traditional farming News
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Traditional farming `can save threatened species`
Traditional farming methods are crucial for protecting a number of threatened bird species in the developing world, including bustards, cranes, ibises and vultures, a study has found. Livestock grazing and features associated with arable farming — such as hedgerows — create environmental conditions that certain birds currently depend on for food, shelter and breeding, the authors ...
By SciDev.Net
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Traditional farming methods in India protect birds
Under the right conditions, traditional agricultural practices can support significant biodiversity in farmed areas over the long term. A new study shows that arecanut plantations combined with forest areas support bird life. The researchers studied bird communities in arecanut plantations found in southwest India to assess whether biodiversity could be sustained in an agriculturally developed ...
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Is Vertical Farming Here to Stay?
Farmers growing vertically, in a warehouse, say they can grow 100 times more greens per square foot than traditional farms. Videos and articles are popping up everywhere about new vertical farms opening. An article from Business Insider features a new farm called Bowery, located in New Jersey. Using LED lighting that mimics natural light and instead of soil, growing hydroponically, they are ...
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Global recognition for traditional farming systems in China, Iran and South Korea
Six traditional farming systems in China, Iran and South Korea known for their unique characteristics and approaches to sustainability have been designated Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) by FAO. They include Iran’s Qanat Irrigation system, an ancient network of farms that have survived for nearly three millennia; a 22-thousand-kilometer system of black stone walls ...
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ARS helps preserve indigenous crops in Ecuador
An Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist is working with an international group of researchers on a project to improve the livelihoods of people in rural Ecuador by promoting the conservation and use of indigenous crops. People in and around Cotacachi, in the northern Andean highlands, have been farming for thousands of years, and the result is a stunning diversity of crops, some of them ...
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National Farmers Union Celebrates International Year of Family Farming
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement declaring the organization’s support for the United Nations (UN) declaring 2014 the International Year of Family Farming: “As a grassroots organization comprised of family farmers, NFU is pleased that the UN has made this declaration and will be celebrating the rich tradition of family farming about ...
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European Farms Growing Slowly but Surely
There are around 14 million farmers in the European Union, and the average size of farms is just 14 hectares. By comparison, the USA has just 2 million farmers, yet the average size of farms is 180 hectares. Just under 50 percent of the EU’s surface area is covered by fields, 30 percent by forests and 20 percent by something other, such as cities. Family farms are traditional in Europe, ...
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FAO chief urges Europe to play role in International Year of Family Farming
FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva praised the European Union for the commitment it has shown to making the International Year of Family Farming in 2014 a success. Speaking at the Conference "Family farming: a dialogue towards more sustainable and resilient farming in Europe and the world", Graziano da Silva said in Brussels that "Europe has a rich tradition in family farming and ...
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UK Government recognises vital role of vertical farming at Downing Street’s ‘Spring Showcase`
IGS Limited exhibited at 10 Downing Street’s ‘Spring Showcase’, an event to celebrate the most exciting and innovative tech businesses in the UK food and agriculture industry. IGS, which manufactures vertical farming solutions, was one of three technology businesses invited to participate in this year’s event, which was attended by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and fellow ...
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IRRI conducts training in the latest rice production technologies for African research technicians
IRRI Training, in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is conducting a rice production and post-production techniques course for research technicians from different member countries of the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) from July 18 to August 15 at IRRI Headquarters, Philippines. The three-week course includes lectures and field activities facilitated ...
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Supporting family farms key for healthy food systems
While substantial progress has been made in the fight against hunger in recent years, more than 800 million people remain hungry and efforts need to be increased to reach the global target of cutting the percentage of hungry people in half by 2015, said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva in his opening remarks at the annual World Food Day ceremony, held at FAO Headquarters in ...
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Yunnan | EAvision technology energy is injected into agricultural production in mountainous areas
On March 25th, EAVISION carried out an intelligent drone plant protection flight control test on crops on the slopes of the mountainous area, injecting scientific and technological energy into the spring ploughing. The technicians are debugging EAVISION's new plant protection drone, EA-30X. After setting the relevant parameters, they poured the potion mixed with plant protection pesticides into ...
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Harnessing carbon financing to boost sustainable farming
Some 100 experts from five continents have met to chart the way to harnessing a large new flow of funding – carbon finance – to agricultural development and to improving the lives of poor farmers the world over. Billions of dollars are available every year under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism to finance initiatives helping reduce the amount of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions into ...
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Disaster relief seeds `should be more diverse`
African farmers who lose their seeds in floods and droughts could restore their crop biodiversity quicker by trading local seed varieties at markets and through informal social links than by receiving seeds from aid agencies, a study suggests. The genetic diversity of crops allows plant populations to adapt to changing environments and provides the raw materials for crop improvement programmes. ...
By SciDev.Net
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Two New Public Consultations Launched on New Developments for ASC Programme
ASC has today (August 3, 2020) launched two public consultations, allowing stakeholders and consumers to have their say on important developments for the programme. To contribute to Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) module, click here. To provide your feedback on Certification and Accreditation Requirements (CAR) review, click here. The consultations are seeking feedback on two separate ...
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New report tracks progress in responsible pig farming
The U.S. pork industry is releasing its first-ever farming responsibility report: 2012 Pork Industry Progress Report, Responsible Farming. Our Heritage. Our Future. The 36-page report details the evolution of modern pig farming over generations and tracks advancements that have been made in vital areas such as food safety, animal well-being, environmental stewardship and worker safety. ...
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Bayer CropScience launches global web video competition for farmers
Bayer CropScience has launched YouFarm International, the first global web video competition for farmers. The company wants to provide farmers and people passionate about farming the opportunity to increase awareness and boost understanding of modern agriculture with the public. “Most people have an incomplete image of modern agriculture and the origins of the food they consume. The ...
By Bayer AG
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Third world climate conference
With climate change increasing the incidence and severity of weather events, agriculture, one of the most climate dependent of all human activities, depends heavily on effective meteorological services which are vital to climate change mitigation and adaptation, said an FAO expert today. “The economic costs associated with natural disasters, including extreme weather events, have increased ...
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BiOWiSH™-Hydroponic receives Organic Certification
July 18, 2011 For Immediate Release CHICAGO, IL - The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has certified BiOWiSH™-Hydroponic as an organic material. BiOWiSH™-Hydroponic is a commercial fertilizer that helps stimulate microbial activity, increase nutrient availability and improve plant vigor, while preventing sludge build-up and problematic scaling in dripper lines, ...
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Showcase
Celebrating Research Centre’s Third Anniversary with Notable Accomplishments & Milestones
Urban Crop Solutions (UCS) launched its research centre in 2020. The fully equipped state-of-the-art research centre, housed at its HQ in Belgium, boasts multiple controlled environment growth chambers for crop cultivar screening, nutrient formulations, plant cultivation techniques, LED light spectrum research, hydroponic irrigation, and cultivation development. The research centre is operated by ...
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