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13 vertical farming innovations that could revolutionize agriculture
4 July, 2018
Many have wondered for years if vertical farming is really the answer to the shortage of food in the world. However strange the concept of vertical farming might seem to many startups, it is an ingenious method to produce food in environments where arable land is unavailable or rare at the most. Vertical farming is a revolutionary and more sustainable method of agriculture than its counterpart as it lowers the requirement of water to up to 70% and also saves considerable space and soil.
https://interestingengineering.com/13-vertical-farming-innovations-that-could-revolutionize-agriculture
Model farm in Israel sowing seeds for global innovation
21 June,
2018
Starting with wheat fields and an almond grove, a full-scale sustainable educational farm now taking root in Israel’s Jezreel Valley will be an international showcase for cutting-edge Israeli technologies in precision agriculture, high-yield growth with less water, and preventing soil erosion and infestation. Staffed by Volcani experts, the model farm will be supported by an on-site laboratory, which will expedite the otherwise lengthy process of applying findings to the field. In addition, trainings, seminars and workshops will be offered on a regular basis.
https://www.israel21c.org/model-farm-in-israel-sowing-seeds-for-global-innovation/
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Global warming may be twice what climate models predict
5 July,
2018
Rising sea levels could cost $14 trillion worldwide annually by 2100, say scientists who warn that failing to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius will lead to dire global economic consequences. The researchers from UK National Oceanographic Centre (NOC) also found that upper-middle income countries such as China would see the largest increase in flood costs, whereas the highest income countries would suffer the least, thanks to existing high levels of protection infrastructure.
https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/global-warming-may-be-twice-what-climate-models-predict
Global warming will make veggies harder to find, warns study
12 June, 2018
Global warming is expected to make vegetables significantly scarcer around the world, unless new growing practices and resilient crop varieties are adopted, researchers warned. By the end of this century, less water and hotter air will combine to cut average yields of vegetables -- which are crucial to a healthy diet -- by nearly one-third, said the report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
https://www.news18.com/news/world/global-warming-will-make-veggies-harder-to-find-warns-study-1775477.html
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DROUGHTS
Australia drought: Record dry spell crippling farmers, worse still to come
5 July, 2018
Farmers on Australia's east coast are being driven to the brink by devastating drought, with some regions experiencing the driest start to the year ever recorded. In its monthly drought report, the Bureau of Meteorology said June rainfall was below average for the Kimberley, south-western Western Australia, most of the Northern Territory and much of South Australia and Queensland. But it's farmers in NSW – especially the far west and north-western areas – that are feeling the effects of drought the most.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/07/05/14/13/australia-drought-el-nino-farmers-bureau-of-meteorology-statistics
Africa must be proactive about drought, not reactive: FAO
19 June, 2018
Despite the drought-prone Near East and North Africa facing hoards of problems like water scarcity, degraded land and fragile soil, the region has not made a fundamental shift from recovering from drought to trying to be not susceptible to one. And, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations wants them to do just that for it’s time the world's most water-scarce areas, with desert making up three-quarters of its territory, took matters in their own hands.
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/africa-must-be-proactive-about-drought-not-reactive-says-fao-60889
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FLOODS
Coral reefs save billions of dollars worldwide by preventing floods
12 June,
2018
A study released Tuesday pinpoints the value of coral reefs, finding coastal flood-related damages around the world would be twice what they are now if not for this natural flood barrier. On average, the entire planet's coral reefs are worth some $4 billion annually in flood protection, said study lead author Michael Beck, a scientist at the Nature Conservancy and a professor at the University of California – Santa Cruz. Closer to home, he said "the United States receives nearly $100 million annually in direct flood reduction benefits from its reefs.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/06/12/coral-reefs-save-billions-dollars-worldwide-preventing-floods/695056002/
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FOOD SECURITY
Study finds 'hidden harvest' in world's inland fisheries
18 June, 2018
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says we are dramatically underestimating the role inland fisheries play in global food security. While it's widely known that people across the world rely on freshwater fishes caught in lakes, rivers and streams to supply protein in their diet, putting a number on the global catch -- or even the catch from individual fisheries -- has been challenging.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/uow-sf_1061518.php
India must ditch rice to feed growing population, scientists warn
5 July,
2018
India must shift from growing mainly rice and wheat to other crops that are healthier and better for the environment, according to new research. The study conducted by an international team of scientists aims to address two key targets of the Indian government – to improve the nation’s nutrition and promote sustainable water use. Current estimates suggest the nation will have to feed nearly 400 million more people by 2050 – a significant undertaking given that it already struggles with widespread malnutrition and lack of water.
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/india-rice-crops-farming-agriculture-wheat-nutrition-drought-columbia-university-a8431411.html
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IRRIGATION
SA-created irrigation system cuts water usage by up to 70% - and is revolutionizing orchards
2 July,
2018
Tree Hog can cut an orchard’s water consumption by up to 70%, with minimum savings starting at 50%, says its inventor Louis Loubser, a farmer in Robertson in the Western Cape. The device is an injection-moulded plastic case with a micro sprinkler which encloses the base of a tree, and is designed to last up to eight years. It combines the benefits of micro and drip irrigation. It is backed by one of the UK’s largest fresh fruit suppliers, Primafruit, and over 40,000 units have been distributed.
https://www.businessinsider.co.za/tree-hog-cuts-agriculture-water-consumption-by-70-2018-6
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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Experts call for scale-up of rainwater harvesting across Africa
29 June, 2018
African continent is facing rising water challenges due to higher demand caused by rapid population growth, urbanization, increasing food demands and depletion of natural water resources. Experts say that this can be addressed through efficient use of water harvesting measure across Sub-Saharan Africa with potential impacts on farmers and whole economies. This was observed during a recent expert workshop on answering the call for an African water revolution hosted by the Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGC/A). The workshop, which was held in Kigali, convened about 80 participants from 16 countries.
http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/experts-call-scale-rain-water-harvesting-across-africa
World Bank approves India's Rs 6,000 crore groundwater conservation scheme
7 June, 2018
The World Bank has approved India’s Rs 6,000 crore central scheme which aims to improve groundwater management in priority areas in the country through community participation over a period of five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23. The priority areas identified under the scheme fall in Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/world-bank-okays-rs-6000-crore-central-scheme-for-ground-water-management/articleshow/64486787.cms?
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
International Conference and 69th International Executive Council Meeting of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, 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/
5th International Symposium on Dam Safety, 27-31 October 2018, Istanbul, Turkey
Website: http://www.damsafety2018.com/
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
International Dam Safety Conference 2019, 13-14 February 2019, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India
Website: www.damsafety.in/idsc2019
3rd World Irrigation Forum (WIF3) and 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 Productivity Mapping of Major Indian Crops 2018, published by NABARD
The study on Water Productivity Mapping of Major Indian Crops presents for the first time, maps on the water productivity of ten major Indian crops across cultivating districts and states. It builds on the expectation that if key decisions regarding irrigation, cropping patterns, input pricing, and incentive structures are predicated on water productivity of crops, it would ensure that water in agriculture is distributed more widely, water-use efficiency is enhanced, and Indian agriculture becomes more sustainable and productive in the long run. Thus, the study seeks to inform targeted policies and investment interventions for meeting the twin objectives of har khet ko pani (water to every field) and ‘more crop per drop’. The report will encourage policy makers to take note of and trigger an effective response to the looming water crisis faced by the agriculture sector in India. The book has been released as an Open Access and may be downloaded @ http://icrier.org/pdf/Water_Productivity_Mapping_of_Major_Indian_Crops.pdf
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