|
Genetic search reveals key to resistance in global cotton pest
29 Oct, 2018
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identifies a dominantly inherited mutation that confers resistance to engineered cotton in caterpillars of the cotton bollworm, one of the world's most destructive crop pests. The study's cutting-edge use of genomics and gene editing signals a new era in global efforts to promote more sustainable pest control.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/uoa-gsr102518.php
Prof. MS Swaminathan receives 1st World Agriculture Prize
27 Oct, 2018
Renowned agricultural scientist and the chief architect of the green revolution in India, Prof. MS Swaminathan was awarded the very 1st World Agriculture Prize for his immense contributions to Indian agriculture by Indian Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on 26 October 2018. Prof. Swaminathan ushered in green revolution and laid a firm foundation for India’s food security.
https://krishijagran.com/news/prof-ms-swaminathan-receives-1st-world-agriculture-prize/
Organic horticultural sector facing the challenge of a growing demand
29 Oct, 2018
The organic fruit and vegetable sector is facing the challenge of being able to meet the rising demand around the world. The main issue is that the production is not growing at the same rate as the demand, and this could lead to bad crop management practices being adopted.
http://www.freshplaza.com/article/9036330/organic-horticultural-sector-facing-the-challenge-of-a-growing-demand/
[Top]
CLIMATE CHANGE
Ancient farmers survived climate change by switching crops, storing grain
1 Nov, 2018
As the world prepares to face a massive new global warming event, researchers are looking to ancient agrarian communities to see how they coped with climate changes. A new study combines data for six-grain crops in central, south, and east Asia during the Holocene period, which began about 11,600 years ago, using a high spatial and temporal resolution model to determine how agrarian communities adapted to crop failure driven by climate events.
https://cosmosmagazine.com/climate/ancient-farmers-survived-climate-change-by-switching-crops-storing-grain
Climate change: Oceans 'soaking up more heat than estimated'
1 Nov, 2018
Researchers say that the world has seriously underestimated the amount of heat soaked up by our oceans over the past 25 years. Their study suggests that the seas have absorbed 60% more than previously thought. They say it means the Earth is more sensitive to fossil fuel emissions than estimated. This could make it much more difficult to keep global warming within safe levels this century.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46046067
70% of world’s last remaining wilderness in just five countries, research reveals
1 Nov, 2018
More than 70 percent of our planet’s remaining areas of wilderness are contained in just five countries and are at the mercy of political decisions regarding their future, new research has warned. Urgent international action is required to ensure the preservation of these last pockets of intact ecosystems, the study says, which calls for mandated conservation targets.
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/wilderness-areas-world-wildlife-pristine-biodiversity-conservation-climate-change-capitalism-a8611521.html
[Top]
DROUGHTS
Australia prepares to import grain in wake of devastating drought
1 Nov,
2018
Australia's Department of Agriculture is preparing to import grain for the first time in over a decade as the nation's drought takes hold. In a statement released, the department said it was assessing five options to import bulk whole grain from the United States and Canada. If it goes ahead it would be the first time Australia has brought in additional grain since 2006.
http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2018-11/01/content_69445564.htm
Extreme climate events that killed 50 mln people through drought and famine in 19th century could happen again: Scientists
30 Oct, 2018
More than a century ago, the world experienced a set of naturally occurring, freak climate conditions that spurred the most devastating drought in the last 800 years. The Great Drought, as it came to be known, brought on crop failures throughout Asia, Brazil, and Africa from 1875, causing widespread famine that ultimately led to 50 million deaths. And, if it were to happen again today, scientists say it would be much worse.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6335099/Extreme-climate-events-killed-50-MILLION-people-drought-famine-happen-again.html
[Top]
FLOODS
Largest flood barrier in world proposed for Texas
27 Oct,
2018
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have released their plan to build the largest flood barrier in the world along the Texas coastline. The Corps of Engineers released their idea for a floodgate system to protect the Galveston region, which could cost as much as $30 billion. The groundbreaking plan includes almost 30 floodgates, which will form a protective barrier to the oil refinery business, homes and business owners like Dennis Byrd.
https://www.tribdem.com/cnhi_network/largest-flood-barrier-in-world-proposed-for-texas/article_71f8a561-f4b6-5a47-96a6-6b43aedeb87c.html
Venice Floods: Tourist city suffers worst flooding in decade as nine deaths reported across Italy
30 Oct,
2018
Venice was reeling from some of its worst ever flooding after three-quarters of the city was left submerged following high tides. Tourists and locals had to navigate water levels of up to five feet – the worst in a decade – before the floods receded on Tuesday.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/venice-floods-tourist-city-suffers-worst-flooding-in-decade-as-nine-deaths-reported-across-italy-a3975651.html
[Top]
FOOD SECURITY
Mobile lab to ensure food safety at Global Village
29 Oct, 2018
Visitors to Global Village and other major event venues in Dubai will be assured of better food safety with a new smart mobile lab doing spot testing to minimise the risk of food-borne illnesses. The first mobile food testing lab in the country was launched during the opening ceremony of the 12th Dubai International Food Safety Conference on Monday just ahead of the opening of Global Village on Tuesday.
https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/health/mobile-lab-to-ensure-food-safety-at-global-village-1.2295244
Unsafe food costs low, middle-income economies about $110bn annually: World Bank
25 Oct, 2018
The impact of unsafe food costs low- and middle-income economies about $110 billion in lost productivity and medical expenses each year, a new study by the World Bank has disclosed. According to a press release published on the organisation’s website, these costs could be avoided if countries adopt preventive measures to improve how food is handled from farm to fork.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/292444-unsafe-food-costs-low-middle-income-economies-about-110bn-annually-world-bank.html
[Top]
IRRIGATION
Irrigation-short Africa may get $9 billion boost to spur harvests
31 Oct,
2018
Irrigation is underused in sub-Saharan Africa, where just 7 percent of farmland is irrigated, the lowest proportion of any region of the world, according to the International Water Management Institute. Now Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) hopes to focus investment on bringing the technology to small-scale farmers - including those suffering worsening drought as a result of climate change.
http://news.trust.org//item/20181031040250-01tdc/
[Top]
WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Water institutes from Louisiana and Israel sign research MoU
31 Oct, 2018
Louisiana-based Water Institute of the Gulf and Israel’s Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research have signed a research Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The five-year agreement will see the two institutes work collaboratively on strategic water research initiatives. As part of the deal, the parties will focus on groundwater research, applications to improve farming, better utilisation of drinking water aquifers, surface water and stream research and other fields that support and enhance human life.
https://www.water-technology.net/news/water-institutes-louisiana-israel-sign-research-mou/
Citizens trained on water conservation to prevent daily losses: Jordan
31 Oct, 2018
A four-year long project aimed at addressing host communities’ water needs across the country held a concluding ceremony to present the achievements and success stories witnessed throughout the programme. Launched in 2015 by Oxfam in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and Future Pioneers “Addressing the Water Needs of Jordan Hosting Communities (AWANE)” aimed to bring community members, partners and government officials together to improve water resource management in the Zarqa and Balqa governorates, while enabling residents to understand their rights and responsibilities in water conservation.
http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/citizens-trained-water-conservation-prevent-daily-losses
[Top]
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
9th International Micro Irrigation Conference (9IMIC), 16-18 January 2019, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India on the theme: Micro Irrigation in Modern Agriculture.
Website: http://micro-irrigation2019.com/
International Dam Safety Conference 2019, 13-14 February 2019, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India
Website: www.damsafety.in/idsc2019
5th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage (ARCID), 16-19 March 2020, Rabat, Morocco on the theme: Sustainable Management of Irrigation for Improved Resilience of Agriculture in Africa.
Website: http://www.anafide.net/
Water for Food Global Conference 2019, 29-30 April 2019, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA on the theme: Water for a Hungry World: Innovation in Water and Food Security.
Website: https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/news-and-events
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/
[Top]
LATEST PUBLICATION(S)
 |
|
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 @ https://bit.ly/2Q6OU
|