by Sir Gordon Conway
5 October 2016
When recently appointed Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom suggested that young Britons could take over post-Brexit fruit-picking and farm labour, her comments were met with derision.
To mark the upcoming International Day of Rural Women on 15th October, the CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems has released a special update including:
Nairobi based Access Agriculture has won GOLD in the Innovation category of the EVCOM Clarion Awards at an International Award Ceremony in London. The Access Agriculture website which features “farmer to farmer” videos in local languages was singled out for the imaginative way in which videos of value can be accessed by the target audience either directly or through extension staff.
Access Agriculture also received a highly recommended award in the video category.
CGIAR has a long history of research on gender in agricultural research and development. Gender is also central to its four strategic objectives of reducing poverty, improving food security, improving nutrition and health, and working towards sustainable, resilient agroecosystems.
As part of their "I am Agriculture" youth campaign, Farming First TV is interviewing several agricultural experts, finding out how they got started in their career, and asking what opportunities they see for young people in agriculture today.
Background
The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform) was established in 2002 by the food industry to support the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. It has over 80 members across the value chain, covers all major agricultural commodities and operates globally. SAI Platform operates on a pre-competitive and non-commercial basis. It is overseen by an Executive Committee and run by a Secretariat of eight people working from various locations in Europe.
Do you have a story to tell about your farming or agripreneurial experience?
Want to give advice to others looking to get into the agriculture sector?
Farming First is now running a three-week advocacy campaign to encourage young people to pursue agricultural careers. From 3rd – 21st October, the #IamAg Campaign showcases the many careers available in agriculture. Check out the campaign page here.
Under the theme Making a Difference in Food Security and Nutrition, the 43rd session of the Committee on World Food Security looks at discussing and adopting policies that will propel the sustainable agenda and the food security agenda Sustainable Agricultural Development for Food Security and Nutrition, including the Role of Livestock as well as Connecting Smallholders to Markets.
Heat- and drought-tolerant varieties and improved practices will raise farmers’ incomes, offer more affordable food and reduce costly imports