|
World’s first lab-grown steak revealed – but the taste needs work
14 Dec, 2018
The first steak grown from cells in the lab and not requiring the slaughter of a cow has been produced in Israel. The meat is not the finished article: the prototype costs $50 for a small strip, and the taste needs perfecting, according to its makers. It marks a significant step forward for a nascent industry that aims to provide people with real meat without the huge environmental impact and welfare problems of intensive livestock production.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/14/worlds-first-lab-grown-beef-steak-revealed-but-the-taste-needs-work
Scientists clone hybrid rice seeds in breakthrough that could cut costs for farmers
13 Dec, 2018
In a breakthrough for farmers across the world, especially those from developing countries, scientists have discovered a way to clone hybrid seeds of rice. Now, scientists in the US and France have successfully tweaked a hybrid variety of Rice Japonica (Asian variety) so that some of the plants produce cloned seeds, according to research published in the latest edition of journal Nature.
https://www.livemint.com/Politics/UTXR9mKB0RqzFSVzxdyYWP/Scientists-clone-hybrid-rice-seeds-in-breakthrough-that-coul.html
Agri universities and research institutes are cultivating farm startups
9 Dec, 2018
Green Grocer is an example of how universities and research institutes are helping entrepreneurs germinate, incubate and scale up agriculture-focussed businesses that combine science and technology with management and marketing skills. ICAR is supporting such universities encourage students to dream big about agriculture.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/agri-universities-and-research-institutes-are-cultivating-farm-startups/articleshow/67003031.cms
[Top]
CLIMATE CHANGE
FAO urges to scale up response to climate change in agricultural sectors
17 Dec, 2018
The world must scale up the response to climate change, particularly in agricultural sectors, FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo told delegates at a high-level side-event of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP24) in Katowice, Poland. It will require investing in multi-sectoral policy design, implementation capacity, people, data, innovations as well as leadership, especially for women.
http://www.thecattlesite.com/news/53616/fao-urges-to-scale-up-response-to-climate-change-in-ag-sectors/
Lightbulb group shows way on climate change
24 Dec, 2018
The transition to LEDs is just one example of the disruption taking place across industries, as governments around the world try to reduce emissions by improving energy efficiency and cutting reliance on fossil fuels. The impacts of climate change have become much more visible in the past year, in terms of direct physical impacts such as hurricanes and wildfires, and in policy impacts from climate-related legislation, such as rules encouraging efficient lighting. And companies are taking notice like never before.
https://www.ft.com/content/945b8c44-0450-11e9-99df-6183d3002ee1
Empower women to help save Africa from climate change
17 Dec, 2018
Africa must unlock the power of its women and girls if it is to adapt to climate change, cope with disasters and build its green energy sector. Research shows that when women are involved in decision making, agreements on the environment are more likely to be ratified and projects around natural resources, such as water, are more likely to succeed. If given access to education and finance, African women can contribute to finding technological solutions and driving the continent’s renewable energy industry too.
https://economist.com.na/40752/environment/empower-women-to-help-save-africa-from-climate-change/
[Top]
DROUGHTS
Sugar output may drop next year as drought cuts cane planting: India
12 Dec,
2018
India’s sugar production could fall in 2019-20 as farmers are struggling to plant cane because of a drought in two of the country’s top producing states, according to multiple industry officials and traders. A drop in production would slash exports from the world’s second-biggest sugar producer and support global prices that have fallen 15% so far in 2018.
https://www.livemint.com/Politics/uu0H2MzBSgX44WsfGEInpL/Sugar-output-may-drop-next-year-as-drought-cuts-cane-plantin.html
Dry soils spell trouble for water supplies
12 Dec, 2018
The world is experiencing more intense rainfall but water supplies are shrinking to the point that drought-like conditions will become the new normal, research shows. The University of NSW study, touted as the most exhaustive global analysis of rainfall and rivers to date, found that dry soil in catchments has been soaking up most of the world's rain, leaving less for water supplies.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dry-soils-spell-trouble-for-water-supplies
[Top]
FLOODS
Sea level rise to cause near-daily flooding in parts of Baltimore region by end of century, new report says
14 Dec,
2018
A new report from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science predicts sea levels around the state could rise by as little as 1 foot or as much as 7 feet by the end of the century — depending on how much carbon the world emits into the atmosphere. In any case, flooding is likely to become a near-daily occurrence in places like the Inner Harbor and Annapolis’ City Dock by 2100, scientists said.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/environment/bs-md-sea-level-rise-20181213-story.html
[Top]
FOOD SECURITY
New Romaine Labels have serious shortcomings
14 Dec, 2018
The leafy-greens industry rolled out its new “origin” labeling program last week, an effort designed to help consumers avoid romaine lettuce contaminated with E. coli bacteria. What they found convinced CR food safety experts that as a warning system for consumers to protect themselves in real time, the program has flaws, and stronger measures will be needed to keep consumers safe.
https://www.consumerreports.org/labeling/food-safety-experts-say-new-romaine-labels-have-serious-shortcomings/
Food safety experts warn fruit and vegetables sold in British shops could contain potentially deadly norovirus
16 Dec, 2018
Fruit and vegetables being sold in British supermarkets have been found to contain norovirus, food safety experts have announced. The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) researchers discovered that one lettuce in every 20 contained the vomiting virus. The bug, spread by human waste, was also detected in one in every 27 bags of frozen raspberries.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/16/food-safety-experts-warn-fruit-vegetables-sold-british-shops/
[Top]
IRRIGATION
Netafim launches world’s most innovative Digital Irrigation System in India
13 Dec,
2018
NetBeat is an irrigation and fertigation management system that integrates monitoring, analysis and automation into a single mobile platform, enabling farmers to maximize productivity any time, anywhere. Following the launch of NetBeat insIsrael at Agritech 2018, NetBeat™ is launched in Pune, India. NetBeat™ is the world’s first and most advanced digital irrigation and fertigation management system.
https://www.apnnews.com/netafim-launches-the-worlds-most-innovative-digital-irrigation-system-in-india/
[Top]
WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
NASA probe spots evidence of water on Asteroid Bennu
11 Dec, 2018
Just a week after NASA’s OSIRIS-REx approached the asteroid Bennu, it has already discovered something of great interest to scientists. The probe found evidence of water on the asteroid Bennu. The OSIRIS-REx mission launched in 2016 with the goal of exploring the asteroid Bennu, analyzing its properties and chemical composition, and sending back samples of it. Moreover, the mission could help scientists understand the kinds of materials which may have been carried to Earth by asteroids long ago.
https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/12/water-on-the-asteroid-bennu/
Freshwater sources around the world are in unprecedented decline
2 Dec, 2018
A comprehensive new study performed by a team of scientists from six countries has found that the world's natural landlocked water storage is in sharp, widespread decline. The research found that a water mass equivalent to five Great Salt Lakes or three Lake Meads is gone every year from the planet's endorheic regions, or regions where water flows inland rather than into the oceans.
https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/freshwater-sources-around-world-are-unprecedented-decline
[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/2Q6O
|