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GLOBALHORT NEWS
GlobalHort welcomes the submission of news features of interest to our communities. Please send your suggestions, features or publications that you would like to have disseminated to the editor.
IHC Horticulture for Development Program now Available
Published on 22nd Jul 2010
GlobalHort will be co-convenor of a Horticulture for Developm
ent Symposium at the 28th International Horticultural Congress, Aug. 22-27, 2010 Lisbon, Portugal under the patronage of ISHS. The theme deals with how knowledge in horticultural sciences can alleviate poverty and fight malnutrition. Please click here for program listing.
Dr. Norman Looney, GlobalHort Chair, to Speak at Association of African Professionals in the Diaspora (AAAPD) Event
Published on 22nd Jul 2010
On July 27, 2010 Dr. Dr. Norman Looney will speak at The
Association of African Agricultural Professionals in The Diaspora event (AAAPD) "Accelerating Africa's Agricultural Development: Leveraging Knowledge, Innovation & Resources through Collaboration" at The World Bank in Washington, DC. His presentation will be entitled "Strengthening and Diversifying Entrepreneurship Skills Among African Smallholder Farmers: A Special Role for Horticulture".
The Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora (AAAPD), a new organization whose primary objective is to improve Africa's human and institutional capacity for food security and agricultural development by mobilizing African professionals and friends of Africa to partner with African institutions, help catalyze Africa's agricultural transformation through shared information, technology and skills, and encourage increased public and private investments in Africa's agriculture in a way that enhances smallholder farm productivity and rural business development across the continent.
Currently, AAAPD is funded through a grant received by Iowa State University from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
To learn more about AAAPD and to join its growing membership community, please visit its web portal at www.aaapd-africa.org. Direct any questions to Dr. Peter Jeranyama, President AAAPD Inc at peterj@umext.umass.edu or telephone 508-295-2212 ext 29.
Afrisem Creates a Win-Win Situation
Published on 16th Jul 2010
Vegetable production provides a way out of poverty for
smallholder farmers and the landless. It generates more income and jobs per hectare than most other agricultural enterprises. At the same time, it will improve the diets of the Tanzanians. In Africa, the consumption of vegetables is less than 50 kilo per person per year, while it is the most sustainable strategy to overcome micronutrient deficiencies. For Rijk Zwaan and East-West Seed Company that was sufficient reason to start a vegetable seed company in Arusha, Tanzania. Afrisem creates a win-win situation for local growers, by providing income as well as healthy food.
Growing technology
For the last ten years, Rijk Zwaan has been active in Arusha. It is the location where the daughter company Q-Sem propagates its tomato, cucumber and pepper seeds. Due to its favourable climate, Arusha is a centre for vegetable, flower and seed production for the European market. Despite its proximity to the equator, the elevation of 1,400 m on Mount Meru keeps the temperatures to an average of 25°C, while cool dry winds from the Indian Ocean alleviate the humidity - ideal circumstances for growing high quality vegetables and flowers.
Local small-scale farmers have a hard time getting by, though. There are no hybrid seeds available to them, as the varieties propagated in the region are designed for the European market. “We became aware that none of the major vegetable seed companies has dedicated breeding in Africa for the local tropical African market. Moreover, local propagating and growing techniques were far from optimal”, says Anton van Doornmalen, president of the advisory council of Rijk Zwaan.
“We therefore asked René Geelhoed and Bianca van Haperen, who both have studied in Wageningen and built up extensive experience in the Philippines, to look at the local varieties and to optimise the growing techniques. Their experiments have paid off. The newly introduced growing techniques ensured that the yields more than tripled and they conveyed this to the surrounding villagers.” The major changes were growing in raised beds, furrow irrigation, improved fertilizer management and the raising of seedlings. So far, over a thousand farmers have been trained and the improvements were readily adapted.
More than maize
But that was not the end of it. “To really make a difference, the local farmers need dedicated hybrid varieties of Africa’s unique indigenous vegetables. That is why Rijk Zwaan, together with East-West Seed Company, started Afrisem in 2008”, says Mr. Van Doornmalen. “Just like Asians cannot live on rice alone, African people cannot live on maize alone”, adds Simon Groot, chairman of the East-West Seed Group. “They need some meat, some dairy products, but also fruit and vegetables. Aside from the consumption aspects, vegetable farming with good seeds and farming technology can provide higher incomes from relatively small holdings than maize farming. Millions of vegetable farmers in Asia with landholdings between five to ten acres now have middle class earnings, with enough profit to buy staple food, and to provide good housing and education.”
In 2007, René Geelhoed and Bianca van Haperen started the development of the station Afrisem. They focused on breeding programmes in tomato, African eggplant and chinense pepper varieties for cultivation in the Tanzanian highlands in the north of the country. Afrisem combines local germplasm with genetics and breeding knowledge of the two breeding companies. African eggplant, Solanum aethiopicum, is an indigenous vegetable of Africa and a very popular vegetable in Tanzania. The extremely hot chinense pepper, Capsicum chinense, is not an indigenous vegetable, but locally very much preferred because of its unique aroma. The first breeding goals are to improve the yield per plant, the fruit quality, eating quality, appearance, shelf life and resistances against local insects and diseases. The Afrisem breeders have close contacts with the local farmers, local market and consumers to ensure the new varieties will meet the local demands.
The Farm
The managing director of Q-sem, Harald Peeters, holds the same function for Afrisem. The farm has 20 ha of land with fertile topsoil. The station consists of an office, a workshop and proper personnel facilities. The seed storage and evaluation facilities are of a high standard. The irrigation is designed in such a way that on the whole farm drip, sprinkler, furrow and basin irrigation are possible. “This way the local farmer’s situation can be stimulated without compromising uniformity. In order to avoid wasting breeding time, several temporary greenhouses have been installed”, explains Mr. Van Doornmalen.
Training local people is an important task for the current Afrisem crew. Local Tanzanians will be trained to become market-oriented breeders. Breeders from Rijk Zwaan and East West worldwide may exchange visits with the local breeders. “And, of course, the training of the farmers continues. On the demonstration field, surrounding farmers are shown the newest varieties and latest technologies. Furthermore, farmers can be trained on this field as well as on their own fields.”
Profit
Starting an African seed company may not be the smartest thing to do from a commercial point of view. “It will take many years before Afrisem will break even and when we will reach the goal of making a profit it’s clear that the revenues will be invested in the company”, says Anton Van Doornmalen. “But that does not stop us investing in Africa. And that goes not only for the three families that have the majority shareholding, our employees who hold 14% of the shares, could not agree more. They are very proud that we can make a difference in Arusha.”
He does not close his eyes to the many obstacles that Afrisem has to overcome. The infrastructure is poor. Despite the many tourists that visit nearby Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti national Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, the roads around Arusha are bad. That makes it harder for farmers to purchase input, but is also a barrier for marketing the produce.
Furthermore, the knowledge of vegetable cultivation of most farmers is limited. This may hamper farmers to purchase the relative expensive hybrid seeds. However, farmers who have experience with hybrid varieties are convinced that paying some more money for hybrid seeds is a good investment and they are quite willing to consider new varieties. “That is where the experience of East-West Seed will pay of. They know how to teach farmers to grow improved vegetable varieties with improved growing technology. East-West Seed Company has shown in tropical Asia that market-oriented variety improvement accompanied with farmer technology support is a recipe for farmers to increase their income.”
Applause
The initiative is received with approval. At the opening on 22 October, Dr. David Mathayo, vice-minister of Agriculture, came to visit Afrisem. His message: the Tanzanian government will support the company in any way it can. In September 2008, former secretary-general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan and his wife, Nane Maria, visited Rijk Zwaan in De Lier, the Netherlands. Today, Mr. Annan is one of the twelve members of the Global Elders, a group of former statesmen who use their experience to solve global problems, and chairman of the board of AGRA, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. He applauded the initiative of Rijk Zwaan and East-West Seed Company and expressed the hope that more professional seed companies would follow this example. After all, it makes a real difference if an African farmer is able to produce high quality vegetables that can be sold on the local market.
Article written by Monique Krinkels, Blue Bird Pub. Prophyta 2010
Note: Rijk Zwaan is one of the top ten global vegetable seed companies. It is an independent family business, with 86% of the shares in the hands of three Dutch families: Zwaan, Van Doornmalen and Tax. The company has 1600 employees, of which half are working in the Netherlands. Rijk Zwaan has more than 850 varieties in thirty different vegetable crops sold in over a hundred countries worldwide. East-West Seed Company began in 1982 in Asia, with the goal of blending European-style seedsmanship with tropical vegetables. Today, the company is a multinational vegetable seed producer with a leading market position in all major south-east and south Asian vegetable seed markets. It produces, develops and sells tropical hybrid vegetable seeds that challenge existing market situations.
GlobalHort and GCARD in Montpellier, France: A New Partnership?
Published on 3rd Jul 2010
The Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development
(GCARD) took place in Montpellier, France Mach 28-31, 2010. On March 26, 2010 GlobalHort held its 7th Board of Directors Meeting. GlobalHort was involved in the development of the GCARD “Montpellier Road Map for Change.” GlobalHort endeavored to put horticulture on that map and aims to become an empowering vehicle for collective actions that help the global agricultural research for development community meet the Millennium Development Goals.
A consensus has emerged not just to alleviate poverty, but to abolish it. Production of fresh fruits and vegetables by smallholders, most often in a mixed farming model, is now widely recognized as a vehicle for stimulating entrepreneurship and reducing poverty. More than ever, horticulture for health and prosperity must be promoted and facilitated with research, education, and extension. GlobalHort is well-positioned to act.
The latest issue of GlobalHort Newsletter focuses on at a number of initiatives that GlobalHort is facilitating as an international consortium.GlobalHort Presented a Case Study at GCARD 2010 on Facilitating Smallholder Farmers' Access to Horticultural Training
Published on 21st Jun 2010
As part of GCARD 2010, Farming First hosted a session entitled ‘Better Benefiting the Poor through Public-Private Partnerships for Innovation and Action.’ Within the discussions, a panel of experts addressed several case studies that present different ways that partnerships have helped to empower smallholder farmers around the world
Remi Kahane, Secretary of Global Horticulture Initiative, was one of the experts on the panel. Click here for an abstract of his talk and please feel free to make a comment on the Blog.
GlobalHort Co-sponsors HODECT 2010 Meeting in Arusha
Published on 2nd Jun 2010
The Horticulture Development Council of Tanzania (HODECT)
held a national stakeholders' workshop in Arusha, Tanzania May 31 to June 1, 2010. GlobalHort was a proud co-sponsor of this event. The Hon. Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda, Prime Minister, United Republic of Tanzania officially opened the workshop as the Events’ Guest of Honour.
HODECT is an Apex Public Private Partnership institution responsible for promoting the development of the horticulture sub-sector in Tanzania. The goal of HODECT is to realize Tanzania's horticultural potential by the small holder farmers to contribute to the eradication of poverty in Tanzania and a more rapid growth of the country's economy. The participants of the workshop were Horticultural stakeholders involved in the entire value chain of the horticultural sub-sector. These will include: representatives of small holder farmers, large scale farmers, processors, equipment and input producers or suppliers, exporters, business associations, service providers, promotion agencies, researchers, academicians, government officials, NGOs, development partners and other participants involved in the development of the sub-sector in Tanzania.
All the above Stakeholders were brought together to deliberate on issues pertaining to the development of horticulture in Tanzania in the context of the challenges in the sub-sector and the vast opportunities it represents. The meeting also reviewed the implementation of decisions the Stakeholders made in their meeting of 2008. However, the most significant activity was the deliberation and adoption of a Tanzania National Horticultural Development Strategy, which HODECT Stakeholders, working in partnership with the government, can take full ownership, and proceed to implement as an important component of KILIMO KWANZA.
Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD)
Published on 25th May 2010
Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, set the mood of this congress when he said, "We must now become the new abolitionists of hunger and poverty."
The Montpellier Conference March 28-31, 2010 brought together over 800 delegates, from all regions and sectors, from farmers to the heads of UN agencies, united in their concerns that, despite the benefits from agricultural research, one in six people in this world still suffer from hunger and poverty. The failure to prioritize agricultural research and development over the past two decades has left many countries ill‐equipped to either meet the Millennium Development Goals or cope with the kind of challenges brought to the forefront by the food and financial crises of the last few years.
The GCARD and its preceding regional consultations and thematic workshops, have led to the Montpellier Road Map for Change, establishing pathways that are open to all of us to achieve through our individual responsibilities and collective actions. The Roadmap builds from key principles strongly expressed by us all, that the development needs of poor farmers and consumers must be at the centre of the research agenda, with innovation processes, policies, partnerships and investments driven by their contribution towards desired development objectives.
The Road Map brings together two cross‐linked approaches;
i. Collective research and knowledge sharing actions to address key development‐focused themes and ii. Transformation and strengthening of agricultural research and extension systems, so that they deliver quickly and effectively towards key development objectives.
Building from the GCARD outcomes, the role of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research identified in the Road Map now focuses on facilitating each of the areas involved among AR4D implementingpartners of all kinds and helping to roll out the Road Map’s implications in each region, with our collective progress reported at GCARD 2. Strengthening agricultural research for development systems will particularly require our evidence‐based advocacy for increased investment in research, training and delivery systems; working through expert groups to help strengthen the involvement of development actors and farmers in research processes and in regional and national research fora; working through each regional body to facilitate participation of national and regional partners in the design and implementation of the large scale programs initiated by the CGIAR; developing mechanisms for increasing the accountability of research to its clients and their development aims; sharing best practices between regions and reporting on changes in donor and country actions in support of achieving shared development goals.
GlobalHort was very pleased to be able to participate in this event.
For more information [...]
Mosquito nets from public health to plant health
Published on 12th May 2010
The 2010-3 May issue of The New Agriculturist focuses on public-private partnerships. A new factory in Tanzania is manufacturing millions of insecticidal mosquito nets to fight the scourge of malaria. The venture, catalysed by the World Health Organization (WHO), is proving a success, but the partners are already looking beyond the public health sector to new applications: if the technology can be adapted to agricultural use, the nets might protect vegetables as well as people. The transition will depend on the ability of the partners to make the jump between the worlds of public health and agriculture - if, indeed, the two sectors are really so different. Click here to read the full story.
For regular notifications to the magazine you may sign up for the email newsletter or RSS feed at http://www.new-ag.info/subscribe.php or join twitter.
Biodiversity in Horticultural Crops Volume 3 soon to be published
Published on 11th May 2010
A book on the BIODIVERSITY IN HORTICULTURAL CROPS contributed by 21 eminents covering lichi, watermellon, amaranth, cucurbits, etc. It will be published by DAYABOOKS New Delhi. This is the 3rd volume of a series.The series deals with the origin, distribution, botany, cytogenetics, cultivation, post-harvest technology and product development.
The United Nations has declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity
Published on 11th May 2010
The year 2010 is a celebration of life on earth and of the value
of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity.
Catalogue of orange-fleshed sweetpotato for Africa now available
Published on 27th Apr 2010
The International Potato Center and its partners are promoting orange-fleshed sweetpotato as a food-based approach to combating Vitamin A deficiency and related health problems in Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). This 2010 catalogue, Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato for Africa Catalogue, is a handy reference for scientists, development practitioners, and donors, providing information on some current important and popular varieties in the region. PDF Available (4.29 MB) (only digital version available)
The catalogue presents easily accessible information on single pages for each of the varieties, including the morphological characteristics, major agronomic attributes such as adaptability, yield and pest and disease resistance, and other features such as nutritional content and consumer and processing qualities.
The majority of the varieties have been released in at least one country, and are being used by farmers. A number of them are important parents in regional and national breeding programs aimed at improving beta-carotene levels and root dry matter. Additional information about the current status of each variety is presented at the end of the catalogue, and information on how to obtain varieties is available by contacting the CIP regional office for SSA in Nairobi, Kenya
Micro-Level Decision for Area Shift in Favour of High-Value Crops: A Case of Horticultural Crops
Published on 25th Apr 2010
Pradeep Kumar Mehta published this article in Agricultural Economics Review v.22(2) July-Dec. 2009
Area shift towards horticultural crops is vital for increasing farm income, productivity and overall employment in the agricultural sector. Several economic (price and income) and non-economic (food-security concerns) factors influence farmers’ decisions at the farm level. This paper has examined the role of both price and income, along with the role of food-security goals, in the decision-making of farmers regarding shift from low-value crops (food crops) to high-value commercial crops (horticultural crops). It has been shown that higher food requirements at home inhibit the extent of crop-substitution decision of the farmers. However, farmers are less responsive to the changes in the prices of food grains (in terms of changing their consumption) as higher income from high-value crops provide adequate money to purchase food crops from the market. Relative income (not the relative price) of the crops has been found to explain the crop-substitution decisions of the farmers. The farmers have been reported to calculate the aggregate gain from the crop rather calculating only the price of the crop, while making the decision to shift. Their capacity to generate higher productivity along with better market prospects have been recorded to explain farmers’ decision to shift area.
Click here for full article.
Note: This study is a part of the PhD work of the author done at Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore,the title of thesis being “Diversification and HorticulturalCrops: A Case of Himachal Pradesh”.
New Book Published by UKCDS on Science and Innovation for Development
Published on 13th Apr 2010
Science and Innovation for Development by Professor Sir Gordon
Conway and Professor Jeff Waage, with Sara Delaney. Published by UKCDS January 2010.
ISBN: 978 1 84129 0829
Scientific education, knowledge and research are crucial to solving development challenges. Science as a tool for providing evidence and discovering solutions has been neglected recently by many key decision makers, Science and Innovation for Development aims to play a part in changing that. To download full text or order click here.
GlobalHort 6th Board Meeting Held in Bangkok
Published on 25th Feb 2010
A very important meeting of the GlobalHort Board of Directors Changes to the Board Staffing Funding Dr. Pai-Po Lee, representing Taiwan ICDF confirmed that this agency will continue its support for GlobalHort through 2010. However, in line with his frequently stated concern that Taiwan ICDF has almost independently supported GlobalHort since its inception, it cannot continue as the sole donor after 2010. The Board Chair, Norman Looney, thanked Dr. Lee and Taiwan ICDF for its generous investment in the development of GlobalHort and outlined plans for fund raising in 2010 and beyond. He urged Taiwan ICDF to consider some level of ongoing support contingent on other donors stepping forward. .jpg "GHI 6th Board Meeting Bangkok")
was held in Bangkok, Thailand, November 12-13, 2009 following the Asian Seed Congress. The discussion and decisions covered such topics as the Board’s composition, staffing, funding, formalizing partnerships, granted projects, and the 2010 workplan. The year 2010 will be a crucial year for GlobalHort. Many challenges threaten its very existence but the shareholders all continue to strive to ensure the long-term life of this valuable initiative
A decision was taken to continue investing in the development of the project proposal put forward for funding by the European Commission. This project, “Coordinated Regional Innovation Platforms for advocacy, capacity building and strategic networking for Horticulture in Africa” (CORIPHA) calls for two regional innovation platforms in Africa. A number of potential partners have indicated strong interest in working with GlobalHort to develop projects in association with these Regional Platforms. The Board expressed its strong support for this project and noted that approval could prove critical to the further development of the Initiative.
Formalizing Partnerships
- With the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR). GlobalHort is seeking Global Partnership Program status to work with GFAR to identify opportunities for collective actions to address constraints within the realm of horticulture for development.
- With CTA. CTA is the acronym for Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation between the EU and its former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (the ACP countries). GlobalHort and the CTA have identified many realms of mutual interest and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is awaiting former approval by the CTA.
- With NEPAD. The Board urges that high priority be given to completing a MoU that will outline shared interests in improving human nutrition through greater uptake of horticulture in Africa. NEPAD and GlobalHort also share the aim of building professional capacity for supporting the horticulture Industry in Africa.
- With the Horticulture Cooperative Research Support Program of USAID (The Horticulture CRSP). The Horticulture CRSP will be managed by the University of California at Davis and many of its proposed activities are highly complementary with those of GlobalHort. One of the managing Directors, Dr. Ronald Voss, was invited to participate in the Bangkok Board meeting. GlobalHort will be invited to join the official launch of the CRSP in May of 2010. This partnership will include cooperation with respect to webpage resources and efforts.
Workplans
Advocacy
- The All Africa Horticulture Congress (AAHC). GlobalHort is facilitating the publication of the Congress proceedings as a volume of Acta Horticulturae.
- GlobalHort has contracted with FAO to prepare a Position Paper outlining and documenting the case for more government support for horticulture for development.
- PROFAV workshop now confirmed for Arusha in June of 2010.
- GlobalHort will develop and submit a proposal to FSTP-1 (EU and EuropAid) to lead a work-package on communication and dissemination of results. The project is named Hortinnov.
- Contribute to position papers, case studies and video-conferences commissioned by the World Bank and others.
- Cooperate with leaders of the Horticulture CRSP (see above) aimed at mutual enrichment of the respective webpages.
- Managing and monitoring Taiwan ICDF-funded projects on Asian Fruit Fly (Southeast Asia) and another called ‘Recipes for Success’ put forward by Crops for the Future.
- Solicit support for applied research projects led by GlobalHort but conducted with co-operators like the Horticulture CRSP.
- Complete and submit a revised proposal seeking support for regional innovation platforms in Africa (see above re CORIPHA).
GlobalHort Pillars Intersect to provide a Single Strategy
Published on 25th Feb 2010
The promotion and advocacy of GlobalHort since its inception in
March 2006 is now producing results, thanks to its partners‘ support and well-defined workplan based on four pillars: promotion of horticulture for development, networking the diverse communities, facilitation of research for development projects, and contributing to capacity building in horticulture.
The All Africa Horticulture Congress held last September opened the door to applied partnerships for setting up the proposal on coordinated regional innovation platforms for horticulture in Africa (CORIPHA). Two regional workshops, one in East and one in West Africa, are scheduled early in 2010 to finalize the draft proposal before submission to funding agencies. The European Commission, DG-Development and USAID, Horticulture CRSP, have already expressed interest in such a regional approach combining knowledge sharing, networking and capacity building in a defined value chain.
Through the series of video-conferences on High Value Regional Markets in East Africa contracted from the World Bank and funded by the European Commission, GlobalHort will gain experience in linking all types of stakeholders of the sector thus providing examples and good arguments for a regional platform. The topics of these video-seminars include Fruit Fly Management, Post-Harvest and Transport Technologies, Standards and Market Preferences, Regional Trade, Environment and Sustainability Issues, and Public Policy related to Smallholders. In 2010, seven East African countries will participate through their Global Development Learning Centers (African network).
Thanks to the generous funding of Taiwan ICDFT, GlobalHort will coach two projects in 2010, one on the Asian Fruit Fly coordinated by the Asian Institute of Technology, and one in Africa on improving awareness in healthy nutrition (Recipes for Success) coordinated by Crops For the Future. In both cases such funding and coaching should attract new donors and encourage strong public-private partnership.
Promoting Innovation Transfer
Published on 25th Feb 2010
During the last week of January 2010 GlobalHort has facilitated
the meeting of potential private partners from the industry with the horticulture industry associations in Kenya and Tanzania (FPEAK, KFC and TAHA). These private partners included AtoZ, a Tanzanian leader of impregnated mosquito nets in Africa against malaria, and Insect Intelligence Control, a European engineering specialist for insect control systems.
The GlobalHort public-private partnership contributed nicely to having diversified visits and meetings, extensive discussions and a brain storming session. A collaborative project was defined dedicated to flower producers in parallel with small scale vegetable growers.
The general objective is to dramatically reduce the use of chemical pesticides in flower and vegetable cropping and to improve the quality of both products and environment at the same time.
GlobalHort will continue to promote this original case study where the expertise and industrial power is in the hands of Africans themselves.
Advocating for Horticulture at GCARD 2010
Published on 25th Feb 2010
The Global Horticulture Initiative will hold the 7th meeting of
its Board of Directors on March 26, 2010 in Montpellier, France prior to the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD). During GCARD GlobalHort and its two partners, ISHS and CIRAD, will promote Mediterranean Horticulture (thematic exhibition), advocate for capacity strengthening in the horticultural public and private sectors (speech from Board Chair, Dr. N. Looney), and present a case study for public-private partnership in East Africa (diversification of mosquito nets in horticulture). Through such applied exposures GlobalHort should justify its application to become a member of the GFAR Global Partnership Program (GPP).
GlobalHort, Horticulture CRSP and AVRDC to Collaborate on Web Developments
Published on 3rd Feb 2010
In December, 2009 GlobalHort’s Webmaster in Charge of 
Communications, Jerry Miner (middle), met with Hort CRSP staff, Mark Bell (left), Ron Voss (right) and Michael Reid, at the University of California in Davis (UCDavis). The objective of the meeting was to explore and identify collaborative opportunities in terms of the web presence and information management.
It was acknowledged that GlobalHort has become the primary internet site for horticulture for development since 2007. GlobalHort will continue to have as its main purpose to promote R&D, grants, a knowledge hub and facilitate capacity building. Linkages will be developed by both parties that will allow the sharing and/or reuse of web content.
GlobalHort will be the primary source of horticultural events, success stories and RSS news feeds. Mechanisms will be developed to allow for the sharing of calls and opportunities for funding, a database of organizations, mailing lists, and grants. GlobalHort has already developed a significant database for Europe and Africa which needs to be categorized into donors, active researchers and their institutes, potential collaborators, and active organizations. The GlobalHort Knowledge Hub will link to the Hort CRSP Knowledge Bank as it develops.
There is a future potential for greater collaboration in the facilitation of capacity building between the two organizations if the GlobalHort CORIPHA initiative is funded by the EU. The CORIPHA platforms could coincide with Hort CRSP sustainable Centers of Excellence (COE) in sub-Saharan Africa.
Another collaborative partner is AVRDC. Warwick Easdown has recently announced that their new website is now live, and has extended links to both GlobalHort and Hort CRSP. Warwick states that “We hope that together we can create a better knowledge bank for horticultural crops that provides easy access to what is known and ready access to conversations with expert groups when there is no simple answer”.
There is indeed much to do. Together our three organizations can work together to advocate and facilitate the development of horticulture for the health and prosperity of all.
GlobalHort at the APSA Seed Congress
Published on 25th Feb 2010
GlobalHort participated in the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA) Seed Congress from November 8-11 in Bangkok, Thailand. GlobalHort was invited to present a project proposal on an invasive pest, the fruit fly, a cohort of insect species damaging fruit and vegetables, cucurbits in particular. Chemical treatment is no longer effective nor recommended on these pests, for inducing resistance, and food and environmental safety reasons. Remi Kahane, in his presentation, advocated to the Special Interest Group on Vegetables, 11 November 2009 that attention and support be given to integrated pest management combining fruit and vegetable crops.
It is important that APSA members be made aware of this pest and the related project proposal to be funded by ICDF Taiwan on Asian Fruit Flies as it could have an impact on vegetable production in tropical Asia. It has been agreed that individual APSA members should contribute to the project upon request through field experiments as well as through monitoring and seed variety testing trials to check attractiveness. T
he Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is coordinating the project in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia for two years. In parallel, APSA and GlobalHort have agreed to host a professional forum to be organized in 2010 on tropical vegetable breeding. Not much is known about tropical vegetables, considered as indigenous vegetables by the largest seed companies, in terms of crop improvement and higher quality seed production. Breeding exotic species for tropical climates is also an area where experience and knowledge sharing would benefit the vegetable seed community. Attempts to organize this forum in Malaysia, July 2010 will be finalized. Asian and African partners are expected to participate.
The Food Security Centre Offers 29 Doctoral & Postdoctoral Scholarships
Published on 7th Jan 2010
In 2010, FSC awards up to 29 scholarships for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers for a period of 4 to 36 months, starting April 15, 2010. The Center wishes to attract outstanding PhD students and postdoctoral fellows pursuing a career in academia or development collaboration. The scholarships aim at increasing their previously gained scientific knowledge and skills relevant to food security related issues. Furthermore, FSC aims at establishing an active, long-lasting collaboration with the supported researchers and their home institutions.
Scholarships are for 4-36 months starting April 15, 2010. The application deadline is Jan. 30, 2010. For further details (...)
Hungry for the World: CALS Student Photographs Native Foods Across the Globe
Published on 8th Dec 2009
To feed her passion for photography, Anna Herforth ’02 has taken full advantage of her travels throughout the developing world conducting nutrition research. Her thesis work examines the nutritional benefits gained through traditional African vegetables in the diets of certain Tanzanians and Kenyans. Her images from her many trips abroad (29 countries and counting) have garnered her increasing visibility within the Cornell community and beyond. [Photos]
Pre-release of the Tomato Genome Announced
Published on 8th Dec 2009
The SOL Project and the International Tomato Sequencing Project recently announced the pre-release which was generated by the combination of whole genome shotgun using 454 sequencing, Sanger shotgun sequencing, and BAC/fosmid end sequencing.
The scaffolds can be downloaded. Annotations will be added soon.
GlobalGap Tour Nairobi, Sept. 14-17, 2009
Published on 9th Oct 2009
Juergen Anthofer, GlobalHort, participated in the recent GLOBALGAP Tour 2009 in Nairobi. This included the regional National Technical Working Group (NTWG) and Smallholder Task Force pre-meetings on 14th September, as well as the main GLOBALGAP event.
Meeting presentations were given by Kerstin Uhlig of GLOBALGAP and Stephen Mbithi of FPEAK, the new Smallholder Ambassador. They described the various communication routes put in place by GLOBALGAP in order to take smallholder issues on board. This includes the GLOBALGAP website (http://www.globalgap.org/), which can be used by anyone to give feedback on aspects of the standard that create difficulties for smallholder certification.
Dr Mbithi summarised feedback so far given to the Sector Committee on smallholder issues (http://www.africa-observer.info/documents/Summary_of-Smallholder-recommendations-june_09.pdf), and the final decisions of the sector Committee, which can be seen on the GLOBALGAP website (http://www.africa-observer.info/documents/Excerpt-SC-FV-Minutes-Smallholder-Ambassador.pdf).Dr Mbithi also outlined the Africa Observer consultation structure. At the present time this relies on the Africa Horticultural Council (AHC) framework, which currently has 10 members, each of which is a producer/exporter association. This structure is argued to be better “at actually representing the voice of farmers”. However, there was much discussion on this point as to whether it will capture issues arising in West African (particularly Francophone) countries, or those without effective producer/exporter associations.
For further updates on the Africa Ambassador initiative, or to provide feedback, see the website: http://www.africa-observer.info/At the main GLOBALGAP event an update was given on the state of play with the revision process. GLOBALGAP Version 4 will be introduced in October 2010 at the London Conference, to be implemented from 2011 onwards. The Nairobi 2009 Tour was the first of a series of regional meetings in which GG will consult on V4, and officially launches the second consultation period, which will continue until mid-November. Feedback can be given via the GLOBALGAP website.
As part of the GLOBALGAP Tour 2009 (cf. above), GLOBALGAP has set up a discussion forum at: http://forum.globalgap.org/. The aim of this exchange platform is to collect comments and questions from anyone interested in helping to define Version 4 of the standard. Topics addressed include integrated pest management, contamination, traceability, and smallholder issues, which may be included in the round of public consultation. PIP encourages its beneficiaries to visit the forum and to post any questions they may have or any contributions they wish to make towards adapting the standard to the situation of ACP smallholders.Save African Bananas! and other Facinating Articles in Latest Edition of R4D Review
Published on 27th Oct 2009
R4D Review 3rd Edition now out!The September 2009 issue of the R4D Review, IITA’s biennial magazine on tropical agriculture, is online and hot off the press. This third issue focuses on biocontrol, an area of research and development where IITA has had a lot of success and impact.In this issue:
- Unraveling the diversity
- Biocontrol at IITA
- Save African bananas!
- Hope for cabbage farmers
- Safeguarding against locusts
- Recipe for African farmlands
- Saving the environment
- The witch menace
- Allies in nature
- The cassava scourge
The online R4D Review aims to stimulate dialogue with partners, investors, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders, to help accelerate the development, dissemination, and continuous improvement of innovative solutions. The site provides an interactive and collaborative environment to share views, ideas, and innovations. To view the online version, click on the image or go to http://r4dreview.org/
FAO Releases New Summary Briefing, "Hunger in The Face of Crisis", that Highlights the Social Price of Poor Access to Fruit and Vegetables
Published on 9th Oct 2009
Economic and Social Perspectives, a new policy brief series of FAO’s Economic and Social Development (ES) Department, provide guidance on today’s global policy challenges related to food and agriculture. Written in non-technical language, the briefs explain why policy makers need to address a particular issue and how they might do so.
The briefing "Hunger in the Face of Crisis" states:Apart from humanitarian concerns, hunger threatens development more generally. Faced with food insecurity, households try to maintain income by migrating, selling assets such as livestock, borrowing money, or participating in new types of economic activity, including child labour. Furthermore, people tend to shift expenditures towards cheaper, calorie-rich, energy-dense foods such as grains, and away from more expensive protein- and nutrient-rich foods such as meat, dairy products, or fruits and vegetables; a situation that is particularly harmful for children and pregnant or lactating women.
Coping mechanisms thus involve undesirable but often unavoidable compromises: withdrawing children from schools destroys long-term human capital; the sale of assets reduces the stock of physical or financial resources and is not easily reversible; and shifting from more nutritious foods towards less nutritious items or simply eating less deteriorates people’s health, lowers labour productivity and reduces children’s cognitive potential.[...]
The Call for Abstracts for the 28th International Horticulture Congress (IHC), Lisbon, Portugal, 22-27 August, 2010 is now open!
Published on 9th Oct 2009
For online abstract submission go to www.ihc2010.org
Abstracts will be organised into symposia and seminars as requested by authors at submission. When the topic of an abstract does not fit into any symposium or seminar, it can be submitted to Congress at large according to the list of topics given. Abstracts submitted this way will be gathered a posteriori for oral or poster presentation in thematic sessions.
Poster presentations are encouraged as they will be a major form of scientific communication at the Congress. Conveners will select abstracts for oral and poster presentation based on the preference indicated by authors and the suitability to the scientific programme.
All presentations must be in English the official language of the Congress.
The deadline for abstract submission is 31 December 2009. The final decision regarding abstract acceptance and the form of presentation (oral or poster) will be communicated to the corresponding author by 31 March 2010
The Center for Disease Control Reports Americans not Meeting Recommendations for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Published on 9th Oct 2009
No U.S. state is meeting national objectives for consumption of fruits and vegetables, according to the first report to provide state–by–state data about fruit and vegetable consumption and policies that may help Americans eat more fruits and vegetables. (Read more)
The State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetable, 2009 is available at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/indicatorreport/.
CDC is a partner in the national fruit and vegetable program and provides resources for September National Fruits & Veggies – More Matters month at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov.
The Second Issue of the African Journal of Horticultural Science has been Published
Published on 9th Oct 2009
The Horticultural Association of Kenya has recently published its inaugural edition. Abstracts of articles may be found here. You can obtain a copy of the journal from the Secretariat. Send an email to hak@agr.jkuat.ac.ke or hak.2006@yahoo.com
Earthscan Publishes New Book on African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban Agriculture
Published on 26th Jun 2009
Earthscan are pleased to announce that review and inspection copies are now available for:
African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban Agriculture
Charlie M. Shackleton, Margaret W. Pasquini and Axel W. Drescher
Paperback £24.95June 2009
African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban Agriculture provides a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge of the potential and challenges associated with the multiple roles, use, management and livelihood contributions of indigenous vegetables in urban agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on critical analysis of current debates and practices, it presents a multidisciplinary analysis of the realities and future opportunities.
To request a review or inspection copy and for all queries please contact andrew.miller@earthscan.co.uk.
CORIPHA Proposal Presented by GlobalHort Secretary at IFAP Meeting, Nairobi, Kenya
Published on 18th May 2009
GlobalHort was invited by IFAP, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, to present its CORIPHA (pdf) proposal that was to be submitted to the European Commission for funding under the Food Security Thematic Programme (FSTP) at the 16th International Federation of Agricultural Producers Africa Regional Committee Meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya 22-25 April, 2008.
The African farmers' groups and associations were represented by region and were therefore very enthusiastic in the prospect of being involved in a network of Co-Ordinated Regional Innovation Platforms for Horticulture in Africa (CORIPHA).
After the presentation and discussions, the Executive Secretary of GlobalHort received support from all five African regional federations of IFAP and the newly elected Chairman of the African Committee of IFAP, Mr. Leonard Nduati Kariuki, Chairman of KENFAP (Kenya).
Ryerson University Offers Distance Learning Courses on Urban Agriculture
Published on 7th Apr 2009
Ryerson University’s G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education and Centre for Studies in Food Security (www.ryerson.ca/foodsecurity), ETC-Urban Agriculture (http://www.etc-urbanagriculture.org/) and RUAF (http://www.ruaf.org/) are offering the following two distance learning courses on urban agriculture in May and September respectively:
Understanding Urban Agriculture (CVFN 410)Duration: 42 hours Fee: $474 (Canadian dollars)Schedule: May 9-August 8, 2009
Millions globally practise urban agriculture, with governments and civil society organizations increasingly promoting it to enhance urban food security, health, community building, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental management. This course provides a good introduction and expands your understanding of urban agriculture, its main types and dimensions, its potential impacts, the constraints and opportunities facing it, the stakeholders involved in it, the historical contexts shaping it, and the local, regional, and international development trends bearing on it.
Dimensions of Urban Agriculture (CVFN 411) Duration: 42 hours Fee: $474 (Canadian dollars)Schedule: September-December, 2009
This course describes the dimensions (functions, roles, benefits, potential risks) of urban agriculture and how these complement, supplement,compete with, substitute for, or undermine those provided by other land uses, sectoral activities and actors. The main dimensions covered are:health and food security, socio-cultural dimensions, economic dimensions, and environmental dimensions. Selected well-documented case studies will beused throughout the course to highlight each dimension separately, before bringing them all together.
For more information and instructions on enrollment, please visit www.ryerson.ca/ce/foodsecurity or contact Reg Noble, Academic Coordinator, E-mail: food@ryerson.ca or rnoble@ryerson.ca. Ir. Marielle Dubbeling
Senior adviser ETC Urban Agriculture Global coordinator RUAF-From Seed to Table Programme
E-mail: m.dubbeling@etcnl.nl
Telephone: ETC: +31-(0)33-4326039;
Home: +33-(0)565-741951
PO Box 64, 3830 AB Leusden, the Netherlands
http://www.etc-urbanagriculture.org/; http://www.ruaf.org/