The Coming Food Shocks: Averting Crisis - Geopolitical Monitor

The Coming Food Shocks: Averting Crisis - Geopolitical Monitor: "The international community currently stands at a crossroads, and the path we choose will impact food security for the next 50 years. What we do now could mean the difference between building a resilient, secure global food system that stands the test of time or descending into resource nationalism and a cycle of famine."

How Safe is Your Food? GMO, Foodborne Illnesses and Biotechnology

How Safe is Your Food? GMO, Foodborne Illnesses and Biotechnology

How the G-20 Can Prevent a Food Crisis - By Bruno Le Maire | Foreign Policy

How the G-20 Can Prevent a Food Crisis - By Bruno Le Maire | Foreign Policy: "In 2008, the explosion in the price of commodities prompted hunger riots in several African countries. Preoccupied by the financial crisis, we didn't do anything to prevent such a situation from happening again. Two years of plentiful harvests in 2008 and 2009 were enough to conceal the problem. Today, however, the situation has once again become a cause for concern"

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - Holistic approach needed to curb food insecurity, poverty

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - Holistic approach needed to curb food insecurity, poverty: "There is a dire need to adopt a holistic approach while taking on the looming threats of food insecurity, poverty, and militancy in order to guarantee human security, it was stressed at a consultative meeting with civil society on relationship between food insecurity, poverty, and Conflict, organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Monday."

High food prices are pushing millions into poverty. - swissinfo

High food prices are pushing millions into poverty. - swissinfo

The impact of oil prices on food and farming was one of the factors covered by both the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at media conferences in Geneva this week.

As states attempt to address the recent food price spikes, Special Rapporteur Olivier de Schutter, called for a radical long-term shift to ecological agriculture to reduce farmers’ dependence on oil.

Small-scale farms could abate world hunger

AFP: Small-scale farms could abate world hunger: UN

Small-scale "eco-farming" could double food production in many of the world's poorest regions and also help fight climate change, according to a United Nations report unveiled Tuesday. The spectre of world hunger looms ever larger as the global population continues to balloon, especially in the least developed nations. Today more than a billion of the planet's nearly seven billion people live at the edge of subsistence on less than a dollar per day. Food prices have flared in recent years due to climate-related natural disasters, with the cost of several staple foods reaching unprecedented levels last month, according to the UN's food price index. By mid-century, when the global population is expected to surpass nine billion, food shortages will become even more critical as will the need for additional output.

Why world food prices may keep climbing | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Why world food prices may keep climbing | Environment | guardian.co.uk

n February, world food prices reached the highest level on record. Soaring food prices are already a source of spreading hunger and political unrest, and it appears likely that they will climb further in the months ahead.

Robyn Griggs Lawrence: Food Prices May Soar to Crisis Levels

Robyn Griggs Lawrence: Food Prices May Soar to Crisis Levels

Record-high food prices have already caused hunger and political unrest across the globe, and several trends indicate that the world is headed toward a food security crisis, Earth Policy Institute president and World on the Edge author Lester Brown said in a teleconference today.

Robyn Griggs Lawrence: Food Prices May Soar to Crisis Levels

Robyn Griggs Lawrence: Food Prices May Soar to Crisis Levels

Record-high food prices have already caused hunger and political unrest across the globe, and several trends indicate that the world is headed toward a food security crisis, Earth Policy Institute president and World on the Edge author Lester Brown said in a teleconference today.

Hunger summit dialogue threads path between hope and...

GuelphMercury - Hunger summit dialogue threads path between hope and...: "In two hours, speakers that included UNESCO special envoy to Haiti Michaëlle Jean and Senator Pamela Wallin touched on a range of subjects from the desensitization of Westerners to the plight of the hungry to the role of democracy in bringing about food security and the notion of a “fat tax” on unhealthy foods."

An introduction to ecological immunology

An introduction to ecological immunology - Martin - 2011 - Functional Ecology - Wiley Online Library

World hunger best cured by small-scale agriculture

World hunger best cured by small-scale agriculture: report | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "A move from industrial farming towards local food projects is our healthiest, most sustainable choice, says Worldwatch Institute"

PAHO: Advocating for Ecohealth: International Development Research Centre

PAHO: Advocating for Ecohealth: International Development Research Centre

ScienceDirect - Ecological Economics : Can domestication of wildlife lead to conservation? The economics of tiger farming in China

ScienceDirect - Ecological Economics : Can domestication of wildlife lead to conservation? The economics of tiger farming in China

Tigers are a threatened species that might soon disappear in the wild. Not only are tigers threatened by deteriorating and declining habitat, but poachers continue to kill tigers for traditional medicine, decoration pieces and so on. Although international trade in tiger products has been banned since 1987 and domestic trade within China since 1993, tigers continue to be poached and Chinese entrepreneurs have established tiger farms in anticipation of their demise. While China desires to permit sale of tiger products from captive-bred tigers, this is opposed on the grounds that it likely encourages illegal killing. Instead, wildlife conservationists lobby for more spending on anti-poaching and trade-ban enforcement

ScienceDirect Spatial wildlife-vehicle collision models: A review of current work and its application to transportation mitigation projects

ScienceDirect - Journal of Environmental Management : Spatial wildlife-vehicle collision models: A review of current work and its application to transportation mitigation projects

In addition to posing a serious risk to motorist safety, vehicle collisions with wildlife are a significant threat for many species. Previous spatial modeling has concluded that wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) exhibit clustering on roads, which is attributed to specific landscape and road-related factors. We reviewed twenty-four published manuscripts that used generalized linear models to statistically determine the influence that numerous explanatory predictors have on the location of WVCs. Our motivation was to summarize empirical WVC findings to facilitate application of this knowledge to planning, and design of mitigation strategies on roads. In addition, commonalities between studies were discussed and recommendations for future model design were made.

World Bank`s Shantayanan Devarajan on Africa - The AfricaNews articles of smajek

AfricaNews - World Bank`s Shantayanan Devarajan on Africa - The AfricaNews articles of smajek: "Mr. Shantayanan Devarajan, the Sri-Lankan-born Chief Economist of the World Bank's (WB) Africa Region whose research covers public economics, trade policy, natural resources, the environment, and general equilibrium modeling of developing countries is a sought after authority on Africa.

Although there are many “unofficial authorities” on Africa at the WB, his name is the only one listed on the World Bank’s website as their expert on Africa."

Horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2011

ScienceDirect - Trends in Ecology & Evolution : Horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2011

This review describes outcomes of a 2010 horizon-scanning exercise building upon the first exercise conducted in 2009. The aim of both horizon scans was to identify emerging issues that could have substantial impacts on the conservation of biological diversity, and to do so sufficiently early to encourage policy-relevant, practical research on those issues.

Disease-related conflicts in mammal conservation

CSIRO PUBLISHING - Wildlife Research: "Diseases pose a major direct or indirect threat to the conservation of endangered species, and can be a source of conflict among the stakeholders in conservation efforts. We aim to provide examples of disease-related conflicts in conservation, and information that can be used to identify means to reduce existing conflicts and avoid potential new ones. After introducing how diseases can affect conservation efforts, we have provided examples of different types of disease-related conflicts,"

Research Areas & Approach: International Development Research Centre

Research Areas & Approach: International Development Research Centre: "IDRC has been contributing to building the field of ecohealth since 1996. Results include improved health and ecosystems, improved research capabilities in developing countries, and in many cases, positive changes in policies and common practices.
The Program supports many Communities of Practice in Ecohealth (COPEH) and other networks, the International Association for Ecology and Health and its journal, EcoHealth. It has also organized two international Forums to share knowledge between different groups,while strengthening and challenging the field."

East Africa gets ready for looming famine in 2011

The East African: - News |East Africa gets ready for looming famine in 2011: "During a meeting in Arusha last week that brought together senior officials from the five East African Community governments and the private sector that deal with agriculture and climate change, it was established that the big three — Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania — have common problems mitigating against maximising production and distribution of food."

How can Africa grow more food?

How can Africa grow more food? | Global development | guardian.co.uk: "African agriculture has become the focus of extraordinary attention and interest. Yesterday a big report was launched by the Harvard academic Calestous Juma with the backing of several African presidents, and next week Chatham House in London is hosting a major conference on food security where the International Fund for Agriculture and Development (Ifad) is launching a new report on rural poverty."

Food security, farming, and climate change to 2050 | International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Food security, farming, and climate change to 2050 | International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): "As the global population grows and incomes in poor countries rise, so too, will the demand for food, placing additional pressure on sustainable food production. Climate change adds a further challenge, as changes in temperature and precipitation threaten agricultural productivity and the capacity to feed the world’s population. This study assesses how serious the danger to food security might be and suggests some steps policymakers can take to remedy the situation."

Is Climate Change Too Scary?: Scientific American Podcast

Is Climate Change Too Scary?: Scientific American Podcast: "When it comes to persuasion, doom and gloom doesn't work. If that wasn't clear from the morass that is international climate change negotiations starting this week or the constant reports of extinction of plant and animal species worldwide, new research [pdf] from the University of California, Berkeley shows it's so."

Hunger in America

Hunger in America: "Some 15 percent of US households, 17.4 million families or about 50 million people, were too poor to buy adequate food last year, according to a new report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). More than a third of these households, with as many as one million children, were missing meals on a regular basis, the study found.

The number of families classified as “food insecure” according to the USDA, which administers the food stamp program, has more than tripled since 2006, before the current economic slump which has brought near double-digit unemployment. Because most people are reluctant to admit they have a problem putting food on the table, particularly when they have children, “food insecurity” was calculated from survey questions about skipping meals or running out of food stamps, combined with comparisons of income and food prices."

The Trouble With Billionaires: Amazon.ca: Linda Mcquaig: Books

The Trouble With Billionaires: Amazon.ca: Linda Mcquaig: Books: "The glittering lives of billionaires may seem like a harmless source of entertainment. But such concentrated economic power reverberates throughout society, threatening the quality of life and the very functioning of democracy. It's no accident that the United States claims the most billionaires--but suffers among the highest rates of infant mortality and crime, the shortest life expectancy, as well as the lowest rates of social mobility and electoral political participation in the developed world.
Our society tends to regard large fortunes as evidence of great talent or accomplishment. Yet the vast new wealth isn't due to an increase in talent or effort at the top, but rather to changing social attitudes legitimizing greed and government policy changes that favour the new elite. Authoritative and eye-opening, The Trouble with Billionaires will spark debate about the kind of society we want."

Earth System Science for Global Sustainability

Earth System Science for Global Sustainability: Grand Challenges -- Reid et al. 330 (6006): 916 -- Science: "Tremendous progress has been made in understanding the functioning of the Earth system and, in particular, the impact of human actions (1). Although this knowledge can inform management of specific features of our world in transition, societies need knowledge that will allow them to simultaneously reduce global environmental risks while also meeting economic development goals. For example, how can we advance science and technology, change human behavior, and influence political will to enable societies to meet targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to avoid dangerous climate change? At the same time, how can we meet needs for food, water, improved health and human security, and enhanced energy security? Can this be done while also meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and ensuring ecosystem integrity?"

Vision of Humanity

Our Vision « Vision of Humanity: "We are in an epoch different to any other epoch in human history. The problems we are facing are global in nature. They include climate change, ever decreasing biodiversity, full use of the fresh water on the planet and underpinning all these – overpopulation. Without peace we will be unable to achieve the levels of cooperation, inclusiveness and social equity required to begin solving these challenges, let alone empower the international institutions needed to regulate them."

ScienceDirect - Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability : Food production, crops and sustainability: restoring confidence in science and technology

ScienceDirect - Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability : Food production, crops and sustainability: restoring confidence in science and technology

By 2050, the global food requirement will increase significantly, driven by a population increase to more than nine billion and by a richer diet. There is a need for agricultural and food systems that are not only more productive, but also sustainable. Currently, progress is hampered by a lack of understanding how to close the yield and sustainability gap. The consequence is stagnation in implementing policies and regulations that meet future needs. The challenge of meeting global food security in a sustainable way requires a knowledge-intensive approach and the use of advanced technologies.

The Global Economy: Finding Common Ground Between National Interests and Global Stability | Centre for International Governance Innovation | Centre pour l'innovation dans la gouvernance internationale

The Global Economy: Finding Common Ground Between National Interests and Global Stability | Centre for International Governance Innovation | Centre pour l'innovation dans la gouvernance internationale: "With the G20 in agreement that fiscal stimulus will shift to fiscal consolidation over the medium term, the question of how to address the risk of another downturn in global demand will be on everyone’s mind during the G20 summit in Seoul.

In this context, there has been a recent focus on the risk that currency market swings could result in competitive devaluations and protectionist measures. Such actions could deal a serious blow to the hope for a strengthening global economy."

Breathingearth - CO2, birth & death rates by country, simulated real-time

Breathingearth - CO2, birth & death rates by country, simulated real-time

Natural disaster costs set to rise sharply - new report | Global | Aid Policy | Early Warning | Environment | Governance | Natural Disasters

IRIN Global | In Brief: Natural disaster costs set to rise sharply - new report | Global | Aid Policy | Early Warning | Environment | Governance | Natural Disasters: "A new report by the World Bank and the UN says the cost of coping with natural disasters could triple to US$185 billion per year by the end of the century.

The report - compiled mainly by economists over two years - said the projection did not include climate change impact costs. But added more frequent and intense tropical cyclones because of climate change could raise total costs by an additional $28-$68 billion a year by 2100.

Entitled Natural Hazards, UnNatural Disasters: The Economics of Effective Prevention, the report makes four main policy suggestions to governments:"

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Ecological and Economic Foundations

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Ecological and Economic Foundations: "Human well-being relies critically on ecosystem services provided by nature. Examples include water and air quality regulation, nutrient cycling and decomposition, plant pollination and flood control, all of which are dependent on biodiversity. They are predominantly public goods with limited or no markets and do not command any price in the conventional economic system, so their loss is often not detected and continues unaddressed and unabated. This in turn not only impacts human well-being, but also seriously undermines the sustainability of the economic system.

It is against this background that TEEB: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity project was set up in 2007 and led by the United Nations Environment Programme to provide a comprehensive global assessment of economic aspects of these issues. This book, written by a team of international experts, represents the scientific state of the art, providing a comprehensive assessment of the fundamental ecological and economic principles of measuring and valuing ecosystem services and biodiversity, and showing how these can be mainstreamed into public policies."

U.S., India plan food security push in Africa - source - The Economic Times

U.S., India plan food security push in Africa - source - The Economic Times: "MUMBAI: The United States and India plan to work together to promote food security in Africa, a part of the world where China has been expanding its presence.

A senior administration official said the initiative, which will harness know-how and technology, was being worked out during President Barack Obama's visit to India, where he arrived on Saturday at the start of a 10-day tour of Asia."

Food Security Conference In The Hague Concludes With Suggestions For U.N. Climate Negotiations To Incorporate Agriculture - Kaiser Global Health

Food Security Conference In The Hague Concludes With Suggestions For U.N. Climate Negotiations To Incorporate Agriculture - Kaiser Global Health: "The conference, featuring delegates from 80 countries and a total of about 800 participants, 'ended with a call to invest in new farming practices that will curb greenhouse gas emissions and will better use currently available land to feed a global population of 9 billion by 2050,' the news service writes. 'Producing what it called a 'roadmap for action,' the conference called for governments to provide access to financing, markets and technology, while acknowledging that private business will play a huge role. Among its list of recommended actions was the restoration of degraded land, new systems of water conservation and harvesting, and better management of animal waste that produces powerful greenhouse gases.'"

Feeding Africa at a Time of Climate Change - a Major... -- THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Feeding Africa at a Time of Climate Change - a Major... -- THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --: "Mr. Annan will argue: 'Feeding Africa, at a time of climate change, is one of the major development challenges of our time. Africa today needs new investment in agriculture on a par with that which Asia and Latin America received in the 1960s and 1970s. According to the World Bank, every development dollar invested in agriculture in Africa has two to three times the positive impact on poverty than the same dollar invested in other economic sectors.'
'Africa is the only continent which fails to grow enough food to meet its own needs. It alone has failed to see agricultural productivity keep pace with its growing population. One in three of those without sufficient food live in Africa. The continent also faces the greatest threat from climate change. Rising temperatures and changes to rainfall patterns will have a devastating impact because of heavy reliance on rain-water for crops.'"

Living Planet Report 2010 | marketspace

Living Planet Report 2010 | marketspace: "The 2010 edition of the Living Planet Report presents new analyses on the health of our only planet. It shows populations of tropical species are plummeting while humanity’s demands on natural resources are sky-rocketing. At this dates we are using 50% more natural resources than the earth can sustain."

How Big is the Human Footprint on Earth?

How Big is the Human Footprint on Earth?: "Humanity is now using nature's services 50 percent faster than what Earth can renew, reveals the 2010 Living Planet Report, released Oct. 13 in Bristol, UK. Produced by WWF in collaboration with Global Footprint Network and the Zoological Society of London, the report examines the state of our natural world, and our impacts upon it."

From around the world, lessons in 'climate smart' agriculture

FAO Media Centre: From around the world, lessons in 'climate smart' agriculture: "4 November 2010, Rome - Farmers around the world are adopting new ways of producing food that both help cope with climate change and reduce farming's greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new FAO website on 'climate-smart' agriculture published today."

Biosciences for Africa: Fuelling africa’s agricultural revolution from within

Biosciences for Africa: Fuelling africa’s agricultural revolution from within ILRI News: "A world-class research facility, the Biosciences eastern and central Africa�Hub,�was officially opened in Nairobi, today, by Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki. This opening follows a scientific conference, Mobilizing Biosciences for Africa’s Development, which was held the day before at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), which hosts and manages the new facility.

The BecA Hub is open for use by researchers from Africa and around the world who are working to improve African agriculture. The BecA Hub puts Africa’s research capacity on par with some of the world’s most advanced research institutes."

IN WORLD OF PLENTY, GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEMS FAILING MOST VULNERABLE, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL AT WORLD FOOD DAY COMMEMORATION, CALLING FOR ‘FIX’

ReliefWeb Document IN WORLD OF PLENTY, GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEMS FAILING MOST VULNERABLE, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL AT WORLD FOOD DAY COMMEMORATION, CALLING FOR ‘FIX’: "Food and Agriculture Organization Says Hunger Deep, Profound; World Food Programme Says 1 Billion Wake Up Daily Unable to Fill Even One Cup with Food

At a special ceremony today in observance of the 2010 World Food Day on the theme 'United against Hunger', Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that in a world of plenty, the world's food systems were failing the most vulnerable.

Calling for the world's food systems to be 'fixed' in order to meet that internationally agreed development target, he said achieving that would lift up whole societies and help achieve all of the other Goals."

Secretary-General's Message on World Food Day 2010 “United Against Hunger” | Global Food Security Crisis

Secretary-General's Message on World Food Day 2010 “United Against Hunger” | Global Food Security Crisis: "For many people, today is not World Food Day. It is another No Food Day. Although the number of hungry people has fallen from last year’s historic high of more than one billion, there are still 925 million hungry people in the world. We are continually reminded that the world’s food systems are not working in ways that ensure food security for the most vulnerable members of our societies."

Minister Oda Unveils CIDA's Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy

Minister Oda Unveils CIDA's Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy: "TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 25, 2010) - The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today unveiled CIDA's strategy for sustainable economic growth, which will help developing countries reduce poverty through stimulating long-term growth in their economies and providing skills training and job opportunities for their citizens.
'Focusing Canadian development assistance on sustainable economic growth, along with CIDA's two other priorities of increasing food security and securing the future of children and youth, is key to delivering tangible results and helping to better lives in the developing world,' Minister Oda told an audience of students, academics, and aid partners at the University of Toronto's Munk School for Global Affairs. 'Sustainable economic growth is the engine for developing countries to rapidly and sustainably reduce poverty.'"

Lecture 11 - Sustainability II: The Impact of Modern Agriculture on Biodiversity, Genetic Modification and Animal Welfare

Lecture 11 - Sustainability II: The Impact of Modern Agriculture on Biodiversity, Genetic Modification and Animal Welfare

A New Agenda for Agriculture Research | Union of Concerned Scientists

A New Agenda for Agriculture Research | Union of Concerned Scientists: "The development of a sustainable system of agriculture to support the nation's food, feed, fiber, and energy needs requires the federal government to adopt a new agenda for research. Such an agenda would be characterized by a more basic research in ecology of agricultural systems, more interdisciplinary research, and greater farmer involvement in designing and carrying out research projects. In addition, appropriate new technologies must be developed to support a sustainable agriculture."

Failure to Yield: Evaluating the Performance of Genetically Engineered Crops (2009) | Union of Concerned Scientists

Failure to Yield: Evaluating the Performance of Genetically Engineered Crops (2009) | Union of Concerned Scientists: "For years the biotechnology industry has trumpeted that it will feed the world, promising that its genetically engineered crops will produce higher yields.

That promise has proven to be empty, according to Failure to Yield, a report by UCS expert Doug Gurian-Sherman released in March 2009. Despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase U.S. crop yields."

World Bank vs. Nigeria’s Oil of Life - NYTimes.com

Op-Ed Contributor - World Bank vs. Nigeria’s Oil of Life - NYTimes.com: "WHEN the World Bank held its annual meeting last weekend, there was much discussion of trade imbalances and currency wars, but nothing about Nigerian palm oil. That’s a shame, because the bank’s loans for plantation agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions — some $132 million of which have gone to palm oil cultivation — have been humanitarian and economic triumphs. Yet now, under misguided pressure from environmental groups, the bank is turning its back on the program."

Hunger may get worse: WTO chief

AFP: Hunger may get worse: WTO chief: "WTO chief Pascal Lamy warned Friday that the food crisis may get worse over the next years as the world's population grows and arable land recedes.
'Today's situation is not good and it may get worse in the coming years because of population growth, dwindling available (farm) land and a change in food habits,' Lamy told a roundtable on the sidelines of a summit of French speaking countries.
'Food security is a moral and political must,' he added.
Lamy called on governments to divert more money to the farming sector and put an end to waste which he said was responsible for a 30-percent drop in worldwide food production."

Footprint Science

Footprint Science - Introduction: "Institutionalizing the Ecological Footprint at the national level requires that statistical offices, policy advisors, academia, and businesses trust the methodology and data underlying the Footprint, which is comprised of 200 National Footprint Accounts; of which 150 countries are regularly published by United Nations source datasets."

WWF - Living Planet Report

WWF - Living Planet Report: "The Living Planet Report is the world's leading, science-based analysis on the health of our only planet and the impact of human activity"

COHAB Initiative : Co-Operation on Health & Biodiversity

COHAB Initiative : Co-Operation on Health & Biodiversity: "COHAB is a community of individuals and organisations working together to address the gaps in awareness, policy and action on the links between biodiversity and human health and well-being. The Initiative supports efforts to enhance human security through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the goods and services it provides. COHAB provides a platform for dialogue, promoting understanding and experience sharing, and working to build partnerships across sectors and cultural divides. The COHAB Initiative works towards a future:"

Complexity, simplification: funding conservation

Cambridge Journals Online - Fulltext - Complexity, simplification: funding conservation: "Conserving biodiversity is complex and costly. The complexity is illustrated by the failure to make much of a dent in the 2010 biodiversity target of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD; Fisher, 2009) and by the negotiations at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the CBD in Nagoya this October (Adams, 2010; McNeely, 2010). To conserve biodiversity we are bound to pay attention to this complexity—whether of an ecosystem or of a political process such as the CBD—but to raise funds we are obliged to simplify. So how can a fundraiser do justice to the work of his or her colleagues?"

Innovation systems for agricultural development - SciDev.Net

Innovation systems for agricultural development - SciDev.Net: "This policy brief, published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), presents an innovation systems approach for agricultural development.

The authors argue that sustainable agricultural development is essential to tackle emerging issues such as high food prices, climate change and demand for biofuels. Achieving this requires knowledge and innovation in technology, institutions, policies and organisations. Fostering innovation, in turn, means investing in agricultural science and technology, research and extension, education and training, and farmer organisations and other local institutions."