News

Food treasures of the wild in peril

Remote tribes in dense tropical forests or frozen polar wastes are keepers of a vast treasurehouse of healthful, nutritious foods ; many with extraordinary properties; that more affluent societies can only envy.

This is among the main findings of a recent book, Indigenous People's Food Systems, co-published by FAO and McGill University's Centre for Indigenous People's Nutrition and Environment (CINE). Says Barbara Burlingame, FAO Senior Nutrition Officer, Nutrition Assessment and Nutrient Requirements, "This book shows the wealth of knowledge in indigenous communities, in diverse ecosystems, and the richness of their food resources."

http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/29646/icode/

Zambia, Comoros refuse to sign EU trade accord at last minute

Two southern African nations abruptly refused to sign a free-trade agreement with the European Union on Saturday at the last minute before they together with four other countries were due to sign on the dotted line.

Zambia, Comoros refuse to sign EU trade accord at last minute

Two southern African nations abruptly refused to sign a free-trade agreement with the European Union on Saturday at the last minute before they together with four other countries were due to sign on the dotted line.

Asian irrigation must be revitalised, warns report

Asia's run-down irrigation systems need to be updated if the continent is to meet the challenge of feeding an extra 1.5 billion people by 2050, according to a new report.

CSO RECOMMENDATIONS TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS ON THE VULNERABLE SECTORS IN THE ASEAN REGION

We, representatives from civil society organizations of women and men migrant workers from the formal, informal and labor sectors, small-scale farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples, agricultural workers, consumers, academe and non-government organizations from the ASEAN region, gathered at the "Regional Conference on the Impact of Financial and Economic Crisis on Vulnerable Sectors of the Region

FAO initiatives debate on declaration forWorld Summit on Food Security

To initiate the negotiation process of the World Summit on Food Security that will be held in Rome on november 16-18, the FAO has sent a document to Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Development Cooperation and Agriculture of members of FAO and the United Nations.

The wildland fire problem. An integrated approach to reduce fire losses

Regional Conference on the Impact of the Global Economic and Financial Crisis to the Vulnerable Sectors in the Region: Civil Society Voices and ASEAN

AsiaDHRRA is co-organizing the Regional Conference on the Impact of the Global Economic and Financial Crisis to the Vulnerable Sectors in the Region: Civil Society Voices and ASEAN to be held on July 28-29, 2009 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
SOURCE: AsiaDHRRA

How China became world's third largest food aid donor by promoting family farms

China ended its dependence on food aid, but almost overnight.. became the world's third largest food aid donor.
SOURCE: AFA

China's Land Reform: Speeding the Plough

For China's 700 million strong rural population, the light of property rights may finally be appearing at the end the Communist-era tunnel. Thirty years of economic reform have left the countryside significantly better off than before, but neither farmers nor migrants are yet able to participate fully in the benefits of China's ongoing modernization.
SOURCE: Far Eastern Economic Review