Rahman, will visit an IFAD-supported project in Yemen’s Western Governorate of Dhamar. The IFAD delegation will hold talks with the Governor of Dhamar, project staff and beneficiaries. The Dhamar Participatory Rural Development Project, which started in 2004, is helping farmers increase and diversify production in order to secure basic food supplies, produce marketable surpluses and supply produce to local markets. The project is empowering villagers, especially women, by ensuring that poor people are involved in planning and implementing the project’s development activities. At a total cost of US$22.7 million, including IFAD’s investment of US$14 million, the project is helping achieve food security and improved incomes for 26,000 subsistence farming families in Dhamar. The project is also providing support for off-farm income-generating activities. Release number IFAD/06/08, Rome, 26 January 2008 (Source IFAD)

US$19.2 million programme in Malawi will help poor rural people become key players in a newly liberalized economy with private sector support

A new IFAD-supported development programme in Malawi will create opportunities for poor rural people to benefit from the country’s emerging economic liberalization. The US$19.2 million Rural Livelihoods and Economic Enhancement Programme will be partly financed by a US$8.4 million loan and a US$8.3 million grant from IFAD. The loan agreement was signed today by Brian G. Bowler, Malawi’s Ambassador to the European Union, and Kanayo F. Nwanze, IFAD’s Vice-President. The Royal Tropical Institute of the Netherlands will provide an additional US$100,000 grant. The Government of Malawi will contribute US$390,000. Through their participation in the progamme, small-scale crop, livestock and fish producers and processors will be linked up with relevant people in the private sector to gain the knowledge and skills they need to participate fully in the market place. The programme will improve farmers’ links to value chains by establishing more efficient production, transport, storage, processing and marketing systems for agricultural commodities. About 24,000 households will participate directly in the programme. “Involving the private sector to drive agricultural commercialization is a new approach in Malawi,” said Miriam Okongo, IFAD’s country programme manager for the country. “Malawi is undergoing a period of economic liberalization,” she said. “Parastatal marketing institutions are being restructured and market competition is increasing.” “However, the rural population is not yet prepared for the realities of a market-led world. The aim of this programme is to help them make production decisions based on market needs rather than taking the traditional production-oriented approach.” The initial focus will be on groundnuts and Irish potatoes. These commodities are primarily grown by smallholders and provide significant opportunities to add value using technologies accessible to poor households. Participants will improve the yields and quality of their produce, learn better processing and marketing methods, and gain access to the financial and technical support services required to make the transition from subsistence to small-scale commercial farming. The programme will also provide resources to strengthen national and local institutions in agricultural commercialization. It will begin with a three-year pilot phase. Following a comprehensive review, it will be expanded to work with up to six commodities. “We believe there will be many opportunities to expand and replicate the initiative, both in Malawi and in surrounding countries, once key value-chain actors gain confidence in the approach,” said Okongo. With this programme, IFAD’s total assistance to Malawi is about US$118,500 million for 10 programmes and projects to help the government in its poverty alleviation efforts. Release number IFAD/05/08, Rome, 23 January 2008 (Source IFAD)

IFAD-backed US$84.6 million project in Bangladesh will help increase agricultural productivity and farm incomes

A new project will work to boost agricultural productivity and farmers’ incomes in Bangladesh by improving the quality and responsiveness of national research and extension services. The US$84.6 million National Agricultural Technology Project will be partly financed with a loan of US$19.5 million from IFAD. The loan agreement was signed today by Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Italy, Fazlul Karim, and IFAD’s President, Lennart Båge. The World Bank will cofinance the project with US$62.5 million and the Government of Bangladesh will contribute US$2.6 million. “The overall objective is to support the government’s strategy to increase national agricultural productivity and farm income,” said Nigel Brett, IFAD’s country programme manager for Bangladesh. A number of factors contribute to the poverty of farming communities in Bangladesh. One of the most important is the lack of improved pro-poor technologies. The country’s weak research and extension services are currently unable to generate and deliver such technologies to farming communities. “The project will work to improve the quality and responsiveness of national research and extension services,” said Brett. “It will make them more demand-driven and more appropriate to the needs of small and marginal farmers.” Participants from groups of crop, livestock and fish farmers at the village or union level will identify research priorities and help plan and implement extension activities. These groups will also help develop value chains to strengthen farmers’ links with markets. The project will run workshops, hold on-farm demonstrations, and give training in production and entrepreneurship. Some 330,000 households, or about 1.7 million smallholders and marginal farmers will take part in the project. About 25 per cent of the country will be covered through the extension component. In addition, intensification and diversification of production systems and support for value chain development will indirectly benefit extremely poor, landless people, through increased demand for labour. The project’s main results will be an increase in agricultural production, diversification and farm incomes. It will also create job opportunities, strengthen women’s participation in agriculture and improve food security and nutrition. The project has a major policy reform agenda, which includes amending the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Act 1996. It will also establish an autonomous agricultural research institution, the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation, and decentralize agricultural extension funding, planning and services to the upazila (sub-district)level. The project will also work with the government to update its agricultural and fisheries extension policies, and prepare a new national livestock extension policy. “Several things in the project design are genuinely new to Bangladesh,” said Brett. “In particular, the approach to funding agricultural research through an autonomous foundation has not been tried before. This will enable a variety of public and private organizations to fund a wide range of agricultural research proposals. Also, the project approach to agricultural extension through micro-level planning and budgeting at union and upazila level has not been tried before in Bangladesh.” With this project, IFAD has financed 25 programmes and projects in Bangladesh, investing a total of about US$443 million. Release number IFAD/04/08, Rome, 22 January 2008 (Source IFAD)

IFAD provides US$16.6 million to improve natural resource management and adaptation to climate change in Yemen

A new US$42.2 million project in Yemen will help reduce rural poverty by reversing the accelerating trend of natural resource degradation in five of the country’s poorest areas. The Rainfed Agriculture and Livestock Project will be financed partly by a low-interest IFAD loan of US$16.6 million. The loan agreement was signed today by Shaia Mohsen Mohamed Al Zindani, the Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen to Italy and Kanayo Nwanze, the Vice-President of IFAD. The project has three components, two of which will be financed by the International Development Association (IDA). The third component, focused on productive rural development, will be cofinanced by IFAD and IDA. This component will be implemented in 23 districts and will benefit directly about 185,000 poor households. Natural resources are being placed under greater stress by rapidly increasing populations in the governorates of Al-Mahweet, Hajjah, Hodeidah, Lahej and Sana'a. The five governorates face drought and water scarcity as a result of climate change. Since the local economy is based predominantly on rainfed agriculture, the project will seek to upgrade and diversify agricultural production. At the same time it will use participatory natural resource management initiatives to help halt and reverse the accelerating trend towards resource degradation. The project will also assist small farmers, herders, poor landless people and women-headed households to strengthen their processing and marketing systems. It will help them protect their assets, including soil, water, rangelands, seeds and animals, and increase their off-farm household incomes. In addition, the project will introduce microfinance services and will promote the development of new microenterprises and income-generating activities. It will support efforts to secure greater access to markets and build more partnerships with the private sector. “Activities under the project’s farmer-based seed management system will involve farmers in the selection of drought-resistant local seed varieties and produce these varieties for commercial use by other farmers,” said Abdalla Rahman, IFAD’s Country Programme Manager for Yemen. “The project’s programme of terrace rehabilitation and water harvesting will improve the ability of farmers to cope with climate change.” With this project, IFAD will have financed 19 projects in Yemen for a total of commitment of US$190.9 million. Release number IFAD/03/08, Rome, 21 January 2008 (Source IFAD)

Changing the investment climate in Viet Nam's poor rural areas

$US35 million loan signed by IFAD President in Viet Nam to expand market access and develop businesses for small farmers in Mekong Delta. Vietnam’s rural poor must be given the chance to place their products on the national and global supply chain if extreme poverty is to be eradicated in Vietnam, said Lennart Båge, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Viet Nam has cut poverty from 60 per cent to 20 per cent in little over a decade. Extreme poverty still exists however especially in rural areas where 45 per cent of people still live below the poverty line compared with nine per cent in the cities “The government of Viet Nam has made remarkable progress in reducing poverty even in rural areas” said Båge, speaking during an official visit to Hanoi. “One of the ways to ensure that poor rural people also benefit from this phenomenal growth is by creating the right market conditions for private investors in agriculture and their cooperation with farmer households.” In Viet Nam as elsewhere, poor farmers, smallholders and other rural households might not know, or be able to increase their incomes from the commodity value chains through processing or negotiating with the wholesale customers who are in a position to obtain fairer prices for them for their agricultural products. And even if they can, they don’t always have the means to meet the bio safety requirements of large international food purchasers such as supermarket chains. The IFAD President spoke after signing a $US35 million loan agreement and a US$550,000 grant with the government of Viet Nam to assist the poor households in Ben Tre and Cao Bang provinces in developing market-based agricultural production and business. The project ‘Developing Business with the Rural Poor Programme’ will bring IFAD’s total loan commitment in Viet Nam since 1993 to $US168.3 million. The programme focuses on improving the local investment environment, developing rural businesses, and expanding market access for poor rural people so that they are better positioned to gain the added value from their produces. About 44,400 households in Ben Tre and 55,200 in Cao Bang are set to benefit from this programme. Båge is the first UN agency head to visit Viet Nam since the south-east Asian nation took up its seat at the UN Security Council on January 1. During his visit, Båge also signed the official agreement with the government for IFAD to establish an office in the country as part of the One UN project. Viet Nam is one of the pilot nations of the UN reform process that aims to increase inter-agency cooperation and efficiency. Båge also met with key government officials who presented the IFAD President with an Agricultural Medal for his agency’s services to the country. Discussions with the Government included IFAD’s vision for reducing rural poverty and the effects of climate change and possible measures for mitigation and adaptation in Viet Nam. Viet Nam is highly prone to a range of natural disasters and climate change impacts including floods, typhoons, droughts, mudslides, and salinity intrusion. The average economic loss from natural disasters is estimated to be US$200 million a year. “The Government of Viet Nam is to be lauded for its recognition of the role of the rural poor as custodians of the natural resource base in its National Socio-Economic Development Plan” said Båge. “The key is to now help them by investing in technology and financing to halt land degradation and deforestation whilst at the same time increasing wealth in rural areas where the vast majority of the country’s poor live.” Release number IFAD/02/08, Hanoi, January 18 (Source IFAD)

US$11.9 million IFAD loan to Armenia for developing microenterprises

A new US$32.2 million Farmer Market Access Programme in Armenia, supported by a US$ 11.9 million loan and a US$500,000 grant from IFAD, will provide innovative financing for poor rural and peri-urban people to develop profitable on-farm and off-farm small businesses. The programme will provide loans to people who develop rural microenterprises that have the potential for rapid growth but are held back because they can’t qualify for conventional bank loans. The loan agreement was signed today at IFAD headquarters by IFAD’s President Lennart Båge and Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ruben Shougarian. The OPEC Fund for International Development will cofinance the programme for US$10 million. Other cofinanciers will contribute US$2 million; the Government of Armenia US$5 million; participating financial institutions US$900,000; and project participants US$2 million. “Once they are able to access credit, poor rural producers will have many more opportunities to develop profitable and commercially viable products and services all along the market value chain,” said Henning Pedersen, IFAD’s country programme manager for Armenia. “More rural enterprises will also mean new jobs for people who have not been able to find work.” The programme’s main financing instrument will be a venture capital fund – the Fund for Rural Economic Development in Armenia (FREDA) – which represents an innovation for both rural Armenia and IFAD. Those applying for financing under the programme will have to show that their enterprise will foster sustainable income growth among the programme’s target groups, which include farmers and unemployed, under-employed and self-employed people. Applicants for FREDA support who engage women as suppliers and employees will be given preference. The programme will also help participants gain access to the knowledge, technology and infrastructure they need to enable them to profit from domestic and export markets. Improved access to roads, small-scale irrigation and village gas supplies are also part of the programme. Participants will contribute a minimum of 10 per cent in cash or in kind to overall infrastructure costs, and participate in infrastructure design, supervision, operation and maintenance. IFAD has financed five programmes and projects in Armenia since 1995, investing a total of US$64.2 million. IFAD investments in the country support poor farm families so they can produce a surplus to be sold for additional income. Small- and medium-scale rural service providers such as traders, processors and suppliers also are targeted for support because of their important role as links between farmers and markets. Release number IFAD/01/08, Rome, 8 January 2008 (Source IFAD)

IFAD-supported development project will help kick-start economic growth in Guinea-Bissau

A new project in Guinea-Bissau will help about 100,000 poor rural people work with local public administrations, NGOs and the private sector to develop economic and social initiatives that will improve their incomes and living conditions while rebuilding their communities. The US$5.6 million Rural Rehabilitation and Community Development Project is supported by a US$4.7 million grant from IFAD. The grant agreement was signed in Rome by Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ingénieur Daniel Suleimane Embalò, and IFAD’s President Lennart Båge. The Government of Guinea-Bissau will provide US$800,000 and project participants will contribute US$92,000. The project focuses on rehabilitating infrastructure, including 65 kilometres of essential rural roads, improving basic social services and strengthening grassroots organizations. The project will also strengthen the role of the most vulnerable groups – women and youth – in project implementation and community decision-making and management. After gaining independence in 1973, Guinea-Bissau experienced 30 years of political instability and a civil war. “The political scenario has evolved positively since 1999,” said Cristiana Sparacino, IFAD’s country programme manager for Guinea-Bissau. “There are encouraging signs that the new multi-party system can resolve political crises within a framework of democratic institutions. There is now an urgent need for support from the international community to help consolidate the new framework, and activate a long-overdue process of economic growth.” The project will support an active role for women in community organizations and in other local public governance institutions, and mobilize NGOs and civil society organizations to complement the public administration in providing services to rural communities. Project activities will be built around innovations proposed by participants themselves. The local initiative fund will provide financial support to participants who form partnerships to create new local rural development projects. Participants will be part of the project steering committee, together with government representatives, service-providers and NGO representatives. To date, IFAD has supported two other projects and grants in Guinea-Bissau for a total of more than US$20 million. Release number IFAD/54/07, Rome, 19 December 2007 (Source IFAD)

US$30.30 million programme will help increase incomes of rural microentrepreneurs in Madagascar

PROSPERER, a new IFAD-supported programme, will assist small-scale entrepreneurs in Madagascar increase their incomes through on- and off-farm microenterprises. The US$30.30 million Support Programme for Rural Microenterprise Poles and Regional Economies will be backed by a US$17.70 million loan and a US$0.29 million grant from IFAD. The loan and grant agreement was signed in Rome by Madagascar’s Embassy Chargé d’affaires Sambiheviny Findrama Elson and IFAD’s President Lennart Båge. The OPEC Fund for International Development will cofinance the programme for US$5.0 million and the United Nations Capital Development Fund for a further US$600,000. The Government of Madagascar will provide US$4.51 million and programme participants will contribute US$2.20 million. “The programme will provide existing small-scale entrepreneurs from five highly populated regions with a range of business development services, from training services to improved technologies, to overcome bottlenecks and support economic growth,” said Benoît Thierry, IFAD’s country programme manager for Madagascar. “Participants will also have better access to financial products and services, such as micro-finance and insurance schemes.” The programme will offer professional training and apprenticeships to other young people and adults who want to create their own microenterprises along key value chains. It will also help strengthen public-private partnerships with professional federations, the government and the Chamber of Commerce Federation. Craft work is an important activity in Madagascar, with an estimated 1,800,000 enterprises. The sector is 85 per cent informal and contributes 15 per cent to GDP, with an added value of US$150 million in 2003. By facilitating their inclusion in the regional economic growth poles promoted by the government, IFAD will support their development. Close to 48,000 rural enterprises, 50 per cent of which are managed by women, will benefit from the programme. “We estimate that about 50,500 jobs will be created, based on growth assumptions for existing microenterprises, new start-ups and new wage workers,” said Thierry. Since 1979, IFAD has funded 11 projects in Madagascar for a total of US$126 million. Release number IFAD/53/07, Rome, 18th December 2007 (Source IFAD)

IFAD’s Executive Board approves US$ 263 million in loans and grants to combat rural poverty in 16 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Near East

IFAD’s Executive Board approved more than US$236 million in loans and US$20 million in grants for projects and programmes that will help poor rural people in developing countries overcome poverty. The 92nd session of the Board was held from 11 to 13 December at IFAD headquarters in Rome. The Board also approved US$6.24 million in grants to support agricultural research and development activities in rural regions of poor countries.

Western and Central Africa to receive US$76.09 million in loans and US$1.2 million in grants

In Burkina Faso a loan of US$11.0 million and a grant of US$0.4 million will help 20,000 poor rural households intensify and diversify their agricultural production through new and newly refurbished small-scale irrigation schemes, including innovative micro-irrigation technologies. The project will promote local negotiation processes to enhance participants’ access to land and water. It will also support marketing activities. A new programme in Ghana will help poor rural people – particularly women – create profitable commodity and food chains, while improving links with the domestic and export markets. The programme, backed by an IFAD loan of US$22.33 million and a grant of US$0.4 million, will cover the rural areas of the three northern regions and the adjoining districts with similar agro-ecological characteristics in the Brong-Ahafo region, the poorest in Ghana. Nearly 45,000 households will benefit from income-generating activities of the programme and about 100,000 from infrastructure improvements. Nigeria will receive a loan of US$42.76 million and a grant of US$0.4 million to develop rural microenterprises. The programme, which will strengthen Nigeria’s Medium and Small Enterprise Development Policy Framework, will support opportunities that are available in the off-farm rural microenterprise sector to boost incomes, increase food security and improve the livelihoods of poor households, particularly those with limited or no access to agricultural land. Participants will be poor rural people living below the poverty line, which are mainly households headed by women, unemployed youth, and those who are physically challenged. Over eight years, about 700,000 people will benefit.

Eastern and Southern Africa to receive US$34.27 million in loans and US$8.62 million in grants

A loan of US$8.2 million will allow some 126,000 households in Angola to increase agricultural production and gain access to more efficient agricultural markets. After almost three decades of war, peace in Angola has opened the way for reconstruction. It is a potentially rich agricultural country, but lack of investment has severely limited the sector. There is significant potential to increase production by expanding the average cultivated area per farmer and by increasing labour productivity. The project will promote a participatory approach to small-scale agricultural investments. A US$17.70 million loan and a US$0.29 million grant will increase the capacity and potential of existing on- and off-farm small rural microenterprises in Madagascar. Small-scale entrepreneurs will have access to a range of business development services, including training services, micro-finance and insurance schemes. The programme will provide professional training and apprenticeships to other young people and adults who want to create their own microenterprises along key value chains. In partnership with the government and the Chamber of Commerce Federation, it will also strengthen professional organizations. In Malawi, a US$8.37 million loan and a US$8.33 million grant will offer poor rural people the opportunity to take advantage of the country’s emerging economic liberalization. The programme will work with the private sector to provide those engaged in small-scale production, processing and marketing of crops, livestock and fish with the knowledge, skills and financial resources they need to become competitive in the market place. It will improve farmers’ links to value chains by establishing more efficient production, transport, storage, processing and marketing systems for agricultural commodities.

Asia and the Pacific to receive US$84.55 million in loans and US$4.55 million in grants

A loan of US$19.55 million is set to improve the quality and responsiveness of national research and extension services in Bangladesh by making them more demand-driven and more appropriate to the needs of small and marginal farmers. About 330,000 poor households will benefit. Participants, which will include groups of crop, livestock and fish farmers, will identify research priorities and will help plan and implement extension activities. These groups will also develop value chains to strengthen farmer-market links. The project will provide workshops, on-farm demonstrations, and production and entrepreneurship training. China will receive a US$30.0 million loan for innovative approaches to reducing poverty in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The programme, which will focus on selected sectors such as microfinance, organic farming and marketing, aims to reduce poverty in sustainable and gender-equitable way by ensuring that village-level activities are selected by participants, including women. The programme will help them gain better access to information, technology, rural financial services and markets. It will also establish sustainable grassroots institutions, strengthen support services, and contribute directly to the ongoing reform of the rural banking system. About 125,000 poor and extremely poor households in 722 villages will benefit. A US$4.0 million grant will support Phase II of the Poverty Alleviation Fund project in Nepal. The fund is a community-driven development instrument for addressing the interrelated problems of rural poverty and social exclusion. Groups that have traditionally been excluded for reasons of gender, ethnicity, caste and location are the focus of the project. It uses incentives to encourage community organizations to include women, dalits (outcasts) and indigenous peoples as members and beneficiaries who can also hold positions of responsibility. The pilot phase was first implemented in six districts and extended to 25 districts. The second phase will increase the project coverage by 15 districts each year and will operate in 75 districts by the end of the year. In Vietnam, a US$35.0 million loan and a US$0.55 million grant will help develop market and business opportunities for poor rural people in Ben Tre and Cao Bang provinces. Participants will be those with small land holdings and limited assets, as well as landless labourers, ethnic minorities and women. The programme will also benefit existing microenterprises and small- and medium-enterprises that have commercial links with the participants. It will help establish organizations to help rural people identify and address market constraints, and negotiate with enterprises in value chains. About 43,000 households in Ben Tre and 55,200 households in Cao Bang will benefit from the programme.

Latin America and the Caribbean to receive US$24.41 in loans and a US$2.88 million grant

Guyana will receive a grant of US$2.88 million and a loan of US$2.88 million to help farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs add value to their products so they can compete on international markets. A wide variety of nontraditional products produced by small farmers, such as fruits, root crops, vegetables, spices, have good external market potential. These products could represent a major economic diversification and growth opportunity for the country as a whole and for poor rural areas in particular. Nearly 30,000 people will benefit from project activities. A US$7.13 million loan will help reduce poverty in rural areas of Yoro district in central Honduras. The project will benefit small-scale farmers, landless peasants and members of the indigenous Tolupan tribes. The project objectives are to boost economic growth by involving poor rural people in profitable and sustainable activities, and address the needs of women and youth while recognizing their contribution to overall development. The project will collaborate with government agencies such as the National Agrarian Institute and the National Forestry and Protected Areas Institute, as well as with NGOs working in support of indigenous groups and the rural poor. About 20,000 families in Peru will benefit from a project to reduce poverty and extreme poverty in the rural areas of the Northern Highlands. Backed by a US$14.4 million loan, the project will help participants identify and map their assets and those of their communities, which is the first step towards developing new business ventures. The project will help them contract services they need for their enterprises. It will also ensure rural women can participate by helping them establish savings accounts. Microinsurance will be provided for the poorest of the participants.

Near East and North Africa to receive a US$17.20 million loan and a US$3.0 million grant

Azerbaijan will receive a US$17.20 million loan to rehabilitate the deteriorating irrigation infrastructure and introduce participatory irrigation management practices to ensure the systems remain efficient and sustainable. The project will also help small farmers improve crop and livestock productivity and diversify their incomes, assist them to form organizations to access a host of support services available from other agencies and projects operating in the area, and establish a sustainable microfinance system. Participants will come from 22,300 households of small farmers and pastoralists in four districts of north-west Azerbaijan. In Djibouti, a US$3.0 million grant from IFAD will help improve living conditions of 6,000 pastoral households in the regions of Tadjourah, Dikhil and Arta. These households rely on herding, selling commodities such as salt and charcoal, and remittances from relatives in urban areas. About a third depend on food aid and about half have little access to water for human and livestock use. The project will rehabilitate and construct water points that make better use of rainwater runoff, and will regenerate vegetative cover on rangelands. Participants will identify the most suitable water and range activities and organize themselves to manage and maintain infrastructure projects.

The Executive Board approved three grants under the global/regional window to non-CGIAR-supported international centres for a total of US$4.18 million:

- United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS): Asian Project Management Support Programme

- United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS): Regional Programme for Rural Development and Poverty Reduction – Regional Unit for Technical Assistance (RUTA)

- Unity and Cooperation for People’s Development (UCODEP): Global Programme to Address the Marginalization of Poor Farmers and Migrants in Ecuador, Morocco and Senegal through Market Linkages and the Promotion of Diversity

The Board also agreed on two additional country grants:

- US$1.19 million to Iraq for the Improved Livelihoods of Small Producers in Iraq through Integrated Pest Management and Organic Fertilization Programme

- US$0.87 million to the International Labour Organization for the Skills Enhancement for Employment Project in Nepal

IFAD’s Executive Board is the organization’s second main governing body, consisting of 18 elected members and 18 alternate members elected for a three-year term of office. The Board meets three times a year in April, September and December. It has full authority to decide on the programme of work, to approve projects, programmes and grants, and to adopt or recommend action, pending the final approval of the Governing Council, on matters related to policy, the annual administrative budget, applications for membership and staffing. Release number IFAD/52/07, Rome, 14 December 2007 (Source IFAD)

FreshPlaza: Banana and plantain in Africa: harnessing international partnerships to increase research impact

The conference will take place October 5-9th 2008 at the Leisure Lodge Resort in Mombasa, Kenya. ...is being organized by IITA in partnership with Bioversity International, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). 25 September 2008 (source IITA)

TradeArabia.Com: World banana conference in October

In an attempt to promote banana as a cash crop, banana and plantain growers, scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers from around the world will gather here next month for a conference to form guidelines in this direction. ...The five-day meeting has been organized by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in partnership with Bioversity International, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). 25 September 2008 (source IITA)

AllAfrica.Com: Kenya - Africa meets for banana

An international conference on banana and plantain in Africa is scheduled to take place at the Leisure Lodge Resort in the port city of Mombasa, Kenya from October 5th to the 9th, 2008. ...This conference is being organized by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in primary partnership with Bioversity International, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI, Kenya). 25 September 2008 (source IITA)

FreshInfo, UK: Africans look to add value to bananas

A major pan-African conference is to be held in Kenya next month, to discuss ways to bring value back into banana and plantain production. ...It has been jointly organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in partnership with Biodiversity International, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). 25 September 2008 (source IITA)

People's Daily Online: African conference seek to make banana cash crop

Banana and plantain growers, scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers from around the world will gather in the coastal Kenyan city of Mombasa early next month for a conference seeking to make banana the next cash crop. ...The five-day meeting has been organized by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in partnership with Bioversity International, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the International Society for Horticultural Science(ISHS) and the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). 24 September 2008 (source IITA)

Commodity Online: Banana set to become Africa's next cash crop

In an attempt to promote banana as a cash crop, banana and plantain growers, scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers from around the world will gather here next month for a conference to form guidelines in this direction. ...The five-day meeting has been organized by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in partnership with Bioversity International, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the International Society for Horticultural Science(ISHS) and the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). 24 September 2008 (source IITA)

China View: African conference seek to make banana cash crop

Banana and plantain growers, scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers from around the world will gather in the coastal Kenyan city of Mombasa early next month for a conference seeking to make banana the next cash crop. ...The five-day meeting has been organized by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in partnership with Bioversity International, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the International Society for Horticultural Science(ISHS) and the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). 23 September 2008 (source IITA)

Africa Science News: African conference seeks 10-year plan for making the banana Africa’s next big cash crop

Banana and plantain growers, scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers from around the world will gather on October 5-9 in Mombasa, Kenya for a conference organized to launch an ambitious and unprecedented 10-year effort aimed at transforming what is now largely a subsistence crop, into a major cash earner for millions of Africa’s rural poor. ... It has been organized by IITA, in partnership with Bioversity International, FARA), ISHS and KARI. 23 September 2008 (source IITA)

AllAfrica.Com: Nigeria - Zamfara Seed Firm to Boost Farming

...the company entered into arrangement with some local and international agriculture research institutes, like IITA-Ibadan, Institute of Agriculture Research, IAR, Zaria and other international donors for production of foundation seeds for sale to farmers. 23 September 2008 (source IITA)

Daily Triumph: IITA organizes farmers’ field day in Shanono

IITA organized a Farmers' Field Day at Goron Dutse Community in Shanono local government area of Kano state to showcase large scale farmers performance of improved techniques over the farmers' local practices. 21 September 2008 (source IITA)

Nigerian Tribune: Adoption of indigenous technology, catalyst for speedy agric development

...many research institutes in the country like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Institute of Agriculture, Research and Training (IAR&T), Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), as well as many other agricultural establishments and food processing factories or companies in the country know and appreciates the beauty of and importance of locally or indigenously fabricated equipments in the development of industrial and agricultural sectors... 17 September 2008 (source IITA)

Africa Science News: Kenya government commissions $500,000 maize stress screening site at KARI

... recently served as the venue for part of a course for maize breeders from 15 African nations organized by CIMMYT, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and KARI. 15 September 2008 (source IITA)

Daily Triumph: KNSG to purchase excess farm produce

KANO state government plans to explore means of purchasing excess farm produce, from farmers in the state in the next farming season. The state acting governor, Engr. Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, disclosed this at the farmers “Field Day”, organized by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, held at Wase village, in Minjibir Local Government Area of the state, Friday 15 September 2008 (source IITA)

Reuters: Ivorian cocoa - economic mainstay with tainted image

... A 2002 survey by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture said 284,000 children were working in dangerous conditions on West African cocoa farms, mainly in Ivory Coast. 12 September 2008 (source IITA)

AllAfrica.Com: Abia Pays N72.2 Million Counterpart Fund for Cassava Project

Abia State Government has asked the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to establish more cassava processing plants in the state. 10 September 2008 (source IITA)

FAO wins leading prize for work in Niger

FAO Representative, Ms Maria Helena di Morais Semedo received Niger’s highest award for her distinguished service to the field of agriculture and the enrichment of the rural population in a ceremony presided over by H.E. M. Mahamane Moussa, Minister of Agricultural Development of Niger. 21/05/2008 (source FAO)

More than 2.6 million Somalis in crisis

The humanitarian situation in Somalia is deteriorating quickly due to soaring food prices, a significantly devalued Somali shilling, and worsening drought. More than 2.6 million people, or 35 percent of the total population, are in need of assistance. 19/05/2008 (source FAO)

Biodiversity to curb world's food insecurity

“Our planet abounds with biological richness and this great diversity is key to face the worst food crisis in modern history,” FAO Assistant Director-General Alexander Müller said urging all concerned to protect and wisely manage biodiversity for food security. His statements coincide with the opening today of a global biodiversity conference in Bonn (Germany). 19/05/2008 (source FAO)

New E-Learning course on global food standards

A new e-learning course for professionals dealing with food control and food standards setting was unveiled at FAO this week, entitled “Enhancing participation in Codex activities”. 16/05/2008 (source FAO)

Intact mangroves could have reduced Nargis damage

Mangrove forests could have reduced damage resulting from the waves caused by cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today. 15/05/2008 (source FAO)

FAO Director-General responds to criticism by Senegalese President

In a 10-point press statement, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf responds to recent criticisms of the Organization by the President of Senegal. 15/05/2008 (source FAO)

New ideas to boost the world tea market

Just like for other tropical products, the world tea market has seen a tendency for increasing supplies to run ahead of demand growth, depressing prices and returns to producers in developing countries. 14/05/2008 (source FAO)

Strong signs of record rice production

Rice production in Asia, Africa and Latin America is forecast to reach a new record level in 2008, FAO said today, warning that world rice prices could remain high in the short term, as much of the 2008 crops will only be harvested by the end of the year. The cyclone disaster in Myanmar could worsen the rice production outlook. 12/05/2008 (source FAO)

FAO's FishInfoNetwork: 25 years and still growing

A network of independent intergovernmental organizations established by FAO to help developing countries improve post-harvest handling and marketing of fish projects has reached an important milestone. 09/05/2008 (source FAO)

Myanmar’s food bowl devastated

FAO today called for US$10 million to assist poor farming and fishing communities in Myanmar devastated by cyclone Nargis. 09/05/2008 (source FAO)

Diouf welcomes US commitment

FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf today welcomed U.S. President George W. Bush's request to Congress for an additional US$770 million for food aid and agriculture assistance. The funds, coupled with support from other donors, will help countries cope with high food prices and accelerate momentum towards FAO's upcoming Summit on Food Security. 05/05/2008 (source FAO)

Diouf: world must seize chance to boost agriculture

Soaring food prices should not only be seen as a threat because they also represent an opportunity for a new start for agriculture in developing countries. A twin-track approach is called for -- emergency assistance to the poorest and steps to help developing world farmers take advantage of the new situation. 29/04/2008 (source FAO)

Large-scale biofuel production may increase marginalization of women

Rapid increases in the large-scale production of liquid biofuels in developing countries could exacerbate the marginalization of women in rural areas threatening their livelihoods, according to a new FAO study. 21/04/2008 (source FAO)

A major boost to preparations for the FAO Summit on food security

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that he has accepted an invitation from Dr. Jacques Diouf to take part in the "Summit on food security", scheduled for 3 to 5 June 2008 at the FAO headquarters in Rome. 18/04/2008 (source FAO)

Professional football against hunger

The FAO and the Association of the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) will cooperate to sensitize the public on issues related to food security and the fight against hunger. 14/04/2008 (source FAO)

Poorest countries’ cereal bill continues to soar, governments try to limit impact

The cereal import bill of the world’s poorest countries is forecast to rise by 56 % in 2007/2008, according to a new FAO report. This comes after a significant increase of 37 % in 2006/2007. 11/04/2008 (source FAO)

Indian Prime Minister awarded FAO Agricola Medal

FAO Director-General confers Agricola Medal, FAO's highest award, on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. 10/04/2008 (source FAO)

Extreme dry weather worsens food situation in Zimbabwe

Extreme dry weather in several provinces of Zimbabwe is likely to cause serious damage to the main 2008 maize harvest. 10/04/2008 (source FAO)

Urgent measures required to reduce impact of high food prices on the poor

Urgent measures are needed to ensure that short-term adverse effects of higher food prices do not impact even more alarmingly on the very poor, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said. 09/04/2008 (source FAO)

FAO expects rice production to rise by 1.8 percent in 2008

World rice production is expected to increase in 2008 by 12 million tonnes or 1.8 percent, assuming normal weather conditions. Production increases would ease the current very tight supply situation in key rice producing countries. 02/04/2008 (source FAO)

World Harmony Run to enlist youth to fight hunger and poverty

The World Harmony Run, expected to involve over one million people worldwide, took a running start from FAO headquarters today. 27/03/2008 (source FAO)

Ducks and rice play key role in avian influenza outbreaks

Ducks, people and rice paddies – rather than chickens – are the major factors behind outbreaks of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Thailand and Viet Nam. 26/03/2008 (source FAO)

Cusco potato conference looks to “food of the future”

An international conference opens in Cusco, Peru today on a crop that produces more food on less land than maize, wheat or rice. 25/03/2008 (source FAO)

French vets to help FAO

French veterinary experts will help FAO fight transboundary and other animal diseases under a partnership agreement signed in Rome. 25/03/2008 (source FAO)

Bird flu situation in Indonesia critical

The prevalence of avian influenza in Indonesia remains serious despite containment efforts. 18/03/2008 (source FAO)

Miriam Makeba visits rape survivors in Congo (DR)

Singer and activist Miriam Makeba says women survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo face a “triple tragedy” of physical, psychological and social damage, undermining the country’s attempts to improve living conditions. 13/03/2008 (source FAO)

World potato photography contest launched

A world photography contest to highlight the role of the potato as a source of food, employment and income in developing countries was launched today. 12/03/2008 (source FAO)

EBRD and FAO call for bold steps to contain soaring food prices

In the context of soaring world food prices, senior government officials from Eastern Europe and the Commonealth of Independent States are meeting with executives from private agribusiness to seek ways to unlock agricultural potential across the region. 10/03/2008 (source FAO)

Climate change a further challenge for gender equity

The effect of climate change on gender equality and women´s empowerment could be profound, said Iceland’s Minister of the Environment, Ms Thorunn Sveinbjarnardóttir, at an FAO event marking International Women’s Day. 10/03/2008 (source FAO)

Tougher port controls to target illegal fishing in the Mediterranean

The FAO-established General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean has approved a new region-wide scheme for stronger "port State" controls targeting illegal fishing. 07/03/2008 (source FAO)

FAO calls on countries to report on forests

FAO calls upon countries to participate in preparing the next Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA), the most comprehensive data collection on the state of the world’s forests. 06/03/2008 (source FAO)

Football promotes peace and development, says Dr. Diouf

FAO has always set great store by the power of sport in general, and professional football in particular, as a means to mobilise political will and resources in the fight against global hunger, Dr. Diouf says. 06/03/2008 (source FAO)

Wheat killer detected in Iran

A new and virulent wheat fungus, previously found in East Africa and Yemen, has moved to major wheat growing areas in Iran. 05/03/2008 (source FAO)

Using oil export revenues to boost public investment in agriculture

Increased revenues from oil exports could provide an excellent opportunity to boost public investment in agriculture in the Near East. 04/03/2008 (source FAO)

Agriculture in the Near East likely to suffer from climate change

Agriculture in the Near East is likely to suffer losses because of high temperature, droughts, floods and soil degradation threatening the food security of many countries. 03/03/2008 (source FAO)

EU Contributes to IAEA’s Security Initiatives

A European Community contribution of Euro 7.5 million to support the IAEA´s efforts against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the illegal trafficking of nuclear material was agreed today in Vienna. 3 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

Wheat Rusts: A Global Challenge

Wheat plants can be attacked by a variety of diseases. So far, the development and widespread use of resistant varieties has succeeded in limiting global epidemic outbreaks. But conditions change and pathogens evolve continuously, sometimes with devastating effects. One group of wheat pathogens is causing particular concern. These are the fungi that cause rust. Crop losses due to the rusts can be as high as 70%, leaving little for the farmer to harvest, while the seed will be mostly shriveled and of lower quality. There are three rust diseases that affect wheat - stem, leaf and stripe (yellow) rust - caused by different species of the fungus Puccinia. Stem rust is caused by Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici, leaf rust by P. triticina, stripe rust by P. striiformis. Each causal agent can exist in the form of many 'races' that vary in pathogenicity, aggressiveness and virulence. New races may develop due to mutation or recombination between different races within the same rust group. Existing races may spread faster, or become more virulent, if environmental conditions change. Consequently, specific genes that confer resistance could lose their effectiveness. In the 1980s, for example, a new pathogen race in the CWANA region overcame the Yr9 gene, a key source of resistance to stripe rust. A disease epidemic followed, causing losses of millions of dollars. In South Asia, Yr27, an important gene for stripe rust resistance there, has been overcome by a more virulent stripe rust race, which is now spreading. Stripe rust resistance is an important component of ICARDA's wheat breeding program. One key aim is to find resistance that is more durable. Each year, over 15,000 wheat accessions are screened under artificially created local epidemics, to identify potential sources of resistance to different pathogen races and under varying conditions. As a result of these efforts, new varieties resistant to stripe rust have been released in almost every country in Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC). One problem is that stripe rust populations are becoming better adapted to warmer temperatures - some resistant varieties are becoming susceptible, and stripe rust, formerly restricted to bread wheat, is now found on durum as well. This is now being studied. All three types of rust cause severe problems in the CAC region, and several epidemics have been reported in recent years. An ongoing ICARDA study is examining the identity and diversity of resistance genes in cultivars grown in CAC countries. The results will help breeders remove susceptible cultivars from the cultivated genepool, determine the identity of currently deployed resistance genes, pyramid several genes together in one advanced line and increase genetic diversity in breeding germplasm. Thirty-two major wheat cultivars are being tested for resistance to the three rust diseases at the seedling growth stage. An even bigger threat is stem rust. Ug99, a new biotype of the stem rust pathogen first identified in Uganda, has already spread from Kenya to Ethiopia, Yemen, Sudan and Iran. The wind-borne spores are expected to spread further, into South Asia, the CAC region, perhaps even parts of Europe and the Americas. In the CWANA region alone, 50 million hectares may well become infected and associated grain losses may exceed 15 billion US dollars. ICARDA plays a key role in the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative that is co-funded by a grant from Cornell University, we are working with CIMMYT, NARS partners in the CWANA region, and advanced research centers in the US, Canada and Australia, to find ways to halt the spread of Ug99 by positioning resistant varieties in its path. Activities include surveillance, breeding for durable resistance, seed multiplication and training. A 'shuttle breeding' program, involving ICARDA and three national research stations in Ethiopia (Kulumsa, Debra Zeit and Ambo), tests over 10,000 lines of bread and durum wheat each year. At another testing site (Njoro, Kenya), over 5000 lines are being screened for resistance not only to Ug99 but also to new variants that are not yet found in Ethiopia. Some resistant lines are already being identified by ICARDA breeders (Osman Abdalla, Miloudi Nachit) in collaboration with our cereal pathologists (Amor Yahyaoui and Kumarse Nazari). 29 May 2008 (Source ICARDA)

John Ryan gets International Service in Crop Science Award

The Crop Science Society of America has announced that this year's award for International Service in Crop Science will be given to Dr John Ryan, Consultant Soil Scientist at ICARDA. The Award is based on criteria that reflect outstanding contributions to the field of crop science at the international level. He received the International Science award in 1997 and the International Agronomy award in 2004. He also received the International Crop Nutrition Award from the International Fertilizer Association in 2006. This is the second successive year that the Award has gone to a CGIAR scientist. Last year, Dr Ravi Singh, wheat breeder from CIMMYT, was the recipient. 29 May 2008 (Source ICARDA)

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