http://www.fao.org/news/newsroom-home/en/ News from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization en PMK RSS Newsfeed Export (pmk_rssnewsexport) running on Typo3 CMS 4.2.10 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 2009 FAO FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) Recognizing the importance of monitoring greenhouse gas emissions in climate change mitigation, FAO and Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) signed an agreement today, to work together in the field of emissions measuring and reporting. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38161/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38161/icode/ Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:00:00 GMT Global food prices are on the ascent again with the FAO Food Price Index registering four straight monthly rises. However market conditions are different from those that triggered the food price crisis that started two years ago, according to FAO's new Food Outlook report. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38040/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38040/icode/ Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:00:00 GMT Driven largely by awareness of marine resource depletion and vulnerability of their coastal communities, six countries around the Bay of Bengal today signed on to a Spanish grant of $19.5 million aimed at improving livelihoods and the future of millions of small-scale fishers. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38138/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38138/icode/ Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT Finland is the first country to contribute to a $60 million FAO programme to support climate change mitigation in agriculture in developing countries. The multi-donor programme aims to promote sustainable low-emission agriculture in developing countries over the coming five years, in partnership with countries and other relevant organizations. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38029/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38029/icode/ Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:00:00 GMT Bananas are expected to resist the impact of the global financial crisis more than other agricultural commodities, according to an FAO report. A separate report calls for more action to halt banana and plantain diseases. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38013/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38013/icode/ Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT Farming practices that capture carbon and store it in agricultural soils offer some of the most promising options for early and cost-effective action on climate change in developing countries, while contributing to food security. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37840/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37840/icode/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT In animal health circles, it's the equivalent of the Apollo 11 moon landing: some time in the next 18 months, FAO jointly with the World Organisation for Animal Health and other partners will officially declare one of the most devastating animal diseases known to man, rinderpest, as eradicated. It will be the first time in history that humankind has succeeded in killing off an animal disease. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35548/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35548/icode/ Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT Climate change is projected to impact heavily on agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the Pacific islands, leading to increased food insecurity and malnutrition. FAO urged governments and donors to immediately start implementing robust and action-oriented climate change adaptation plans for all Pacific islands. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37758/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37758/icode/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT A new treaty that aims to close fishing ports to ships involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has been approved by FAO's governing Conference. Once it enters into force, it will be the first ever legally binding international treaty focused specifically on this problem. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37627/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37627/icode/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT The Conference of FAO's 192 Members has agreed to enlarge and strengthen FAO's Committee on World Food Security (CFS) clearing the way for the creation of a stronger global governance of food security. It has also approved FAO's budget for the next biennium. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37643/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37643/icode/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT Libya and FAO will work closely together over the next five years to strengthen food security and sustainable development in the country. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37575/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37575/icode/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT FAO has signed agreements with the Governments of Barbados, Egypt and Tunisia to increase the capacity of the UN agency's decentralized offices to respond to the needs of member countries in a timely and effective manner. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37592/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37592/icode/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT The three-day World Summit on Food Security ended here today after committing the international community to investing more in agriculture and eradicating hunger at the earliest date. FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf, who hosted the event, said the Summit marked "an important step towards the achievement of our common objective - a world free from hunger". FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37465/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37465/icode/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:00:00 GMT World leaders convened at FAO Headquarters for the World Summit on Food Security today unanimously adopted a declaration pledging renewed commitment to eradicate hunger from the face of the earth sustainably and at the earliest date. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37421/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37421/icode/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT On the eve of the World Summit on Food Security, the governing bodies of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have all approved a strategy for collaboration between the three agencies. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37459/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37459/icode/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT Scientists from a leading Brazilian university will provide their expertise to FAO for its agricultural development programmes in Latin America and Portuguese-speaking African countries. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37339/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37339/icode/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:00:00 GMT On the eve of the World Summit on Food Security, FAO and the Islamic Development Bank announced a $1 billion agreement to fund agricultural development in poor countries that belong to both organizations. The agreement comes at a critical moment, when the international community recognizes it has neglected agriculture for many years. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37341/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37341/icode/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:00:00 GMT FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf begins a 24 hour hunger strike to call for action to end the scourge of hunger and in solidarity with the one billion humans who suffer chronic malnutrition. He called on "people of goodwill everywhere" to join him in a worldwide hunger strike this weekend. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has announced he will be joining the strike on Sunday. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37338/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37338/icode/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT The World Summit on Food Security is set to open on Monday 16 November to give a new momentum to the fight against hunger and malnutrition affecting 1.02 billion people. Pope Benedict XVI will deliver a keynote speech while UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf will also address the Summit. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37300/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37300/icode/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT With privatization, globalization and the transformation of the food chain from the farm to the table, the importance of the private sector has increased, said FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf addressing an international private sector forum on food security. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37194/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37194/icode/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT On the eve of the World Summit on Food Security, FAO is calling for a day-long, worldwide hunger strike this weekend to show solidarity with the one billion people living in chronic hunger. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37232/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37232/icode/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT Rising global hunger figures mask the fact that 31 out of 79 countries monitored by FAO have registered a significant decline in the number of undernourished people since the early nineties. FAO wants to see the lessons learned repeated. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37193/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37193/icode/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT Food prices in poor countries that are net importers of food still remain stubbornly high despite a good 2009 world cereal production, FAO warned today in its latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation report. The report was published ahead of the Rome World Summit on Food Security. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37127/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37127/icode/ Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT Just in time for the upcoming planting season, the European Union put in motion a major effort to turn the tide of rising hunger in Pakistan. Partnering with FAO, quality seed and fertilizer were distributed to almost 100 000 farmers, hit hard by last year’s food price hikes. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37090/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/37090/icode/ Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT At the height of the 2008 food price crisis, FAO, through its Initiative on Soaring Food Prices, launched a series of one-year input supply projects to help vulnerable farmers grow more food and earn more money. In Kenya, where civil unrest, drought and high food, fuel and input prices have left poor families even more vulnerable, this assistance has given one community hope for a better future. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36909/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36909/icode/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT The twin battles to improve food security for a growing world population and contain climate change can be fought on the same front - the world's farmland, FAO said in a new report. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36894/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36894/icode/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT Senior Managers of FAO, IFAD and WFP met ahead of the World Summit on Food Security to determine how to maximize each agency's expertise and comparative advantage so their combined efforts better serve the world's 1.02 billion hungry people. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36959/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36959/icode/ Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT Significant amounts of the food produced in developing countries is lost after harvest thereby aggravating hunger. FAO stresses that with adequate investment and training food losses could be drastically reduced. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36844/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36844/icode/ Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT FAO is to provide the United Republic of Tanzania with advisory support for farmers that will help them better respond to market opportunities and thus heighten food security. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36774/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36774/icode/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT FAO has begun widespread consultations over international guidelines on governance of tenure to land and other natural resources such as water supplies, fisheries and forests. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36230/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36230/icode/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT Ground control operations are in progress against an infestation of desert locusts in Mauritania. As long as there are no heavy rains the infestations should be eliminated by early December. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36712/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36712/icode/ Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT FAO has published a toolbox on the right to food, designed to provide countries, institutions civil society and other stakeholders with a series of effective instruments they can use to assert the right to adequate food as a basic human right. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36513/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36513/icode/ Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT FAO's governing Council has unanimously approved the creation of a new regional fisheries management body for the Central Asia and Caucasus region. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36626/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36626/icode/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT African Swine Fever has reached St Petersburg in Russia causing concern that the deadly pig virus could spread to the European Union, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36622/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36622/icode/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT Faced with rising world hunger and unacceptable poverty and in response to calls for greater coherence and coordination, members of the FAO Committee on World Food Security (CFS) have agreed on a wide-ranging reform. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36446/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36446/icode/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT For the first time worldwide, free and ready-to-use high-resolution satellite data is now available to monitor forests and help reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The monitoring system has been launched by FAO and other partners as part of the Global Forest Resources Assessment. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36408/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36408/icode/ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT As FAO celebrates its 64th birthday on World Food Day, Director-General Jacques Diouf calls for a rapid solution to hunger and Pope Benedict XVI wishes rural development with respect for the poor. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36350/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36350/icode/ Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf today signed three cooperation agreements between FAO and international organisations for broadcast media. “Information has always been a key weapon in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. It will become even more important this year,” he declared. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36296/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36296/icode/ Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT The sharp spike in hunger triggered by the global economic crisis has hit the poorest people in developing countries hardest, revealing a fragile world food system in urgent need of reform. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36207/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36207/icode/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:00:00 GMT The humanitarian disaster looming at the shrinking Lake Chad in central Africa needs to be urgently addressed. The lake was once one of the world's largest water bodies. Due to climatic variability, climate change and population pressure, the lake has shrunk by 90 percent. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36126/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36126/icode/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT A 'Blue Carbon' fund able to invest in the maintenance and rehabilitation of key marine ecosystems should be considered by governments keen to combat climate change, according to a report released today by three UN agencies, including FAO. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36228/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36228/icode/ Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT Agriculture must become more productive if it is to feed a much larger world population while also responding to the daunting environmental challenges ahead, according to FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36193/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36193/icode/ Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT As climate change negotiations enter their final stretch towards the December conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, the World Forestry Congress will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 18-23 October 2009. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36150/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36150/icode/ Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:00:00 GMT Net investments of $83 billion a year must be made in agriculture in developing countries if there is to be enough food for 9.1 billion people in 2050 FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36107/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36107/icode/ Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT Poorest regions with the highest levels of chronic hunger are likely to be among the worst affected by climate change. Many developing countries, particularly in Africa, could become increasingly dependent on food imports. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35831/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35831/icode/ Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:00:00 GMT The recent positive performance of agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa indicates a break with the past and that the outlook for the sector is improving. However “concerted and purposeful policy action” is required to maintain the momentum, according to a new FAO discussion paper. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35770/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35770/icode/ Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT Boosting agricultural production to the levels needed to feed an expanded world population will require sharply increased public investment in research and development and widespread adoption of new technologies, farming techniques and crop varieties. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35686/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35686/icode/ Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT In an unprecedented display of cooperation between developed and developing countries on climate change, eighteen Heads of State publicly expressed their commitment and support for REDD — Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing counties. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35689/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35689/icode/ Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT Producing 70 percent more food for an additional 2.3 billion people by 2050 while at the same time combating poverty and hunger, using scarce natural resources more efficiently and adapting to climate change are the main challenges world agriculture will face. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35571/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35571/icode/ Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT Poor 2009 crop prospects in the Horn of Africa following below-average rains combined with conflict and displacement are aggravating an already serious food insecurity situation in the region. Nearly 20 million people currently depend on food assistance in the region, and this number may increase as the hunger season progresses. FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35570/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35570/icode/ Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT