High-level discussion hears of ‘devastating scenario’ for global food system

rice-g3f6c7add3_1280
A high-level discussion, which explored how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected food security for millions of people around the world, has revealed how hikes in oil prices, conflicts, emerging diseases, poor governance, and disruption in supply chains have come together to create a potentially ‘devastating scenario’ for the global food system. An online panel hosted…
Read Further

Digital extension and advisory services for farmers amid COVID-19 come under the microscope

DSC09062
The challenges of using digital tools as part of extension and advisory services to help empower small and family farmers amid the COVID-19 pandemic have come under the microscope in a joint webinar hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Agrilink.
Read Further

Life in Earth – Soil microbes are key to achieving net zero

hands-g3b2f47d15_1280
CABI contributes to COP26-focused article by members of UK microbiome innovation community, on critical role of soil microbiome in achieving net zero. Today, CABI, and other members of the UK’s microbiome innovation community announced the publication of a COP26-focused statement on the critical role of the soil microbiome in climate change and how it could contribute…
Read Further

CABI UK and Nagoya Protocol triggered benefit sharing highlighted

Phthorimaea absoluta in Kenya
Following the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), CABI has published a working paper highlighting its benefit sharing activities in respect of its research involving genetic resources at its UK Centre Egham and through activities of  the CABI-IMI Culture Collection in Egham, UK.
Read Further

Review highlights Uganda’s neglected crops and climate change challenges

Plantwise Clinics Uganda
A new CABI-led review has been published which highlights the importance of restoring Uganda’s neglected crops to market as well as the need for increased crop diversification amid food security issues exacerbated by the risks of climate change.
Read Further

International Coffee Day blog special: five pests and diseases that threaten our ‘daily grind’

coffee-2565441_1280
Coffee is big business. Just think, global coffee production – according to the International Coffee Organisation – was estimated to be around 169 million bags in 2019-2020 with around a staggering 1.4 billion cups consumed every day around the world.
Read Further

Strong CABI presence at 39th Annual Meeting of the European Culture Collections’ Organisation

2019 Review Conference
There was a strong CABI presence at the 39th Annual Meeting of the European Culture Collections’ Organisation with presentations on the Nagoya Protocol, the Microbiome and Crop Health as well as a session chaired on Genomics and Bioinformatics.
Read Further

CABI to work in partnership to help protect St Helena’s biodiversity and enhance its agriculture

blackcabbagetreesinflower_peaks_RCW
Most people have heard of St Helena and perhaps a few are even aware that it is a UK overseas territory in the South Atlantic. Its greatest claim to fame is that Napoleon was exiled to the island and died there, but what many people might not appreciate is that the biodiversity on the island…
Read Further

Stakeholders say Global Burden of Crop Loss would help direct future agricultural policy and practice

Tuta absoluta in Kenya
Key stakeholders of the Global Burden of Crop Loss (GBCL) have said that the initiative would help direct future agricultural policy and practice, as it looks to bridge the gaps in data on crop losses that impact upon global food security. According to estimates compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), we need to…
Read Further

Piloting worker voice technology in Pakistan

WVT-Blog-Header
Engaging people working in agriculture to get a clear, comprehensive understanding of the challenges they face in their work, especially on labour issues, is key to being able to provide effective solutions. In rural, dispersed farming areas, however, this can be a difficult task using traditional outreach methods. The Covid-19 pandemic has made this engagement…
Read Further