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Norway upgrading international seed vault
15 Mar, 2018
A giant vault in Norway that holds seeds from around the world is set for a $12.5 million upgrade in order to further protect global food supplies. The work includes a new concrete-built access tunnel, a service building to house emergency power and refrigerating units, and waterproof walls to prepare for a warmer future. Built 10 years ago, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault was constructed in an abandoned Arctic coal mine to store and safeguard the world’s crops and plants from global natural or man-made disaster.
https://www.producer.com/2018/03/norway-upgrading-international-seed-vault/
Agri-science fair held to create awareness about latest farm technologies: India
17 Mar, 2018
A three-day Krishi Unnati Mela was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 17 that aimed to create awareness about the latest farm technologies and receive feedback from farmers. The fair organized at Pusa complex, New Delhi had more than 600 stalls, display of latest agriculture and allied sector technologies, live demonstration of micro-irrigation, wastewater utilization and animal husbandry and fisheries.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/pm-to-open-agri-science-fair-on-saturday-118031400554_1.html
One of the largest indoor farms in the world is in Faribault: U.S
27 Feb,
2018
Living Greens Farm, based in Faribault in United States, is one of the largest indoor farms in the world, according to Anderson, who is founder, president and chairman. The company uses a computer system to control elements such as light, temperature, humidity and CO2, combined with aeroponics—a method of growing plants by suspending their roots in the air—to grow lettuce, herbs and microgreens. Rather than using soil, plants are sprayed with a nutrient-rich solution.
https://www.minnpost.com/twin-cities-business/2018/02/one-largest-indoor-farms-world-faribault
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CLIMATE CHANGE
World’s great forests could lose half of all wildlife as planet warms: Report
14 Mar, 2018
The world’s greatest forests could lose more than half of their plant species by the end of the century unless nations ramp up efforts to tackle climate change, according to a new report on the impacts of global warming on biodiversity hotspots. Mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds are also likely to disappear on a catastrophic scale in the Amazon and other naturally rich ecosysterms in Africa, Asia, North America and Australia if temperatures rise by more than 1.5C, concludes the study by WWF, the University of East Anglia and the James Cook University.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/14/worlds-great-forests-could-lose-half-of-all-wildlife-as-planet-warms-report
Global Energy transition must accelerate to thwart climate change
15 Mar,
2018
A new report, Fostering Effective Energy Transition, published by the World Economic Forum presents its Energy Transition Index 2018, benchmarking 114 countries according to the current state of their energy systems and their structural readiness to adapt to future energy needs.
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/03/15/global-energy-transition-must-accelerate-to-thwart-climate-change/
Belarus builds forest resilience to climate change with World Bank support
15 Mar, 2018
Modern forest management, reforestation, and new forest areas will help the Belarusian forest sector adapt to storms, climate change and pests, due to the EUR 12 million Additional Financing for the Belarus Forestry Development Project (FDP), approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors.
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/03/14/belarus-builds-forest-resilience-to-climate-change-with-world-bank-support/
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DROUGHTS
Droughts leave kids too short, too thin in various districts of Karnataka: UNICEF
14 Mar, 2018
Bengaluru: Consecutive droughts experienced in different districts of Karnataka is taking a toll, especially on women and children. This is according to a report by UNICEF’s Disaster Risk Reduction Section, which was published in “Drought Management Strategies - Compendium of Best Practices Adopted in Drought Management”, released by Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Cell.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2018/mar/11/droughts-leave-kids-too-short-too-thin-in-various-districts-of-karnataka-unicef-1785330.html
Scientists use ancient trees and climate models to understand past and future drought in Mongolia
14 Mar, 2017
Ancient trees in Mongolia dating back more than 2,000 years are helping place current and future climate change in context, according to a new West Virginia University-led study. The study describes the duration and severity of past and future droughts in Mongolia, providing a unique perspective: a historical record that extends to the first millennium. Shorter records would not provide the same context.
https://newswise.com/articles/scientists-use-ancient-trees-and-climate-models-to-understand-past-and-future-drought-in-mongolia
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FLOODS
15 killed in Kenya floods, scores of families displaced
19 Mar,
2018
Nairobi: Kenyan officials said on Friday that at least 15 people have drowned and scores of families have been displaced across the East African nation during two days of heavy rainfall that caused flooding in urban and rural areas. The deaths happened as flood and river waters swept through Kenyan towns that had experienced drought months earlier, officials said.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2018/mar/19/15-killed-in-kenya-floods-scores-of-families-displaced-1789295.html
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FOOD SECURITY
US extends P100-m aid to boost food security
14 Mar, 2018
The United States Agency for International Development has extended a P100-million assistance to the Philippines intended to boost food security in Marawi City and surrounding areas. The USAID is partnering with the World Food Program to provide 1.8 million kilograms of rice—enough to feed 45,000 people for four months—to families displaced by the conflict.
http://thestandard.com.ph/news/national/260990/us-extends-p100-m-aid-to-boost-food-security-.html
China’s top food company goes global to feed 1.4 bln at home
13 Mar,
2018
China’s largest food company is open to partnering with its competitors as it seeks to meet its biggest challenge: feeding the world’s most-populous country. While Cofco’s current focus is on Chinese food security and seeking out partnerships, there’s still room for the company to invest in origination and independent supply chains in both Brazil and Argentina.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-13/to-feed-1-4-billion-at-home-top-china-food-company-goes-global
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IRRIGATION
Pipes to replace canal system for irrigation: India
9 Mar,
2018
New Delhi: In order to cut delays and reduce cost in laying canal for irrigation, the government has, in principle, decided to use pipes of different diameters for water conveyance in place of canal. As opposed to canal systems, piped conveyance of water does not require land acquisition and forest\environment clearance. The problems of contamination of water and loss due to evaporation can also be tackled by using pipes.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pipes-to-replace-canal-system-for-irrigation-govt/articleshow/63235694.cms
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
UN-World Bank panel calls for ‘fundamental shift’ in water management
14 Mar, 2018
Making Every Drop Count: An Agenda for Water Action, released by a panel of 11 Heads of State and a Special Advisor, calls for a fundamental shift in the way the world manages water so that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 6 on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, can be achieved.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/03/1004982
19 cities in world rely on precipitation for water supply: Study
14 Mar,
2018
Owing to increased urbanisation, 19 of the 29 largest cities in the world depend on evaporation from surrounding lands for more than one-third of their water supply, finds a study. The study focused on how moisture recycling is linked to a city’s water supply. Moisture recycling occurs when water evaporates from the land and rises up into the atmosphere. This moisture then flows along prevailing wind currents through the atmosphere, falling out as precipitation elsewhere, the researchers said.
http://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/19-cities-in-world-rely-on-precipitation-for-water-supply-says-study/1098927/
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
8th Asian Regional Conference, 2-4 May 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal, on the theme: Irrigation in Support of an Evergreen Revolution.
Website:http://nencid.org.np/
69th IEC & Regional Conference, 12–17 August 2018, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, on the theme: Innovative and Sustainable Agri-water Management: Adapting to a Variable and Changing Climate.
Website: http://www.icid2018.org/
Global Water Security for Agriculture and Natural Resources (GWSAN), 3-6 October 2018, Hyderabad, India: An ASABE Global Initiative Conference.
Website: http://www.asabewater.org/
9th International Micro Irrigation Conference, 16-18 January 2019, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, on the theme: Micro Irrigation in Modern Agriculture.
Website: http://www.icid.org/conf_microirri.html
3rd World Irrigation Forum (WIF3) & 70th International Executive Council Meeting, 1-7 September, 2019, Bali, Indonesia, on the theme: Development for water, food and nutrition security in a competitive environment.
Website: http://www.icid2019.org/
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LATEST PUBLICATION(S)
Water Saving in Irrigated Agriculture in Egypt: Case Studies and Lessons Learned, November 2017
The Egyptian National Committee for Irrigation and Drainage (ENCID) has launched a new book titled 'Water Saving in Irrigated Agriculture in Egypt: Case Studies and Lessons Learned.' The publication is a compilation of successful water saving innovation ideas at the farm level and is a rich source of reference work for all the professionals engaged in agricultural water management aspirating for "More and more crop per drop." For more info, kindly write to Encid@link.net
http://www.enci
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