Biden administration finalises rule on religious liberty protections
United States RNS Nine agencies of the Biden administration have finalised a new rule that officials say will improve religious freedom by protecting the rights of beneficiaries of social services funded by the government. In particular, the rule will affect those receiving help from the many social service providers that are faith-based and will ensure […]
Essay: Kakhovka Dam breach in Ukraine caused economic, agricultural and ecological devastation that will last for years
SUSANNE WENGLE and VITALII DANKEVYCH – in an article first published on The Conversation – look at the impact of the dam breach and subsequent flooding last month…
As drought withers Tunisian fields, state feels financial pinch
Tunis, TunisiaReuters As rains failed, Tunisian farmers watched their crops wither this spring, harvesting early to salvage some as animal feed and piling costs on a state struggling to afford wheat imports with bakeries running out of bread. At his farm just outside Tunis, Hasan Chetoui stood clutching dry sheaves of wheat, the ears empty […]
Shortages exacerbate hardships: Ukraine farms lose workers to war, complicating a tough harvest
ELIZABETH PIPER and PAVEL POLITYUK, of Reuters, report on the impact staff shortages is having on farmers during critical sowing and harvesting periods…
Essay: Niger is Africa’s fastest growing country – how to feed 25 million more people in 30 years
In an article first published on The Conversation, KAYENAT KABIR, of Purdue University, looks at how Niger will feed its growing population in the future…
Essay: Pakistan floods – ancient grains like millet could be key to rebuilding food systems
In an article first published on The Conversation, SHAILAJA FENNELL, of the University of Cambridge, argues that cultivating “pseudograins” like millet would let farmers compensate for falling yields as intensifying heatwaves make wheat cultivation increasingly difficult…
Swiss to vote on whether to become first European nation to ban synthetic pesticides
Zurich, SwitzerlandReuters Switzerland could become the first European country to ban artificial pesticides in a 13th June referendum which backers of the initiative hope will trigger similar prohibitions elsewhere. Globally, only Bhutan has a complete ban on synthetic pesticides, according to supporters aiming to outlaw the use of products made by agro-chemical giants such as […]
African Development Bank backs young ‘agripreneurs’ to beat climate change
Barcelona, SpainThomson Reuters Foundation The African Development Bank plans to deploy billions of dollars to help young people build a new digitally-driven model of agriculture that can feed the continent’s people and boost prosperity even as the planet heats up, its president said. At a global summit this week, the bank and the Global Center […]
Winds of hunger: Simultaneous heatwaves to batter food-growing countries
Rome, ItalyThomson Reuters Foundation Climate change could spur stronger crop-wilting heatwaves that hit several of the world’s major grain producing regions simultaneously, potentially sparking food shortages and unrest, researchers warned this week. Crop failures in one part of the world – from weather disasters or other causes – have traditionally been offset with increased trade […]
CLIMATE: HOW EGYPT’S FARMERS ARE TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE WITH COMEDY AND COMMUNITY
MENNA A FAROUK, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports from Egypt…