* Oliver plans to tackle obesity

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver set out a "manifesto" for tackling the country's obesity crisis. The campaigning chef is calling for more action to teach people how to cook. And he wants Government-funded food centres to be set up in every town. In a letter to Government ministers, Oliver says: "If nothing is done, obesity and diet-related health problems will have devastating consequences for the national health service. Obesity already costs the NHS more than smoking (£4.2 billion vs £2.7 billion)." He continued: "Experts now say the problem is escalating so quickly that in ten years' time, 75% of people will be overweight or obese. Meanwhile, the Government is working on predictions 40 years away. "The new obesity strategy covers both diet and exercise but it contains no plans to help people to improve food and cooking skills and stop them becoming obese. "Babies and toddlers are especially at risk because many young mothers don't know how to cook, nor do they have any basic knowledge of nutrition." The manifesto calls for cooking skills to be taught in primary schools as well as to adults at work and in the community. It says food centres should be opened all over the country with trained cookery teachers offering lessons and advice. Oliver's Channel 4 programme, Jamie's Ministry of Food, features a pilot food centre in Rotherham, set up jointly with the local council. Oliver is calling for such centres to be set up in every town, staffed by home economics teachers. He says the centres cost £150,000 each to set up, or £22.5 million for 150, and the money should come from local government and health budgets. The manifesto says: "They need to reach the people who don't cook, don't watch cookery programmes, don't buy cook books, don't know about food. If they give it a try and start to feel inspired about cooking, the Government could make a massive difference, and quickly." 21 October 2008 (Source: http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOItPGWLdWXbIzmcME_ylPJQiH0Q)

Donor Response to Food Crisis Inadequ...

(UN Integrated Regional Information Networks/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX News Network) -- Food security experts say international donors' response to the world's food crisis has been inadequate when compared to interventions to contain the global financial... October 16, 2008, Calibre Macro World (Source CGIAR)

* India Faces Urgent Hunger Situation

New Reports Compare Country's Hunger Levels across States, World According to the first-ever India State Hunger Index, Madhya Pradesh has the most severe level of hunger in the country, followed by Jharkhand and Bihar. Punjab and Kerala scored the best on the Index. Released today by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in conjunction with Welthungerhilfe (formerly known as German Agro-Action) and the University of California, Riverside, the India State Hunger Index analyzes hunger levels in 17 major states across India. State hunger index scores range from "serious" to "extremely alarming." The India State Hunger Index measures hunger on three leading indicators and combines them into one index. The three indicators are prevalence of child malnutrition, rates of child mortality, and the proportion of people who are calorie deficient. This approach is similar to the 2008 Global Hunger Index, which includes India, and is also being released today for World Food Day (October 16) by IFPRI in conjunction with Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. The India Hunger Index found that not a single state in India falls in the 'low hunger' or 'moderate hunger' categories. Twelve states fall in the 'alarming' category, and one state—Madhya Pradesh—falls in the 'extremely alarming' category. Four states—Punjab, Kerala, Haryana and Assam—fall in the 'serious' category. "This new state-focused index is an important advocacy tool to build awareness of the disparities in hunger across India, which has more hungry people than any other country in the world," said Bernhard Hoeper, regional director South Asia, Welthungerhilfe. "With this year's Global Hunger Index, we can also see how India compares to the rest of the world in the fight against hunger." According to the 2008 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 66 out of 88 nations (developing countries and countries in transition). Despite years of robust economic growth, India scored worse than nearly 25 Sub-Saharan African countries and all of South Asia, except Bangladesh. India's slightly better performance relative to Bangladesh is entirely due to better access to food in India relative to Bangladesh, which in turn is a consequence of India's higher agricultural productivity. On the other two components of the Global Hunger Index—child underweight and child mortality—India ranks below Bangladesh. When Indian states are compared to countries in the 2008 Global Hunger Index, Madhya Pradesh ranks between Ethiopia and Chad. Punjab, the best-performing state, ranks below Gabon, Honduras, and Vietnam. India's poor performance is driven by its high levels of child undernutrition and calorie insufficiency. Its rates of child malnutrition are higher than most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. "The India State Hunger Index is particularly insightful because it measures hunger across the country by ranking states on three leading indicators and combining them into a composite index—somewhat akin to the Human Development Index," said Anil B. Deolalikar, professor of economics and associate dean of social sciences at the University of California, Riverside, and co-author of the India State Hunger Index. The India State Hunger Index also found that poorer Indian states have substantially higher levels of hunger than their more prosperous counterparts. However, the report identified that strong economic growth does not necessarily translate into lower hunger levels. Even states with high rates of economic growth in recent years, such as Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra, have high levels of hunger, while states with relatively slower economic growth, such as Punjab, achieved a lower hunger level. "Hunger and malnutrition are often rooted in poverty," said Ashok Gulati, IFPRI director in Asia. "Part of the solution rests with increasing investments in agriculture and poverty reduction programs." Child underweight accounts for the greatest contribution to the India State Hunger Index for almost all states, followed by calorie deficiency and child mortality. In a few states, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, calorie deficiency contributes almost as much as child underweight. "India needs to use existing programs and systems to ensure that all women and children are reached with evidence-based interventions during the window of opportunity—the first two years of life for children and before, during, and immediately after pregnancy for women," said Purnima Menon, IFPRI research fellow and lead author of the India State Hunger Index. "This would lead to much progress in reducing child undernutrition." 14 October 2008 (Source: CGIAR, www.ifpri.org)

* New Global Hunger Index

33 Countries Have "Alarming" or "Extremely Alarming" Levels of Hunger Thirty-three countries around the world have alarming or extremely alarming levels of hunger, according to the 2008 Global Hunger Index. The Democratic Republic of Congo scored the worst on the Index, followed by Eritrea, Burundi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ethiopia. The Global Hunger Index is being released for World Food Day (October 16) for the third year in a row by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), in conjunction with Welthungerhilfe (formerly known as German Agro-Action) and Concern Worldwide. The Index measures global hunger by ranking countries on three leading indicators and combining them into one index. The three indicators are prevalence of child malnutrition, rates of child mortality, and the proportion of people who are calorie deficient. Because data used in the Index come from 2006 and earlier years (the most recent available data vary for different indicators), the rankings do not reflect the current crisis of rising food prices, but they do highlight which countries could be most vulnerable to the crisis. Most of the countries ranked in the Index are net importers of grains, and are therefore more likely to suffer because of rising food prices. "The world has made only slow progress in reducing hunger in past decades, with dramatic differences among countries and regions," said Joachim von Braun, IFPRI director general. "Population and income growth, high energy prices, biofuels, science and technology, climate change, globalization, and urbanization are introducing drastic changes to food consumption, production, and markets. The current financial crisis complicates the picture: it actually brings some short-term relief for hungry people, as it contributes to reduced commodity prices, but the credit crunch makes access to capital difficult, including for agriculture, and that adds another obstacle for overcoming the food crisis." In the nearly two decades since 1990, some regions—South and Southeast Asia, the Near East and North Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean—have made major headway in improving food security. But South Asia still suffers from high levels of hunger, along with Sub-Saharan Africa. While South Asia has made significant strides since 1990, progress in Sub-Saharan Africa has been minimal. In South Asia, the major problem is a high prevalence of underweight in children under five, resulting largely from the lower nutritional and educational status of women, poor nutrition and health programs, and inadequate water and sanitation services. In contrast, the poor performance of Sub-Saharan Africa is due to high rates of child mortality and a large proportion of people who cannot meet their calorie requirements. Government ineffectiveness, conflict, and political instability, as well as high rates of HIV/AIDS, have driven these two indicators in the region. The 2008 Global Hunger Index was calculated for 120 countries in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean, but only 88 countries were ranked in the report, after 32 were excluded due to low levels of hunger. Industrialized countries were not included in the rankings, as well as a few nations for which data is not available, such as Iraq, Somalia, and Afghanistan. To address the current food crisis and improve the long-term functioning of the world food system, IFPRI recommends three areas for high-priority policy actions: 1. Productivity and Research: undertake fast-impact food production programs in key areas and scale up investments for sustained agricultural productivity, including agricultural science policy and appropriate finance. 2. Nutrition and Social Protection: expand emergency responses and humanitarian assistance to food-insecure people and invest in social protection for nutritional improvement. 3. Markets and Trade: eliminate agricultural trade restrictions and facilitate rule-based and fair global and regional trade openness; change biofuel policies; support market-oriented regulation of speculation, and implement innovative virtual grain reserve policies. IFPRI estimates that the additional global public investment required to overcome the food crisis, and still meet the first Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty and hunger by 2015, is at least US$14 billion per annum. For Sub-Saharan Africa, the annual additional investment is estimated to be about US$5 billion, if African governments fulfill their commitment to invest 10 percent of their national budgets to agriculture. "Priorities for action at the national and global level must address the immediate food needs of poor people priced out of food markets. At the same time, national governments and the global community should begin to correct previous failures in agricultural policy by investing in agriculture and food production, setting up reliable systems for assisting the most vulnerable people in a timely way, and establishing a fair global trading system and a conducive investment environment. The strategic way forward must be facilitated by international cooperation and guided by a strong global governance architecture of agriculture, food, and nutrition," said von Braun. "To substantially improve food security in the 21st century, changes need to be made now," he added. 14 October 2008 (Source: CGIAR, www.ifpri.org)

Best Bets for Reducing Poverty and Hunger

Opportunities for Investment in Agricultural Research On October 10, Joachim von Braun moderated the Plenary Session "The Food Crisis: What Happened and What Should Be Done?" at the 2008 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group The burgeoning world financial crisis has pushed aside the attention of policymakers from the threat of rising food prices, but the global food crisis is far from over. It continues to threaten the food and nutrition security of poor people around the globe. The financial crisis reduces demand and speculative activity, leading to lower food prices, and this may provide some relief to poor consumers. At the same time, however, the credit crunch prevents accelerated flow of capital to long-term investments in sectors such as agriculture, just as this investment is urgently needed. This undermines production growth toward a more resilient global food system. The pattern of low global investment in agricultural research and development has contributed to slower growth in agricultural productivity. Unless the world addresses these challenges, the livelihoods and food security of millions of poor people, as well as the economic, ecological, and political situation in many developing countries, will remain at risk. Progress in achieving development goals—such as cutting hunger and poverty in half by 2015—is slipping. The number of hungry people actually increased by at least 75 million from 2004 to 2007, and probably increased by even more in 2008. Addressing these challenges will require significant increases in public spending. Studies show that investments in agricultural research have extremely high rates of return in terms of growth and poverty reduction. But what specific investments should be scaled up, and where? According to analysis by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), doubling spending on public agricultural research over five years would significantly raise agricultural output and reduce poverty. But targeting different regions would yield different benefits. Allocating more investment to East and Southeast Asia would raise agricultural output growth the most and reduce the number of people living on less than US$1 a day by 204 million by 2020. Spending more in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia would have less impact on agricultural growth, but would lift more people—about 282 million—out of poverty by 2020. But not all agricultural research investments are equally effective in combating hunger and poverty. Scientists and researchers from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) have produced a list of fourteen “best bets” that would reap the greatest benefits and get the most bang for the buck. These investments fall into three broad categories: 1. Create and accelerate sustainable increases in productivity and production of healthy food by and for poor people. 2. Conserve, enhance, and sustainably use natural resources and biodiversity to improve the livelihoods of the poor and respond to climate change. 3. Mobilize science and technology to stimulate institutional innovation and enabling policies for pro-poor agricultural growth and gender equity. If the potential of these “Best bets” research programs were unleashed, they could benefit billions of people over the next five years. Unfortunately, progress is currently constrained by a lack of funds. While the investments required might seem large by the standards of agricultural research, they are small compared with other general development expenditures. In terms of the number of people reached and the potential returns to investment—improved health and well-being for billions of people—doubling spending on CGIAR research is more than a wise business investment; it’s a moral imperative. Source: Joachim von Braun, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) October 10, 2008 (Source: CGIAR, www.ifpri.org)

* Climate change and forestry in Europe

Europe’s forests are growing at the rate of about 360 million cubic metres annually, yet only two-thirds of this growth is being exploited. Given that forests are essential to the global energy balance, the vital role of forests in combatting climate change are among the major issues to be debated at the first-ever European Forest Week, taking place at FAO Headquarters from 20 to 24 October 2008. 17/10/2008 (source FAO)

Political, financial push urged to end hunger

FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf calls for a political and financial push to boost sustainable agriculture in the world’s poor countries, double global food production and free the world of hunger and malnutrition. 16/10/2008 (source FAO)

* World focus on potato

A Peruvian and a Chinese photographer have won the world photography contest “Focus on a global food” launched by FAO and the UN as part of International Year of the Potato celebrations in 2008. Their photos were selected from among 1 000 submissions received from 90 countries. 16/10/2008 (source FAO)

* Financial crash could deepen food crisis – FAO

FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf tells Governments they should avoid reducing aid to agriculture and imposing protectionist trade measures in response to the global financial crisis. 15/10/2008 (source FAO)

Professional football against hunger

The European Professional Football Leagues and FAO today launched a campaign to raise funds and awareness about the increasingly critical problem of world hunger. 15/10/2008 (source FAO)

* Women in agriculture: the critical food producers

Women make up over half the agriculture labour force yet they are frequently subject to discrimination, poverty and hunger. A new publication launched today, investigates the situation of women in the rural workforce and how some of the main challenges facing such women can be overcome. 15/10/2008 (source FAO)

* World Food Day stresses climate change and bioenergy effects on poor

Climate change and bioenergy are the focus of this year’s World Food Day activities, expected to involve over 150 countries. FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on 16 October, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945. 10/10/2008 (source FAO)

* New agreement FAO-Wageningen University and Research Centre

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) today signed an agreement to enhance their cooperation to promote and support education, research and technical and institutional capacities in developing countries. 10/10/2008 (source FAO)

US$50 billion lost by marine fishing each year

Economic losses in marine fisheries resulting from poor management, inefficiencies, and overfishing add up to a staggering US$50 billion per year, according to a new World Bank-FAO report released today. Taken over the last three decades, these losses total over $US2 trillion, a figure roughly equivalent to the GDP of Italy. 09/10/2008 (source FAO)

* Food from Finland Swan Flag a top ten brand

The Food from Finland Swan Flag is once again a top ten Finnish brand. An annual survey commissioned by trade magazine Markkinointi&Mainonta lists the Swan Flag 8th in the ranking for most highly valued brand, up a full 23 places from last year. The Swan Flag denotes food products made in Finland that contain no less than 75 per cent Finnish ingredients, and all meat, fish, eggs and milk used in the products must be 100 per cent Finnish.

Making safe food reliable for concerned consumers: Risto Pitkänen, Marketing Director of Finfood Food from Finland, believes that the Swan Flag’s high standing stems from food and the food production chain being a frequent topic of discussion in the media during the past year, along with themes related to the environment and responsible, sustainable consumption. “Consumers find food-related issues important and truly appreciate reliable labels that support easier purchasing decisions,” Mr Pitkänen states. Further evidence of consumers’ rising awareness of the value of healthy yet tasty food products is supplied by the placement of the Fazer Blue (Fazerin Sininen) brand at 3rd, Fazer itself at 6, and dairy company Valio at 11th. In fact, nine of the top twenty most highly valued Finnish brands are food industry brands.

Made in Finland – quality guaranteed: The biggest leap up the list of Indication of origin labels was achieved by the Key Flag and Luomu (organic food) logos. The Key Flag denoting that the product is made in Finland shot more than 200 places up the chart from 235th to 15th and the Sun Symbol for organic production from 138th to 49th. 15.10.2008 (source: Finfood)

* Finnish cheeses compete for attention

Finland’s biannual national cheese contest is organised by the Finnish Cheesemakers Association, Suomen Pienjuustolayhdistys (Finnish small cheese plants association) and the Finnish Cheese Society. The winners were announced during the Turku Food Fair at the beginning of October. The event aims to promote the development of cheese-making expertise and raise consumer awareness. The jury comprises representatives from the cheese-making industry, the trade sector and national food authorities.

Valio leads the way This year’s contest saw a strong field offer the very best of Finnish cheeses in twelve categories. Around twenty producers presented a total of 116 items. Valio cheeses took eight first prizes. Valio Salaneuvos triumphed in the best matured cheese class, while Viola Kevyt Mustapippuri and Viola Valkosipuli were selected as the best cream cheeses. All three cheeses were produced at the Finnish dairy company’s Joensuu plant.

Niche producers proving popular: Specialist cheese producer Juustoportti Oy picked up the best unflavoured cream cheese title with Juustoportti Leipäjuusto, and the company’s Isabella 17% won best light cheese. Julia 17, produced by Kyrönmaan Juustomestarit Oy, was placed joint first with Valio Oltermanni Rapeseed in the special cheese product category. Other winners included Pohjanpoika from Juusto Kaira Oy in the category featuring the best cheese with small irregular holes. Hilma from Herkkujuustola Oy was nominated best soft paste cheese and the Ålands Centralandelslag dairy’s Kungsgård 45+ topped the best specialty cheese class.

Finland has a taste for cheese: Finns consumed approximately 20 kilos of cheese per person in 2007, one third of which was imported. Around 44.5 million of the hundred million kilos of cheese produced annually in Finland were exported. “Cheese consumption in Finland has reached more typically Central European levels in recent years, up 4.4 per cent in 2007 alone. Finns express a preference for cheeses that are ideal in sandwiches and still eat mostly edam-type products, although their popularity has been waning while full-fat and cream cheeses have been in the ascendant. The single most popular Finnish cheese is full-fat Valio Oltermanni,” says Heikki Kykkänen, Secretary of the Finnish Cheesemakers Association. The Finnish Cheesemakers Association was founded in 1910 to celebrate Finnish cheese manufacturing, promote cheese-making skills and increase consumer appreciation of cheese. 15.10.2008 (Source: Finfood)

Puljonki joins Paulig Group

Paulig Group’s Danish subsidiary Oscar A/S has increased its stake in the Finnish company Puljonki Ltd to 70 per cent after co-founder Sauvo Hiltunen sold his shares. Puljonki co-founder Kai Iiskola is to continue as Managing Director. Oscar A/S has been a minority shareholder in Puljonki since 2006. Both companies produce stocks, sauces and soups mainly for professional use. Oscar is the market leader in Denmark and also sells into other Nordic countries and Europe.

Eco products and production: Puljonki is growing rapidly, registering a turnover of almost 10 MEUR with sales divided equally between the company’s own label and private label products. Puljonki specialises in organic ingredients along with additive free recipes. The company employs environment-friendly production methods and a staff of more than 20. (Source: Finfood)

Vaasan & Vaasan opens a new bakery and distribution centre in Vilnius

On Wednesday 2nd October Vaasan & Vaasan Group subsidiary UAB Vilniaus Duona opened a new bakery and distribution centre in Vilnius, Lithuania, on the back of a 9 MEUR investment. The company’s operation in Lithuania’s fifth largest city Panevezys has also been modernised at a cost of almost 10 MEUR. Vaasan & Vaasan Group is the largest bakery business in Finland and the Baltic region, and each Baltic subsidiary is the market leader in its own country. 15.10.2008 (Source: Finfood)

SOK opening third St. Petersburg Prisma Superstore in spring 2009

The superstore will have around 4,000 square metres of floor space located in the new Karelia shopping and business centre, on the corner of Moscow Shosse and Dunaisky Prospekt in St. Petersburg’s Moskovsky residential area. “The location is perfect as there are already more than 50,000 people within walking distance of the store and a total of 250,000 in the Moskovsky area alone,” states Vesa Punnonen, Managing Director of SOK Retail Int. Oy, a subsidiary of S Group.

Putting down roots in St. Petersburg : SOK plans to have 3–5 Prisma hypermarkets and supermarkets open in St. Petersburg by the end of 2009 and a total of 15–20 units in the longer term. “We are currently conducting negotiations for several locations around the St. Petersburg area. We are also looking for city-centre sites where we could open a combination high-standard hotel and supermarket-style Prisma,” Mr Punnonen explains. 01.10.2008 (Source: Finfood)

Finnish food on show at the World Food Moscow fair

Finnish food products, innovations and food industry expertise were on display to our eastern neighbours at World Food Moscow on 23rd–26th September 2008. This comprehensive fair gathers together all the major Russian and foreign food and beverage sector companies operating in Russia. The special Finnish stand drew visitors’ attention to new Finnish food products and the Food from Finland (3F) service that acts as a trade channel providing information and news about Finnish food products and culture to current and potential customers, the media and other stakeholders outside the country. 3F makes it easy to contact some 50 Finnish food companies offering export business opportunities.

A joint effort :The Finnish food players represented at the stand included Cloetta Fazer Group, FoodWest Ltd, Kalatukku Eriksson Ltd, Inex Partners Ltd, Puljonki Ltd, Viikki Food Centre and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The stand was coordinated and organised by the University of Helsinki’s Palmenia Centre for Continuing Education, which also provided Russian visitors with information about opportunities to pursue studies on an English-language Master’s programme at the University – Master’s Degree Programme in Food Sciences (MSc Food) – and to complete a Diploma in Food Safety and Quality. 01.10.2008 14:31 (Source: Finfood)

* Kotipizza breakthrough in the Baltic States

Kotipizza’s new restaurant opening in Tallinn in November 2008 marks the first step in the chain’s expansion into the Baltic States. Two to five restaurants are planned for Estonia in 2009, growing to around 25 in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the near future to meet the demand for a neFinnish cheeses compete for attentionw style of Pizza culture. Kotipizza is already the largest pizzeria chain in the Nordic countries.

Proven operating model and support services for franchisees: Kotipizza is currently recruiting local franchisees in Estonia, in co-operation with Finnish-owned company Baltic Franchising Solutions, whose Managing Director Jaakko Vaahtoniemi believes Kotipizza has every chance of success in its drive to establish a chain of more than 30 restaurants in the Baltic States. 01.10.2008 (Source: Taloussanomat, 22nd September 2008)

* Smaller Reactors Widen Opportunities for Nuclear

As renewed interest in nuclear energy is sweeping the world, several countries are looking at small and medium reactors, often referred to as SMR, as alternatives to large nuclear power stations. 22 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

IAEA and International Science and Technology Center Sign Cooperative Agreement

The IAEA and the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) today signed an agreement that calls for an increase in cooperation between the two organizations. The memorandum of understanding seeks to amplify their collaboration in the research and development of applications and technology that could contribute to the IAEA's activities in the fields of verification and nuclear security, including training and capacity building. 22 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

* When the Ill Need Protection from the Cure

Medical patients are undergoing an increasing number of scans and tests that may involve the use of ionising radiation. The IAEA is currently working to address the issue. 17 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

IAEA Director General Observes NEA 50th Anniversary, Lauds Five Decades of NEA-IAEA 'Nuclear Partnership'

No fewer than 50 countries have informed the IAEA that they are considering introducing nuclear power, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei today told a meeting marking the 50th anniversary of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD NEA) in Paris. 16 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

* New Plant Varieties Developed to Thrive Despite Climate Change

16 October 2008 | On World Food Day 2008, nuclear's contribution to agriculture through the development of new crop varieties that can withstand external stress often brought about by climate change is celebrated. (Source iaea)

Radiation in Your Backyard...Sometimes

16 October 2008 | Monitoring the presence and movement of radionuclides in nature to track and prevent contamination of soils, water, air, and food was the theme of the 4th International Symposium on Nuclear Metrology as a Tool for Radioecology, hosted in Rabat, Morocco. (Source iaea)

Empowering Nations to Ensure Food Safety

14 October 2008 | Scientists from around the world are being trained by the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture (NAFA) to accurately analyse the level of pesticide residue in food produced in their countries. (Source iaea)

World Nuclear University Seeks Class of 2009

14 October 2008 | The World Nuclear University (WNU) announced they will be accepting applications for their 5th Annual WNU Summer Institute for next year. The 2009 session at the University of Oxford runs for six weeks from 5 July to 15 August. (Source iaea)

DPRK grants IAEA access to Yongbyon facilities

13 October 2008 | The Democratic People's Republic of Korea today granted the IAEA access to the 5 Megawatt Experimental Nuclear Power Plant, the Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Plant and the reprocessing facility at Yongbyon. (Source iaea)

DPRK grants IAEA access to Yongbyon facilities

Following is a statement to the media by IAEA Spokesperson Melissa Fleming on the situation in the DPRK13 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

ITER and IAEA to enhance co-operation on fusion research

The IAEA and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization today signed an agreement that will enhance the research of fusion, a form of nuclear energy created by the merging of light atoms. 13 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

Joining Forces on Fusion

Research The IAEA and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization today signed an agreement that will enhance the research of fusion, a form of nuclear energy created by the merging of light atoms 13 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

Selection Process of Next Director General Commenced

The process of appointing the IAEA Director General for four years beginning 1 December 2009 has formally begun. IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei's term of office expires on 30 November 2009. 10 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

IAEA Inspectors No Longer Permitted Access to Yongbyon

The Democratic People´s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has informed IAEA inspectors that effective immediately access to facilities at Yongbyon would no longer be permitted. 9 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

Statement on IAEA Safeguards Inspections in DPRK

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has today informed IAEA inspectors that effective immediately access to facilities at Yongbyon would no longer be permitted. 9 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

Resolutions Adopted by General Conference October 2008

Resolutions adopted by the IAEA General Conference last week are accessible on the GC Archives pages. They address the Agency's work in areas of nuclear development, safety and security, and safeguards, among others. 9 October 2008 (Source: iaea)

* ICARDA team meets President of Chile

ICARDA has worked with national partners in Latin America for many years, and these partnerships are expanding. Barley breeders Drs Salvatore Ceccarelli and Stefania Grando visited Chile this month, at the invitation of three key national institutions – the Institute of Agricultural Development (INDAP), the University of Chile and the Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA). They met with policy makers, scientists, farmers and students, to explore the possibilities of collaboration with ICARDA, aimed at improving rural livelihoods. The target area is the Secano Interior – a largely dry region in central Chile, with poor soils and low rainfall, whose small-scale farmers have been largely been by-passed by modern agricultural technologies. Farmers as well as national researchers were keen to increase the level of farmer participation in research; and specifically, to adopt participatory plant breeding methods, which ICARDA has pioneered in several countries in Asia, Africa and elsewhere. The highlight of the visit was a short meeting with H.E. Madame Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile. Prof. Edmundo Acevedo of the University of Chile – a former ICARDA scientist who worked on cereal stress physiology – presented her with a brochure on participatory plant breeding, published by ICARDA in Spanish. Dr Ceccarelli described plans for participatory testing and evaluation of new barley varieties adapted to conditions in the Secano Interior. The President was all encouragement; and keen to learn about the technical issues as well as implementation plans. With support at this level, we will work towards institutionalizing participatory approaches within partner institutions, to impact directly on food security and livelihoods in Chile’s dry areas. 28 August 2008 (Source ICARDA)

Strengthening collaboration with Lebanon

ICARDA has long-standing ties with Lebanon – collaboration with the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) began in 1977, through the Terbol Station in the Bekaa Plain in Lebanon. Recent meetings between Director General Dr Mahmoud Solh and top Lebanese leaders helped identify opportunities to further expand these ties. H.E. Fouad El-Sanyora, Prime Minister of Lebanon, received a delegation on 19 August: Dr Solh, Eng. Michel Afram (LARI Director General and Lebanon's representative on the ICARDA Board), and Mr Munir Sughayyar, Executive Manager of ICARDA’s Beirut office and Head of Terbol Station. The Prime Minister expresed his concern about the slow pace of agricultural development in Lebanon, and hoped ICARDA could provide guidelines for faster progress. Numerous efforts have been made to improve the livelihood of small-scale farmers, he said, but the results have not met expectations. Subsidies for agriculture have become a burden on the economy, without providing lasting solutions. It is vital, the Prime Minister said, for Lebanese institutions to utilize specialist expertise – from ICARDA and other institutions – to resolve these problems. One key area, he said, was to reduce water runoff losses through more efficient watershed management and water use. Dr Solh noted that ICARDA had considerable expertise in this very area, and suggested that a pilot watershed management site be established jointly by ICARDA, LARI and other national institutions. With good site selection and efficient management, this pilot project could become a live example for future water management projects in Lebanon. Dr Solh also suggested the introduction of high-value crops and greater use of advanced technologies for seed production and other agribusinesses. This would allow Lebanon, despite its limited land and high production costs, to compete on the world market. Dr Solh also met with the new Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Eng. Elias Skaff. He was accompanied by Eng. Afram; Drs A. Choueiry and M. Haidar, consultants to the Ministry; and Mr Sughayyar. Dr Solh briefed the Minister about ICARDA's work, highlighting the potential for further collaboration to accelerate the dissemination of new farming technologies. Eng. Skaff expressed his concern about water resources, and said his Ministry was keen to tap ICARDA's expertise on water harvesting and management. Dr Solh pledged ICARDA's full support, stating that collaborative projects (Ministry-LARI-ICARDA) would be developed and presented to donor agencies for funding. Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture welcomed the possibility that ICARDA’s Board of Trustees would hold its next meeting in Lebanon (November 2008, to be hosted by LARI). Lebanon faces a number of challenges in agricultural develpment. But together, ICARDA and its partners can ensure that significant progress is made on at least two key areas – food security and sustainability of natural resources. 28 August 2008 (Source ICARDA)

Uzbekistan Deputy Minister lauds CAC Program

Dr Sherali Nurmatov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Director General of Uzbek Scientific Production Center of Agriculture (UzSPCA), Uzbekistan, has conveyed his appreciation to CAC Program, ICARDA and other CGIAR Centers working in the country during a meeting with Dr Christopher Martius, Head, PFU, and Regional Coordinator of ICARDA in Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC), on 11 August. Dr Nurmatov has recently replaced Prof. Abdushukur Khanazarov as the Head of NARS in Uzbekistan. During the meeting, Dr Martius briefed Dr Nurmatov on the activities of the Program in Uzbekistan and the CAC region, as well as the planned celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the CAC Program on 16-20th September, 2008, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Dr Martius also assured Dr Nurmatov of the continued support from ICARDA and other CAC consortium members for sustainable agricultural development in Uzbekistan. Dr Nurmatov thanked ICARDA and the other International Centers active in Uzbekistan for their assistance. Expressing his satisfaction with the way the CAC Program has evolved over the last several years, Dr Nurmatov indicated that he is well aware and appreciates the importance of the collaboration between the CAC Program and Uzbekistan since the time when he was the DG, UzSPCA and later the Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan. In recent years, Uzbekistan has achieved considerable advances in agricultural development. The country has achieved grain self-sufficiency, which was re-enforced by a record harvest of 6.15 million tons of wheat in 2008. Significant financial resources are presently being directed at improving soil fertility and rehabilitating irrigation and drainage infrastructures. In spite of this, there are still several challenges that require a collaborative mode of action together with CAC Program partners, such as: livestock fodder production, germplasm enhancement, conservation agriculture practices, and salinity management. Dr Martius indicated that ICARDA and its partners are fully aware of these concerns and concrete efforts are already underway to help in addressing them under the four projects on Livestock and Fodder Production, Sustainable Land Management Research, Enabling Livelihoods Options, and Seed production. Dr Martius also thanked the Government of Uzbekistan for all the facilitation it is constantly providing to the activities of the CAC Program's Regional office. 14 August 2008 (Source ICARDA)

* Strengthening Bonds with the OPEC Fund

H.E. Suleiman Al Herbish has been appointed Director General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) for a second five-year term, commencing on 1 November 2008. Under his leadership, OFID has continued to grow, helping to improve health, nutrition, welfare and livelihoods of the poor. Dr Mahmoud Solh, ICARDA Director General, met with H.E. Al Herbish at the OFID headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on 17 July, to congratulate him on his re-appointment, and to discuss opportunities for expanding research collaboration betwen ICARDA and OFID. Greater collaboration is particularly important today, when food security is raising concerns at national and global levels. ICARDA is one of the many institutions that has benefited from long-term OFID support. This covers a range of research, development and training activities led by the Center, that have helped improve agricultural productivity, livelihoods, and resource use in dry areas. For example, major projects supported by OFID (jointly with AFESD and IFAD), include: - Management of water resources in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) - Scaling up of participatory barley breeding in the WANA region - Natural resources management and improvement of production systems in the Arabian Peninsula Given the excellent results achieved so far – and the need to build on these results – we are optimistic that ties between the two institutions will continue to expand. 7 August 2008 (Source ICARDA)

* Food Security in ECO Countries

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) comprises 10 countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Cooperation has helped boost economic growth of the group as a whole, to a robust 7.6% per year, well above the developing-country average. ECO has also launched a Regional Program for Food Security, in which ICARDA will play an important role. Three senior officials visited ICARDA headquarters during 20-22 July, to discuss collaboration on a range of issues related to agricultural research and development. They were Dr Abdul Kobakiwal (Chief, Special Program for Food Security, Coordination and Monitoring Unit, FAO, Rome); Dr Metin Genckol (Director, Directorate of Agriculture, Industry & Tourism, ECO, Tehran); and Dr Hasan Sahin (Faculty of Political Sciences, Ankara University, Turkey). Their visit followed a very successful ECO meeting in Turkey earlier this year, attended by Dr Mahmoud Solh, on behalf of the CGIAR. The delegation met with senior scientists and management. Five areas of mutual interest have been identified: research on wheat improvement, establishment of a regional genebank, strengthening seed supplies, integrated pest management, and development and maintenance of pastures. Draft concept notes on each of these areas, prepared by ICARDA, were discussed in detail; and will shortly be revised and submitted to the ECO's executive and FAO. Once the concept notes are accepted, ECO, FAO and ICARDA will jointly pursue funding for collaborative research. For two of the three visitors, this was their first trip to Aleppo. They went back with not only solid technical progress, but also rich memories of the city's culture, its traditional markets, and its fine restaurants. 7 August 2008 (Source ICARDA)

* Local manufacturers boost conservation agriculture

Conservation agriculture is an important priority for ICARDA's DSIPS program. Research at headquarters, testing and promotion through regional programs, and adoption and adaptation by farmers, have all yielded encouraging results. As part of these efforts, ICARDA's agronomy unit has tested different types of zero-till (ZT) planters for several years at Tel Hadya. These planters help to save time and costs of conservation agriculture operations, and reduce moisture loss from the soil. But one problem is that planters, like plants, must be adapted to local conditions. The ZT planters available at ICARDA are imported. They meet the basic requirements, but cannot deliver ideal performances under local conditions (high-clay soils, hard surface, lots of rocks). The agronomy unit, supported by the ACIAR-Iraq project, is working with Syrian farm equipment manufacturers to develop local ZT planters. The team identified three manufacturers in Al Bab, Qabbaseen and Kamishly areas, and visited their workshops. The manufacturers, in turn, visited Tel Hadya to examine different types of ZT planters, and joined a field trip (organized during an ACIAR-Iraq meeting) to see how different planters performed in farmers' fields. Following further discussions, contracts were signed to locally design and manufacture low-cost ZT planters, initially as a pilot project, but with potential for commercial production and marketing. The first planter was completed last month, in Kamishly. Two ICARDA staff – agronomist Atef Haddad and station operations technician Shukri Ismail – visited the manufacturer on 30 July. They report that the drill is well designed and fabricated, and despite a few defects (which can be rectified), the planter seems suitable for local conditions. With minor modifications, it has great potential for commercialization, especially in north-west Syria, where landholdings are often larger, and mechanization more widespread, than elsewhere in the country. ICARDA and the manufacturers will now jointly run large on-farm trials to fine-tune the prototype. 7 August 2008 (Source ICARDA)

New Regional Seed Association Formed

The 10 member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) region comprising Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan announced the formation of a new regional seed association for the ECO region on 18 July in Istanbul, Turkey. The agreement to establish this association was reached after an intense two-day consultative meeting of delegates, on 17-18 July under the aegis of the ECO Secretariat as part of the FAO-funded intra-regional Technical Cooperation Project implemented jointly with International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). The delegates reviewed the existing opportunities and reached a consensus to embark on the formation of the new regional seed association that will represent the interests of all the member countries and contribute to the development of the seed sector in the region. In recognition of the advanced nature of the Turkish seed industry and the leadership role it could play in ensuring the visibility and viability of the association, the delegates agreed to locate the headquarters of the regional seed association in Ankara. The decision to form the seed association was taken at the week-long two-tier regional harmonization workshop attended by more than 50 Senior Government officials and representatives of the private sector. During the workshop technical issues on seed were discussed followed by policy sessions on the last two days to determine public-private partnership in the seed sector and the need for a regional association to translate this into a reality. Also present at the meeting were international experts as well as executives of the International Seed Federation (ISF) representing the global seed industry and the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA) who shared their useful experiences and lessons regarding the role of regional seed associations in facilitating seed security and seed trade of countries in a particular region. In his opening statement Dr Metin Genckol, Director of Agriculture and Tourism of ECO, stressed that "the ECO region covers about 800 million ha with rich diversity in agro-ecology, farming systems, crops and a population of over 350 million. We are cultivating barely half of the available land (only 24%) from the potential cultivable area of 49%. Obviously there is great opportunity for expansion and diversification of agriculture in the era of soaring food prices". Dr Zewdie Bishaw, Head of ICARDA's Seed Unit, said that organizing the seed industry was in the best interest of farmers. "Today the winners are the farmers of the ECO region who would be served better through better organized seed industry," he added. In his closing remarks Dr Michael Larinde of FAO said: "Today we have planted a seed which should be nurtured to develop into a productive plant that would bear fruits to meet regional food security". ECO, FAO and ICARDA worked closely with member countries, and particularly the Government of Turkey in facilitating the meeting which lead to the formation of the regional seed association. The membership of the association will be open to all seed companies and service providers to the seed industry from ECO region and beyond. The ECO member countries collectively represent a huge seed market worth billions of dollars. The estimated domestic annual seed market based on potential demand in the top three countries alone is close to US $1 billion. 24 July 2008 (Source ICARDA)

* Water and Livelihood Initiative' Inception Workshop

An Inception Workshop for the 'Water and Livelihood Initiative' was held at ICARDA Headquarters, 7-9 July. The workshop brought together representatives of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) from seven Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen) and from development agencies such as USAID (Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen and Washington, DC) and UNDP's Program of Assistance for the Palestinian People (PAPP). Delegates from the USDA (Baghdad and Washington, DC) and GTZ in Damascus came as observers. Representatives of IWMI and five US universities -- Texas A&M University (TAMU); University of California - Davis & Riverside (UC-D/R), University of Florida (UF), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Utah State University (USU) also attended the workshop. In his opening address Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General, said that water is the number one priority in ICARDA's Strategic Plan for 2007/2016. "Water scarcity in this part of the world is a chronic problem," he said. The per capita availability of water in West Asia, North Africa and the Middle East is 1200 cubic meters, while the world average is 7000 cubic meters. "Climate change is further aggravating the problem. Rising prices of food have posed a real problem. Food security and vulnerability are becoming a priority for many countries in the region. The challenge before us as researchers is to increase food productivity with very little water and decrease the cost of production," Dr Solh said. Dr John O. Wilson, Environmental Officer for two Bureaus in USAID - Asia and the Middle East -- said the strategy for work on water at USAID addresses crosscutting issues in water resources management by strengthening regional processes/institutions for cooperative management of shared water in key regions; supporting governments to strengthen policies and regulations to use water more efficiently; protecting quality of water resources; promoting stakeholder participation and accountable water governance; building partnerships among communities, governmental agencies, and the private sector; assisting water utilities to increase the effectiveness of their operations and to expand services in rural and underserved areas; improving access to financing for water and sanitation infrastructure; engaging regional water entities, cooperating governments, local communities, donors, foundations, and private companies to address the water challenges in the Middle East region; and identifying and training the next generation of water decision-makers. Dr Scott Christiansen, ICARDA's Resource Mobilization Facilitator, made a presentation on the outline, objectives and anticipated results of the workshop. He said that the project is a planned effort to build a new long-term program for water and land management and capacity development in the region. A sense of participation and collaboration emerged from the meeting with a strong feeling that Science and Technology providers and NARES personnel would create solutions to the issues highlighted in the meeting by working together and using information gleaned from the rich, past experiences of all partners. The desire for country level and regional strategies to improve water productivity and income was verified and the need for a new generation of policy-makers, scientists and extension personnel was confirmed. It was agreed that there was an essential need for education and in-service training for young and mid-career scientists and extension staff. This workshop brought together detailed information about sites, partners, constraints and potential solutions in each of the seven Middle Eastern countries. Defining the characteristics of benchmark sites was useful as a way of organizing and grouping the water and livelihood problems by agro-ecology. Decision-support modeling seemed necessary -- but only so far as it could be used with simplicity and clarity to decide the best path to more profit per drop of water. It was agreed to use bottom-up and market-driven participatory methodologies that are focused in the benchmark site communities. Primary locations of the work agreed for each country are - Egypt: Nile Delta irrigated areas; Iraq: Rabia'a rainfed area and Abu Ghraib irrigated areas; Jordan: marginal rangelands in the Muharib watershed; Lebanon: Orontes-Beka'a rainfed areas with winter supplementary irrigation and summer irrigation; Palestine: Eastern Slopes rangeland and rainfed areas; Syria: Orontes-Ghab rainfed areas with winter supplementary irrigation and summer irrigation; and Yemen: Abyan Governorate spate irrigation areas. 17 July 2008 (Source ICARDA)

EC PF 7: Sustainable Water Use Project for Mediterranean Dry Areas Launched

To address water scarcity, water quality deterioration, and abiotic stresses, such as drought and salinity, that are becoming even more pronounced with Climate Change leading to desertification, a multi-partner project "Sustainable Water Use Securing Food Production in Dry Areas of the Mediterranean Region," supported by the European Commission’s Framework Program 7 (ECFP7) was launched with a Kick Off Meeting at ICARDA, 1-4 July. The meeting was attended by 18 participants from 8 countries and 10 scientists of ICARDA and its Syrian national partner, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR). This 4-year project, supported by the European Commission, will be led by the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, in partnership with ICARDA; Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal; Institute for Agricultural and Forest Mediterranean Systems, Napoli, Italy; Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK; Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe, Cairo, Egypt; Institut Agronomique et Veterinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco; Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey; and Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia. The expected outcome of the project is improved productivity and sustainable use of agricultural lands by developing more diverse farming systems, supporting economic development in non-European Mediterranean countries while ensuring mutual interest and benefit with the EU. Opening the meeting Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General, said that considering the challenges of climate change, water scarcity, and water quality deterioration, there was a need to use the available freshwater resources in agriculture more efficiently. "In order to narrow the gap between freshwater demand and supply in agricultural production systems, the use of non-conventional water resources is widely considered as a viable option. One such resource is wastewater generated by household, industrial, and municipal sectors," he explained. The other important source is saline water from the agricultural drainage systems. However, it is imperative to assess the environmental impact of using these marginal-quality water resources in agriculture, and to develop environmentally feasible interventions aiming at the efficient use of these resources over a long term, according to Dr Solh. "Having the evidence of increased intensity of multiple abiotic stresses, there is also a need to select, introduce, and test cereals, grain legumes and new crops and cultivars with improved abiotic stress tolerance," said the DG. Dr Maarten van Ginkel, DDG (Research), ICARDA, presented the overview of ICARDA's mandate and research network in the non-tropical dry areas. He dwelt on the key challenges of dry areas such as living with uncertainty, increased food prices and the grain-gaps in the CWANA countries. "Our focus is on scientific creativity to face the climate change," he observed while outlining the big challenges ahead and the opportunities for research-based pathways out of poverty. Dr Sven-Erik Jacobsen, Project Coordinator, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, in his presentation entitled "Four Years from Now" brought out the various aspects of the project and possible solutions that would emerge to benefit the farming communities in the region. Dr Manzoor Qadir of ICARDA's Integrated Water and Land Management Program (IWLMP) and Coordinator of the ICARDA-led work in the project, in his welcome statement highlighted the importance of the project and pointed out that it had also a strong component of capacity enhancement. During the 3-day discussions in various sessions, the representatives of the participating organizations discussed different elements of the project implementation and respective institutional roles and responsibilities. The final session was chaired by Dr van Ginkel, who was appreciative of the project approach and emphasized the need to link the project activities with other ongoing projects addressing similar aspects. The participants also visited the Jaboul Lake that receives mix drainage/wastewater from a drainage channel and the salt harvesting site in the lake. They interacted with the farming communities in Hagla village, where rainfed agriculture and the use of different sources of water for irrigation are in vogue. Later, they visited the salt-affected and waterlogged areas in Raqqa and met with the farmers and researchers. 10 July 2008 (Source ICARDA)

IFAD observes International Day for the Eradication of Poverty with a debate on MDG1

Ian Johnson urges switching focus to generating wealth, Moise Mensah says NERICA shows success is possible. To observe the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty at IFAD, the Vice-President Kanayo Nwanze hosted a panel discussion on ‘What needs to be done to achieve MDG1 targets?’’ “We must not let the current global challenges, the financial down turn and the food price crisis, distract us from the people the Millenium Development Goals were created for, the poor” Nwanze told the gathering. The impact of the recent financial crisis loomed large in the round table debate at IFAD headquarters in Rome, with participants emphasising the impact of the concurrent crises – food, fuel and finance – which poor people and poor nations are ill-equipped to cope with. Ian Johnson, former Vice-President, World Bank, spoke of the need to switch language and focus from ‘removing poverty’ to ‘generating wealth’ if agriculture is to become a driver for achieving the MDGs. “Agriculture has an incredible multiplier effect on development. If you don’t invest in and grow agriculture then you need to grow something else at a very high rate”, he said. “Although globally, progress in the fight against poverty has been registered, figures from IFPRI show that progress in absolute terms in Sub-Saharan Africa has been minimal” said Moise Mensah, former IFAD Assistant President and former finance minister of Benin. Yet Mensah pointed to achievements which show progress can be made when the political will is there. He cited the success of NERICA, the new variety of rice that combines greater drought resistance with higher protein count and better yields. “New markets can begin, there are new opportunities for communities to earn income and cross border trade can help promote food security” he said. IFAD President Lennart Båge, opening the event, underlined while food and fuel prices were no longer rising at the dramatic rates seen earlier this year, there was now the risk of price volatility to which rural poor people are not sufficiently resilient. Moderator Kwesi Atta-Krah Deputy Director-General, Bioversity International said that recent events “are not just shifting the goal posts globally, right now they are shifting the playing field itself’’. “We have to re-examine the whole issue of the regulation of food markets at both national and international level” IFAD´s Acting Director, Policy Division, Jean-Philippe Audinet said. “Agriculture is a risky business, especially in tropical countries, so we cannot expect adoption of more intensive practices, without reducing at least one of the factors of uncertainty” he added. In his message to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that the current crises are “threatening to negate the progress made to reduce poverty and hunger in many parts of the world.” Nwanze echoed the Secretary-General’s concerns in his closing remarks at the IFAD debate. “The poor have the least say in these crises, and have fewer opportunities to manage these changes” he said. Press release No.: IFAD/53/08, Rome, 21 October 2008 (Source IFAD)

US$30.3 million loan and US$600,000 grant to India to reduce poverty in Western Rajasthan

A loan of US$30.3 million and a grant of US$600,000 to the Republic of India from IFAD will increase agricultural production and boost employment prospects in the ‘Mitigating Poverty in Western Rajasthan Project’. The loan agreement was signed today in Rome by Shri Arif Shahid Khan, Ambassador to Italy and Lennart Båge, President of IFAD The project will involve 95,000 poor households in the six poorest districts of Western Rajasthan; Jokhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Pali, Sirohi and Jalor. The households include landless labourers, small and marginal farmers, owners of marginal land, traditional artisans, women and young people. In Western Rajasthan, a harsh, arid climate and low rainfall contribute to the project areas’ core problems of severe lack of water, poor agricultural and livestock productivity, limited income generating opportunities and a patriarchal system that discriminates against women. The project will increase income-generating activities primarily in the livestock, handicraft and tourism sectors. It will: improve farming practices through watershed management; promote both self employment and wage employment opportunities; and provide access to financial services and markets. “This project has been designed in convergence with existing Government-funded schemes so as to maximize the effectiveness of public expenditure and ensure sustainability beyond project completion” said Mattia Prayer Galletti, IFAD’s Country Programme Manager for India. Some of the innovative features of the project include piloting low-cost schemes for health insurance and dairy animal insurance and a new market-driven approach with partnership with private sector in the identification of viable income generating activities. To date, IFAD has financed 22 programmes and projects in India, approving loans for a total of US$595.3 million. Press release No.: IFAD/51/08, Rome, 17 October 2008 (Source IFAD)

US $8.6 million IFAD grant to Congo will improve plant materials and seeds and provide food security for rural poor people

A US$8.6 million grant to the Republic of Congo from IFAD will enhance the production of improved plant materials and seeds and support the marketing of agricultural products. The IFAD programme is co-financed by the OPEC Fund for International Development. The total cost of the Rural Development Project in the Likouala, Pool and Sangha Departments is US$18.7 million. The grant agreement was signed today in Rome by Pacifique Isso?beka, Minister for Economy, Finance and Budget of the Republic of Congo and Lennart Båge, President of IFAD. Current yields in the region are very low because of the effects of mosaic disease on cassava and poor quality seed. Training will be provided and agricultural services will be extended to ensure that smallholders have full access to improved seeds, planting materials and the know how for better cultivation practices. There are very few rural development programmes currently operating in the area. The IFAD project will target the most vulnerable groups and will cover 250 villages and reach approximately 20,000 households. Local governments, communities, farmers’ groups and individual citizens will be involved in a highly participatory process. The project supports the Congolese government’s agenda of fostering peace by involving ex-combatants in productive sector including agricultural and food production. The IFAD project will also help improve rural roads and therefore reduce transportation costs, increase productivity of small animals through re-stocking, strengthen farmers’ groups and empower women and young people through their participation in project activities. Innovative mechanisms will be introduced to enhance development, such as the use of mobile phones (SMS and internet) by smallholders for relaying information on markets and prices. To date, IFAD has provided a total of US$37.6 million in loans for five projects in the Republic of Congo, directly benefiting over 100 000 households. Press release No.: IFAD/50/08, Rome, 8 October 2008 - (Source IFAD)

IFAD to support Senegal with agricultural value chains support project with US$14.89 million loan and US$0.27 million grant

A US$14.89 million loan and a US$0.27 million grant from IFAD to the Republic of Senegal for the Agricultural Value Chains support project will help tackle rising rural poverty in the country’s “groundnut basin”. This has long been the country’s most vibrant agricultural region, however, an extended slump in world groundnut markets, continued land degradation and climate change have contributed to a steady economic decline in the area. The loan agreement was signed today in Rome by Papa Cheikh Saadibou Fall, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to Italy, and IFAD by the IFAD President, Lennart Båge. Although new markets are opening up, most smallholders are unable to access them. The project will assist them through the promotion of production/purchase contracting arrangements between their organizations and market operators. Farmers’ organizations will be strengthened to give members a greater say in decision making at regional and national levels. This will increase market access and a more equitable distribution of profits along a given value chain. The project will improve marketing conditions for higher surpluses and terms of trade for small producers as well as a more sustainable use of natural resources. The IFAD project will target about 36,000 family-run farms and focus on: vulnerable smallholders with limited family labour; women and girls and their organizations; and underemployed young people aged 18 to 30. To date IFAD has funded 14 rural development projects in Senegal for a total of about US$ 150 million. Press release No.: IFAD/49/08, Rome, 8 October 2008 (Source IFAD)

* The European Commission and IFAD sign EUR 67.5m deal to finance pro-poor agricultural research

50 per cent of the funds dedicated to Africa through CGIAR system The European Commission (EC) and IFAD have signed a new EUR 67.5 million Contribution Agreement to finance research through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The main aim of this new agreement is to ensure that scientific and technological advances and agricultural research will be made available to the world’s 450 million smallholder farms, on whom depend the livelihoods of over 2 billion rural poor people. With this new contribution, the total funding assured by the EC through IFAD to the CGIAR system amounts to Euro 112.5 million, the largest contribution of a single donor to a specific programme through IFAD's Supplementary Funds. The program seeks to develop smallholder agriculture and rural innovation – which is the key to combating the current food price crisis - by investing in research. In particular the programme will support research on the sustainable management of resources and ecosystems. The programme will have a specific focus on Africa, where 50 per cent of the total funding will be invested. The expected results of the programme will contribute to: - pro-poor scientific, technological and institutional innovations and policies - pro-poor agricultural research and extension programmes, research capacity building, responding to beneficiaries’ needs and mobilising their resources - boosting active participation of low-income smallholder farmers in research/extension programmes, taking into account remote and marginal areas - the learning through exchange of information and experience, through scientific and producers' networks and (multi)stakeholder platforms; with a view to fostering collaborative innovation To achieve maximum impact, especially for Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a clear need to move from a supply-based approach to a demand-based one. This means forging partnerships between scientists, poor smallholder farmers, service providers and other main stakeholders. The main partners in the programme are the 15 Centres for International Agricultural Research, and their research and dissemination partners: the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), the regional and sub-regional fora, Universities (South and North), research institutions, governments, the private sector, NGO’s, UN organisations and most importantly agricultural producers (through farmers organizations). Press release No.: IFAD/48/08, Rome, 6 October 2008 (Source IFAD)

The Punch: Nigeria’s agricultural assets more powerful than oil – IITA

Nigeria, Africa‘s largest oil producer, has agricultural assets that are more powerful than oil, Director-General of the Ibadan-based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Peter Hartmann, has said. 19 October 2008 (source IITA)

All Africa.Com: Nigeria's Agricultural Assets More Powerful Than Oil -

IITA Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, has agricultural assets that are more powerful than oil, says Dr. Peter Hartmann, Director-General of the Ibadan-based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in his message on the occasion of the World Food Day, yesterday. 17 October 2008 (source IITA)

IPS, Italy: Q&A: "I Smell A Fantastic Aroma"

...Hartmann, Director General of the influential global research group, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) spoke with IPS reporter Busani Bafana on the sidelines of the Pan-African Banana Conference on partnerships to increase research impact, held in Mombasa, Kenya from Oct. 5-10. 17 October 2008 (source IITA)

The Vanguard Online: Nigeria's agricultural assets more powerful than oil - IITA

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer has agricultural assets that are more powerful than oil, says Dr. Peter Hartmann, Director-General of the Ibadan-based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in his message on the occasion of World Food Day on Thursday, 6 October.He also called on Nigeria and other African nations to tap the opportunities presented by the current world food crisis. 17 October 2008 (source IITA)

* Africa Science News: Africa challenged to make use of food crisis, develop own food system

According to Hartman, Director General, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, IITA, while the global food crisis hurt millions, but it also presents opportunities for an agricultural and economic turnaround for Africa. 16 October 2008 (source IITA)

Business Daily, Kenya: Scientists aim at turning fruit into cash cow for growers

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture has been selected by scientists who recently took part in a banana conference in Mombasa to draw a strategic plan for commercialising the crop’s production in Africa. 16 October 2008 (source IITA)

Monitor Online, Uganda: Experts advise on banana market .

..The experts at the just concluded first ever Africa International Banana Conference held in Mombasa - Kenya last week, added that this move will boost production and incomes of the poor. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) organised the conference which was sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 15 October 2008 (source IITA)

IPS, Italy: A Better Banana For Africa ..

.The IITA together with Bioversity International hosted an international Banana Conference in Mombasa in October, focused on harnessing partnerships to increase research impact. Conference participants discussed new production techniques as well as inexpensive and environmentally-friendly management practices for protecting plants from diseases and pests. 14 October 2008 (source IITA)

The Ghanaian Times: Future of African Banana is Within ...

Thomas DuBois, a researcher at African based IITA, which is supported by the CGIAR, noted that, “current (European) trade policy is clearly in favour of ACP countries, but this is likely to change. So, Africa must prepare itself to remain competitive.” 14 October 2008 (source IITA)

Africa Science News: Science must prove to Africa farmers that banana is profitable ..

For this to be realized, farmers must be shown growing banana is profitable. Hartmann, CEO, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, said in Mombasa at the first conference on banana and plantain in Africa that the continent needs to be doing things differently and need to realize the internal markets for banana and other crops---by itself huge. 14 October 2008 (source IITA)

AllAfrica.Com: Uganda - Banana Traders to Focus on Regional Markets

Experts have called on banana traders to take advantage of local and regional markets as European countries open their markets to imports from Latin America... IITA organised conference and sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 14 October 2008 (source IITA)

AllAfrica.Com: Nigeria: Northern Governors Should Get More Involved in Agriculture - Dansadau ...

The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture Ibadan, IITA, has developed a new variety of maize that is drought tolerant, that means states in the arid zones like Yobe, Katsina, Sokoto can plant such maize. 14 October 2008 (source IITA)

The Punch, Nigeria: Ireland to support IITA in fight against hunger

In the face of rising food prices, the Irish government has said it will continue to support the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in carrying out researches to tackle global food insecurity. 14 October 2008 (source IITA)

Business Day, Nigeria: African banana farmers may lose access to European Markets ..

.IITA organized this first-ever pan-African conference 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). 13 October 2008 (source IITA)

Inter-Press Service, Italy: Going Bananas to Fight Poverty and Hunger ...

A five-day conference organised by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Biodiversity International, focussing on banana and plantain research throughout Africa, opened this week in Kenya’s second largest city Mombasa. Plantains are a kind of banana. 11 October 2008 (source IITA)

IPS, Spanish: Bananos desaprovechados en lucha contra el hambre .

..Éstas fueron algunas de las conclusiones de investigaciones presentadas durante las sesiones temáticas de la conferencia "Banana 2008", organizada por el Instituto Internacional para la Agricultura Tropical (IITA, por sus siglas en inglés) y Biodiversity International, entre el 5 al 9 de este mes en Mombasa, la segunda ciudad más grande de Kenia. 10 October 2008 (source IITA)

* Food crisis, a chance to turn around agric fortunes in Africa -

IITA The current global food crisis presents an opportunity for African governments to turn around agriculture and boost their economies, the Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr. Peter Hartmann, has said. According to Hartmann, who spoke at the Banana Conference in Mombassa, Kenya that ended on Friday, this food crisis could be the wakeup call Africa needed, which could be its “big chance to turn its food and agricultural sectors around.” 10 October 2008 (source IITA)

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