Africa could become the world’s next major food source
The July issue of National Geographic magazine features “the biggest story in global agriculture: the unlikely quest to turn sub-Saharan Africa, historically one of the hungriest places on the planet, into a major new breadbasket for the world.” Author Joel K. Bourne Jr. documents the land rush set off by skyrocketing prices for corn, soybeans wheat and rice, with giant agribusinesses eager to lease or buy acreage in places where land is cheap and governments are willing to make deals.
Ottawa to spend $20M for food programs for children in Africa
The federal government will spend $20 million to fund the International Food Policy Research Institute in supporting new ways to prevent childhood “undernutrition” in Mali, Senegal and Burkina Faso.
International Development Minister Christian Paradis made the announcement Tuesday at a farm near Arnaud in southern Manitoba.
The decision was lauded by Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a Manitoba-based coalition of 15 Canadian churches and church-based agencies working to end world hunger.
East Africa: Comesa Moves to Improve Food Security
Comesa says food import and export bans have impacted negatively on access to affordable food in the region.
"The inevitable consequences of this scenario include the frequent spate of food insecurity and poor economic performance in the agriculture sector.
"Furthermore, when big shocks like the 2008 food price crisis and financial meltdown occur -- they only help to reveal the soft economic systems, further destabilising the majority who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods," Jackson Kiraka, Comesa's technical advisor said in a statement.
Agri-hub applies for statutory measures on fruit
On behalf of directly affected groups in the fruit industry and in terms of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act [No. 47 of 1996], Agri-hub has approached the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for the establishment of statutory measures (registration, and records and returns) on table grapes, and deciduous and citrus fruit, for a four-year period.
