agriculture development Articles
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Towards new modes of governance of the research–development continuum to facilitate the dissemination of agricultural innovations in a mountainous province of northern Vietnam
The mountainous regions of northern Vietnam have, thus far, failed to share the impressive economic development that has blessed the rest of the country in the past decade. Despite the multiplicity of Research and Development (R&D) projects working there with the common objectives of agricultural development and poverty alleviation, lack of coordination among projects can limit the effectiveness ...
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Induced technical and institutional change in tropical agriculture
The author employs a model in which the direction of technical change is induced by changes in relative resource endowments to interpret the trajectories of technical change in both developed and developing country agriculture. An international agricultural research system, an institutional innovation supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), has become ...
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Editorial: The urgent need to transform small-scale subsistence farming in Africa towards sustainable agribusiness value-chains
A recent article on 'Why African farmers fail' (http://www.southerntimesafrica.com) bemoaned the lack of progress in transforming agriculture for economic development in Africa. This Editorial outlines some of the responses to that article and discusses the problems raised.Keywords: Africa, subsistence farming, sustainable agribusiness, small-scale farming, agribusiness value chains, economic ...
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Editorial Viewpoint: 'Making science and technology work for the poor'
This viewpoint piece argues that, as currently organised, research and development (R&D) systems both public and private do not necessarily respond well to the needs of poor people in developing countries. Despite all the hype about the potentials of Science and Technology for reducing poverty, there are many missed opportunities. Very often poor and marginalised people across the global south do ...
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Investing in female scientists to feed Africa
In this interview, Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, director of the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development fellowship programme in Kenya, talks about AWARD’s work supporting the careers of female agricultural scientists across Sub-Saharan Africa. She outlines the daunting challenge facing Africa: to rapidly expand agricultural production so that the continent can feed itself. Women ...
By SciDev.Net
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An analysis of some paradoxes in alternative agriculture and a vision of sustainability for future food systems
The paper offers an analysis of some of the prevailing practices in sustainable agriculture and points out some of the paradoxes that need to be addressed and resolved in order to enhance acceptability of sustainable agriculture by the general public. Education and research in sustainable agriculture are suggested as possible tools via which solutions to the paradoxes may be found. Preserving the ...
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Strengthening agricultural innovation capacity: are innovation brokers the answer?
Taking the case of Dutch agriculture as an example, this paper examines the emergence and role of innovation brokers in stimulating agricultural innovation system interaction and innovation capacity building, and reflects upon their potential role in developing and emerging countries' agriculture and how their emergence and functioning can be fostered. It concludes that innovation brokerage is ...
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Becoming a top female fisheries researcher in Kenya
In this film, as part of our series Africa’s PhD renaissance, scientist Nina Wambiji talks about how the support she has received from AWARD (African Women in Agricultural Research and Development) has helped her become a leading researcher in her field. She was granted a fellowship at AWARD after obtaining a PhD in Japan for her research on rabbitfish. AWARD is a two year career ...
By SciDev.Net
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Are developing-country policies and investments promoting research and research partnerships in agricultural biotechnology?
This article presents findings from two studies of public-sector research on agricultural biotechnology. The first focuses on national agricultural research organisations and universities in developing countries, while the second focuses on public?private research collaborations with international agricultural research centres. Findings suggest that a number of developing countries are, in fact, ...
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New forms of local collective governance linked to the agricultural landscape: identifying the scope and possibilities for hybrid institutions
Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the focus on rural development and public goods within the common agricultural policy (CAP). Many researchers emphasise how this implies a need for new ways of implementing policy and innovative collaboration between various actors. Policymakers also acknowledge such needs. Local action groups and organisations have a significant ...
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Innovative farm policies and their impact in a French frontier zone: reviving old conflicts in Guadeloupe (FWI)?
Society now expects agriculture to fulfil new functions to improve quality of life. This requirement has been reinforced by recent crises. The 1999 French Agricultural Framework Law (LOA) formalised agricultural multifunctionality and included payments to farmers for new practices, which satisfy both social and environmental functions, in addition to economic ones. A voluntary territorial farm ...
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Investing in people and evidence for sustainable farming
Evaluation of farming systems, new ideas and learning with practitioners should be part of a transformed agriculture. Food security is difficult to pin down. It can be explained simply as access to enough food. But behind that simplicity lies an interconnected web of factors — from food prices to agricultural practices, nutrition, natural resources, technology, trade and social ...
By SciDev.Net
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Agricultural research policy framework for improved livelihoods security in crop-livestock production systems
Concerns for sustainable development and poverty alleviation are forcing public agricultural research systems to focus on improving livelihoods security. Crop-livestock production systems are central to the livelihood security of the rural poor in India and some other countries of the tropics. With increasing population, urbanisation and incomes, massive increases are foreseen in demands for ...
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Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GDAAS) - Case Study
There are 13 research institutes under the GDAAS, including specific foods and crops and fertilizer research. The main mission of the institution is to carry out non-profit research around agricultural science and techniques. As one of the most important agricultural crops institutions, the Crops Research Institute has been focusing on the development of new varieties of crops, cultivation ...
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Biomethanol From Sugar Beet Pulp
According to Atlantic Biomass Conversions, sugar beet pulp, currently of low value to sugar beet growers and processors, could become a significant source of renewable fuel methanol. Nearly 700 million liters of fuel cell quality methanol could be produced annually from sugar beet pulp produced by existing EU and US sugar beet refineries. Atlantic Biomass Conversions, a company based in ...
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Debate: Why aren’t farmers using agricultural tech?
Take part in our online debate that will take place on this page on 9 June starting at 1pm British Summer Time (GMT+1). Over two hours, our expert panel will help steer a discussion on why farmers in developing countries are not improving productivity by adopting a greater number of innovative technologies. Delivering food security for everyone on the planet is a monumental challenge. The global ...
By SciDev.Net
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Agricultural biotechnology: risks and opportunities for developing country food security
Agricultural biotechnology presents opportunities for reducing poverty, food insecurity, child malnutrition, and natural resource degradation. Small farmers in developing countries are faced with many problems and constraints which biotechnology may assist. About 1.2 billion people, or one of every five humans, live in a state of absolute poverty, on the equivalent of US$1 a day or less. Modern ...
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It is vital to reinvigorate organic farming research
Organic farming can deliver food sustainably, but only with compelling science to boost its use, argues Ged Buffee. With increased yields and ecological stability becoming critical concerns for agricultural development, there's hope that organic farming can anchor agro-ecological sustainability. The stakes for organic agriculture have never been higher, yet the convincing research that could ...
By SciDev.Net
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Protecting and promoting traditional foods one woman at a time
Women and food-centric interventions through the NATURE+ Initiative aim to increase the resilience of rural women. This years’ International Day of Rural Women puts a spotlight on, “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All.” The CGIAR Initiative on Nature-Positive Solutions (NATURE+) aims to re-imagine, co-create and implement nature-positive, solutions-based agri-food systems ...
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Biotechnology Forecast for 2019
The last few years have witnessed explosive growth within biotechnology across all segments of the industry. It is estimated that the global biotech market will command $727.1 Billion USD by 2025. Biotech looks poised to continue this meteoric growth for 2019 and beyond. With Compounded Annual Growth rates (CAGR) rates across segments ranging from 6%-11%, here is a look at key segments within ...
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