Conference

This conference report shares key insighs from a conference that aimed to seek clarity in the role that monitoring and evaluation (M&E) can play in informing and supporting transformation towards inclusive and sustainable food systems for healthy diets. M&E can generate information to help understand food systems (starting from consumption) and identify tradeoffs in order to support decision-making. M&E can build on and complement existing food systems frameworks. »

This e-conference on Fall armyworms aimed to give insight on lessons learned so far, effective strategies in reaching farmers, effectiveness of responses so far, long-term consequences of these responess and innovative ideas. Challenge and solutions are presented, in particular on how to move away from broad-spectrum pesticides, towards more effective responses such as integrated pest management, push-pull, and early warning systems. »

Farming and agriculture may not seem cool to young people, but if they can learn the thrill of nurturing plants to produce food, and are provided with their favourite apps and communications software on agriculture, food insecurity will not be an issue, food and agriculture experts said during the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Food Security Forum from June 22 to 24 at the ADB headquarters here. »

This paper investigates the determinants of changes in youth and women participation in agriculture by using data from the Living Standards Measurement Surveys-Integrated Surveys of Agriculture (LSMS-ISA). Participation in the agricultural labor force is measured using hours per week in agriculture and change in hours worked per week in agriculture between two survey waves for Nigeria and Uganda. »

This article focuses on the urban-rural linkages in the emerging food system. Recent debates on food and agricultural issues emphasize the significance of the spatialization of food systems and location of agriculture. In this emerging food system geography, urban-rural relationships play a significant role in food value chains, food security and nutrition, which is still poorly understood. This presentation explores these issues based on rural-urban scenarios in 2050. »

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) & The International Labour Organizattion (ILO) prepared a background paper for the Feeding Africa conference of October 2015. The paper highlights several challenges and opportunities in involving youth in agribusiness. The authors stimulate the development of a special program to promote youth in agribusiness. »