Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), which are being used to collect and transmit data through technological devices like mobile phones, are deemed effective solutions to the said challenges proven to serve farmers in the Caribbean effectively (Ganpat et al., 2010; McNamara, 2017).
Many studies have noted the decreasing interest of the youth in agriculture. However, digital technologies can facilitate youth engagement in the sector to address unemployment and food insecurity. FAO (2018) identified drones and various applications as innovations that can revolutionize agriculture. Drones are able to collect real-time and in-depth data on food and agricultural challenges. On the other hand, applications have facilitated the reporting and management of pests on farms
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about two-thirds of the African population depend on family farms, comprising of 62% of the land, for food and employment. These farmers depend mostly on traditional modes of farming such as non-use of irrigation, chemical fertilizers, and commercial seed varieties. As such, they contribute to ecosystem preservation and environmental protection and are crucial for food security in the region. However, these same farmers are
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), and World Health Organization (WHO), recently released The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report 2019 (SOFI 2019). The report tracks the world’s progress towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of zero hunger by (1) ending hunger and ensuring access to food by all and (2) eliminating all forms of malnutrition. In
During the opening session of the First International Food Safety Conference in Addis Ababa, world leaders pointed out the need for greater international cooperation to prevent unsafe food, one of the causes of sickness and hamper sustainable development. The goal of this conference is to identify key actions that will ensure the availability of, and access to, safe food now and in the future. In order to achieve this, a
The Operation Timbang Plus (OTP), an annual weight-and-height-taking activity conducted by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) through its network of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) is an example of an existing information system that provides data on the status of food utilization in a community in the Philippines. Specifically, the program provides data on the status of food utilization in a community as well as the prevalence of malnutrition among vulnerable
Recently, FAO launched a new podcast dubbed as “TARGET:Zero Hunger”. This is to present the insights regarding the global conerns on food and agriculture worldwide. The series is composed of bi-weekly episodes on the stories, issues and policies that are the root of global food security. Below are the list of episodes: TZH01: Producing food in times of crisis: a look inside FAO’s work in emergencies TZH02: Catching food fraudsters
The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) will conduct a three-day workshop on interactive community radio to enhance food security and family farming in Asia-Pacific. It will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, on September 19-21, 2016. FAO reported in 2015 that 490 million people are still suffering chronic hunger in Asia and the Pacific region, which is also home to
The importance of peace for food security was highlighted during the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East on 3 May 2016 in Rome, Italy. Representatives from 25 countries in the Near East and North Africa reaffirmed their commitment to fight hunger through a declaration that highlighted “the need for stability and peace for any development effort to bear fruits in the short, medium, and long term.” According to these
The application for Food Security Center’s Excellence Scholarships for full PhD and Short-term Scholarships for visiting postdoctoral researchers and Sandwich students is open until July 6, 2015. The scholarship is open for students from developing countries who are interested to pursue the PhD program on Global Food Security at the University of Hohenheim starting September 1, 2015.
