Next question please

It's been a long time coming but I do recall posting earlier on the planning stages of this now published study. Using a horizon-scanning approach, leading experts and representatives of major agricultural organizations worldwide have prioritised what they feel are the 100 most important questions for global agriculture. The aim is to use sound scientific evidence to inform decision making and guide policy makers in the future direction of agricultural research priorities and policy support. Much food for thought here.

Progress? Whose good news counts?

Habitat and species loss continues, as reported in an article in the current issue of Science, Despite Progress, Biodiversity Declines. Of course this is a matter of grave importance and should serve as a clarion call to conservationists everywhere, especially in the lead up to the forthcoming CBD meeting in Japan, and god knows we do need examples and cases of progress. But Science might want to take time and ask a few of the expelled Chagos Islanders whether the fact that "in May, the United Kingdom designated the Chagos Archipelago as the largest marine reserve in the world, setting aside 544,000 square kilometers" is actually the good news it purports to be. I am sure a few will beg to differ on the fact they now have the world's largest marine reserve to go with the world's largest military base.

The Malthus Monsters

I am continually irked when I visit the Times online with its constant prompts for subscription on every news item clicked. This is nothing compared to the feelings I had about the grossly crass and unsavoury musings of Matthew Parris on rural dwellers in his article "If you want to save the planet stop breeding" in Saturday's edition of the Times. Unfortunately I can't link to the story itself because of the pay wall hassles but Robin Smith has taken him to task on his blog, Real Reform.

Healthy Parks, Healthy People

Following the successful inaugural Healthy Parks Healthy People (HPHP) congress in April hosted by Parks Victoria in Melbourne, Australia this initiative, focussed on the health benefits of contact with nature is continuing to expand. A new website, HPHP central, is to be launched in September and the HPHP Global team welcomes your contributions such as articles, research papers, case studies or tips on how to adopt the Healthy Parks Healthy People philosophy into your organisation. Please send contributions to contribute@hphpcentral.com. The Proceedings from the HPHP congress are now available. More than 70 videos from the conference have been posted on YouTube.

Bringing agriculture and health back together

Here we go, the solution to our agriculture, health and nutrition problems. Bringing agriculture and health back together! When exactly were they together to begin with? But a solution is on hand and coming to a corner shop near you soon, courtesy of the LCIRAH and the CGIAR. Somehow I don't think so. The shortcomings of "fragmented development landscapes, language barriers and silos" have been with us so long now. Other sectors have tried to address the same issues without little success. These disconnects are really ingrained and systemic and I have no idea how we might extricate ourselves from such ways of thinking and working. That's not to say there are individuals and organisations working not working actively in these areas. There is much great work going on in terms of organisational learning but sadly much of it is marginalised and far from mainstream when considering these types of problems and issues. Maybe others know what the solution might be. If you have any ideas maybe you can visit the SciDev website and this article and make your views known. Others already have and hurray to Tom Hennessy for his plug on local and indigenous foods.

Where would you like to see more agricultural funding directed

Nourishing the Planet blog has an interesting discussion going on the above topic. Some of you may have come across the discussion already, it has been linked to by our friends over at the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog putting forward the case for a significant role for ABD.

Robbing hoods

Richard Curtis and Bill Nighy have teamed up in a new film urging the Tobin tax on bankers. About time, Bill Nighy could sell me a rubber hammer and glass nails any day of the week, even a long wait. Go on spread the link.

Opportunities for family farming

Earlier I posted on ILEIA's The Future of Family Farming conference. You can find a brief report of the conference here, with more to follow. ILEIA have also announced their new publication, Farming Matters.