The tools of Big Data hold a lot of promise for many industries including agriculture. But the expertise required to build a data management platform are still emerging. Dr. Medha Devare is an agronomist and data architect who is helping to lead the new CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture.
Crops and Commodities
Respecting the Value of Food: Eating What We Grow
Hannah Semler, the founder of Whole Crops, is trying to change the story of food.
You can Farm Anywhere, Even Inside a Shopping Mall
Startup company BeGreen is reducing food waste and creating access to healthy food by farming inside a shopping center in Brazil
From Rural Farmers to Food Entrepreneurs: A Conversation with the Founder and CEO of Javara
Working with more than 50,000 farmers and 2,000 food artisans, Helianti Hilman, Founder and CEO of Javara Indigenous Indonesia, shares how her social enterprise empowers farmers and promotes indigenous, biodiverse food.
Precarious Prices for Food: An Excerpt from Nourished Planet
Food price volatility pushes millions into poverty, especially in low-income countries, leading to widespread malnutrition and civil unrest. Commodity prices are no longer determined by quality or supply and demand, rather financial speculators undermine the price of food, contributing to global instability.
Opinion | Why Mexican Farmers Are Hopeful About López Obrador’s Win
López Obrador’s victory in Mexico brings hope for Mexican farmers expecting more self-sufficiency through a reduction in dependence on imports, chemical-intensive production methods, and GMOs. Promises of support for sustainable practices on small and medium-scale farms are on the horizon.
Decoding Agriculture: Creating the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture
The launch of the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture is an important milestone for the project of achieving global food security. Brian King, the Coordinator for the Platform, and Andy Jarvis, one of the founders of the Platform, discuss the ideas behind this initiative and their vision for the future of research in agricultural development.
Cashew Creations for Women’s Employment in Senegal
Cashews are not just grown; they’re also processed. This project generated opportunities for women in Senegal to be part of the process close to home.
Empowering Kenyan Women with Nutrition Education
By facilitating participatory cooking training and educational demonstrations, ICRISAT is empowering Kenyan women and improving the nutrition, dietary diversity, and wellbeing of rural families.
Previously Cleared: This New Tool is Curbing Deforestation
Agroideal, the online land use planning platform, expands to the Amazon and Cerrado regions of Brazil to prevent deforestation and encourage sustainable agricultural development.
Diabetes is on the Rise in India: Is Fast Food to Blame?
The fast-food industry in India is rapidly growing while 73 million Indians have diabetes, and this number is set to nearly double by 2045. How can the Indian government turn the tide on this public health crisis?
Preserving Africa’s Cultural Heritage at the Dinner Table
Changing lifestyles and a reliance on imported food is eroding traditional cuisine in Ghana. Through food across the continent, this Ghanaian chef is celebrating and preserving Africa’s culinary heritage, one yassa, maboke, or fonio jollof at a time.
Report Reveals Groundbreaking Results for Rice Farming
A new report reveals final results from the largest-ever regional project to expand the System of Rice Intensification, an agroecological rice farming methodology.
New Film Shows How the World Can Feed 10 Billion People by 2050
Valentin Thurn’s new film 10 Billion What’s On Your Plate is available now on Video On Demand. Watch to see how we’re going to feed 10 billion people by the year 2050.
Opinion | Global Agriculture Fund that is Reducing Hunger, Threatened by Trump
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program has a proven track record for reducing poverty in Nepal and other countries where food security is a critical issue. Now, the future of this program is in danger as the Trump administration reconsiders the commitment of the United States to multilateral policies.
Can Organic Soil Help Mitigate Climate Change?
A new study comparing the carbon sequestering potential of organic soil vs. soil from conventional farming reveals that organic soil is able to store significantly larger amounts of carbon for longer. Can organic farming help combat climate change?
Opinion | The 2018 Farm Bill Battle Lines Have Been Drawn: Here’s What You Can Do
Every four years, a new Farm Bill must be passed by the U.S. Congress. This massive piece of legislation covers many different aspects of food and agriculture in the United States—from nutritional assistance for low-income communities to subsidies for farmers to conservation of natural resources.
Equal Exchange Shines Spotlight on Banana Farmers
Fair trade company Equal Exchange, known for its chocolate and coffee, showcasing why small banana farmers are so important.
Opinion | 2018 Farm Bill Watch: A Sneak Attack on the Organic Standards?
The U.S. Congress is currently writing a new version of the Farm Bill, a massive piece of legislation that will determine the future of food and agriculture for the next four years. Senator Pat Roberts, the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, could use his position to undermine the power of the National Organic Standards Board. The Board is a valuable source of democratic representation in the regulatory process for agriculture across the United States.
Evaluating the Future of Food through True Cost Accounting
In its new booklet, the Global Alliance for the Future of Food explains why we need True Cost Accounting to protect the future of our food, our health, and the health of our planet.
