Each week, Food Tank is rounding up a few news stories that inspire excitement, infuriation, or curiosity.
Support Relief Efforts in Nepal
More than 1,000 people have died and more than 4,000 are still missing following the devastating flash flood triggered by the collapse of a glacier near the border of Nepal and Tibet. You can help by supporting organizations as they continue their relief efforts. World Central Kitchen is on the ground in Nepal to provide fresh meals to communities. United Nations organizations, including UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and World Health Organization, are mobilizing teams to support the country’s emergency response, distribute food and essential aid, and maintain health services. CARE International preparing emergency supplies including shelter, clean water, and basic hygiene products. And the Nepal Red Cross Society is delivering first aid kits, tents, and mattresses. They have also set up a phone charging station to help people stay connected to loved ones.
Pacific Island Nations Seek Finance for New Regional Climate Fund
Leaders from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) are looking for support for a new regional fund in the leadup to the 31st U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP31), which will take place in Turkiye this November. The new fund, called the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), was launched in May of this year to “serve communities at a community level.”
It is designed to deliver quick, direct disbursements to countries that often struggle to access climate finance, supporting climate adaptation and community capacity building. The fund currently has US$172 million in capital, with just over a third coming from Australia. By the end of the year, they hope to have US$500 million.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Wage Cut for U.S. Farm Workers
A federal judge ruled last week that wage cuts to seasonal farm workers are unlawful and directed the Department of Labor (DOL) to design a new wage formula.
Farm worker advocates celebrated the decision, which comes nearly a year after the DOL issued a rule that reduced farm workers wages by US$3-7 per hour. The UFW Foundation criticized the Trump-Vance Administration for creating conditions that are a “recipe for exploitation” that benefited large agricultural corporations.
The DOL must now develop new wage rates consistent with the court’s decision. They must also notify employers that they may be responsible for backpay—something that will be determined once the new rates are set.
EU Announces €15 Million Investment for Afghanistan’s Food Systems
The European Union announced an additional €15 million (US$17.3 million) in funding to support the World Food Programme (WFP) as they work to strengthen food security and climate resilience in Afghanistan.
The funds will advance solutions that improve school feeding programs, boost climate-resilient livelihoods, and help communities sustainably manage natural resources.
According to WFP, “Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most severe hunger crises” and is experiencing the sharpest surge in malnutrition ever recorded. The United Nations agency welcomes the support, stating it will help create more opportunities for women and young people in this challenging landscape.
Tanzania Reduces Reliance on Foreign Seed Markets
Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture recently announced that up to 81 percent of seeds are now produced domestically. That’s a significant change from 2010, when the majority of commercially available seeds were imported, according to a report published in Gates Open Research.
The increase in domestic production is helping the country reduce their reliance on foreign markets. Smallholder farmers play a significant role in Tanzania’s seed systems, with more than two-thirds of locally used seeds estimated to come from them—largely through informal systems.
Groups including the Tanzania Alliance for Biodiversity and PELUM Tanzania are also continuing to promote smallholders’ access to indigenous seed varieties, which advocates say offer greater resilience to pests and climate extremes.
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Photo courtesy of Tim Mossholder, Unsplash
