13 Nisan 2019


DÜNYA SOYA DURUMU – Mart 2019

Prof. Dr. M. Hikmet BOYACIOĞLU
Freelance Consultant, Cereal Science Associate Editor,
Cereal Chemistry Correspondent, World Grain Contributor,
Baking & Snack
mhboyaci@gmail.com @ProfBoyacioglu


2019/20 Sezonu Görünümü Uluslararası Hububat Konseyi, IGC; 28 Mart 2019 tarihli son raporunda, 2018/19 sezonu sonunda 359 milyon ton miktarda gerçekleşeceğini öngördüğü dünya soya fasulyesi üretiminin, Temmuz 2019/Haziran 2020 döneminde, 2018/19 sezonundan değişmeden, 359 milyon ton düzeyinde gerçekleşmesini beklediğini açıklamıştır.

IGC; 2018/19 sezonu sonunda 352 milyon ton miktarda gerçekleşeceğini öngördüğü dünya soya fasulyesi tüketiminin, 2019/20 döneminde, 2018/19 sezonundan 7 milyon ton yüksek, 359 milyon ton düzeyinde olmasını beklemektedir. Konsey; 2018/19 sezonu sonunda 153 milyon ton miktarda gerçekleşeceğini öngördüğü dünya soya fasulyesi ticaretinin, 2019/20 döneminde, 2018/19 sezonundan 1 milyon ton yüksek, 154 milyon ton düzeyinde gerçekleşeceğini öngörmektedir.

IGC; 2018/19 sezonu sonunda 52 milyon ton miktarda gerçekleşeceğini öngördüğü dünya dönem sonu soya fasulyesi stoklarının, 2019/20 döneminde, 2018/19 sezonundan 1 milyon ton düşük, 51 milyon ton düzeyinde gerçekleşmesini beklemektedir. Konsey; başlıca ihracatçıların (AB, ABD, Arjantin, Avustralya, Kanada, Kazakistan, Rusya ve Ukrayna) 2018/19 sezonu sonunda 31 milyon ton miktarda gerçekleşeceğini öngördüğü dönem sonu soya fasulyesi stoklarının, 2019/20 döneminde, 2018/19 sezonundan 3 milyon ton düşük, 28 milyon ton düzeyinde öngörüldüğünü açıklamıştır.

Kaynak: “International Grain Council”. Londra, İngiltere.




ABD TARIM BAKANLIĞINDAN ÇİFTÇİLERE ONLINE KOLAYLIK...

Amerika Birleşik Devletleri Tarım Bakanlığı (USDA), Bakanlık kanalıyla kredi kullanmakta olan çiftçilere yönelik yeni bir uygulama başlattı. "Finansal Danışma Servisi" çiftçilere sağlanan kredi uygulamaları hakkında geniş bilgi sunuyor. Çiftçiler masa üstü bilgisayar, tablet veya cep telefonundan New Farmers.gov sitesine girerek gerek kendi durumları gerekse genel kredi politikaları ile ilgili bilgileri kolayca alabiliyor. 

Sunulan hizmetler başlıklar itibarıyla şöyle:

Kredi şartları
Cari takvim yılı faiz oranları
Ödenmiş ve yapılandırılmış krediler
Vadesi geçmiş borçlar için hesap uyarıları

Ancak Bakanlığın çiftçiler için uygulamaya soktuğu hizmet paketinden halen sadece bireysel kullanıcılar yararlanabiliyor. Kurumsal kredi kullanıcıları ise söz konusu hizmetten kısa bir süre sonra yararlanma imkânına kavuşacak. Yanı sıra her türlü tarımsal istatiktik bilgisine çiftçilerin erişimi de bilgisayar ortamında gerçekleşiyor. Bakanlık yetkilileri artık her alanda online hizmet vermeye başladıklarını söylüyor.

Kaynak: USDA

İ. U.


MEYVE VE SEBZELERDE ÇEŞİTLİLİĞİN DEĞERİNİ BİLMEK...

FAO Basın Bülteni...



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İYİ GIDA’nın kurucusu Nicole Klaski, yerel bir çiftlikten geçerken atılan ürünlerin içerisinde kalp şeklinde bir patates bulur. Geçen yıl çiftlik, patates hasatının yaklaşık yarısını bırakmak  zorunda kaldı.
Photo: ©FAO/Gregory Beals

Havucun şekli karga ayaklarına benzemektedir. Salatalıklar eğri büğrüdür. Patatesler kalp şeklinde ya da çok küçüktür. Bir mısır koçanında birkaç çekirdek eksiktir. Birçok Alman süpermarketleri için bu garip şekilli sebzeler, raflara uygun değildir ve çoğunlukla çöpün dibini boylarlar.

Ancak, gıda atıklarıyla mücadelede bir savaşçı olan Nicole Klaski için şekli bozuk sebze ve meyveler güzel ve değerlidir. Bu sebeple iki yıl önce Klaski, tuhaf biçimli sebzeleri tarlalardan alıp insanların satın alması için raflara yerleştiren ilk Alman süpermarketini kurdu. Klaski “Dünya’daki herkesin tamamen aynı gözüktüğünü hayal edin. Bu çok sıkıcı olurdu” diyor. “Aynı şey sebzeler için de geçerli. Sebzelerin çeşitliliğinin değerini bilmeliyiz.”

Almanya, her yıl yaklaşık olarak 11 milyon ton gıdayı israf etmektedir ve Klaski bu konuda bir şeyler yapmaya karar verir. Böylece; iki yıl önce, 35 yaşındaki Klaski gıda israfı ile mücadele etmeye adanmış bir süpermarket olan İYİ GIDA’yı kurar. Her hafta, Klaski ve birkaç gönüllü, büyük süpermarket zincirleri tarafından tuhaf şekilli veya çok küçük oldukları için talep görmeyen ürünleri kurtarmak için çiftlikleri ziyaret eder.

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İYİ GIDA gönüllüleri, taze ürünlerle akşamın geç saatlerinde çalışırken aynı zamanda müşteriler alışverişlerine devam ediyor.  Photo: ©FAO/Gregory Beals

Tarladan sebze toplamanın yanı sıra, grup aynı zamanda, yerel gıda marketlerinden son kullanım tarihine yaklaşan gıdaları da toplar. Ürünler daha sonra Köln merkez pazarında, adil olduğuna inanılan fiyatta satılır.

Yiyecek toplama ve satma süreci, 70'ten fazla gönüllünün ve binlerce insanın bir araya gelerek gıdayı ve, gıda israfını azaltmak için neler yapılabileceği dahil olmak üzere, üretimi için uygulanan tüm süreçleri gerçekte nasıl takdir ettiklerine dair bir sohbet alanı da oluşturmakta. Ancak bu olumlu hareket sadece bu dükkan ile sınırlı kalmadı; aynı zamanda gıda israfına karşı bir topluluk da yarattı. Caddenin aşağısındaki dondurma dükkanı, İYİ GIDA'dan muz almakta ve yaşlılar, gençler ile konuşurken gıdaya olan sevgilerini paylaşmakta. Ayrıca, köşedeki Endonezya restoranı, Köln çevresindeki tarlalardan toplanan unutulmuş ürünlerle yemeklerini pişirmekte.
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35 yaşındaki Nicole Klaski, çiftçilerle çalışarak, büyük süpermarket zincirleri tarafından satın alınmayacak kadar çirkin görünen yiyecekleri alarak; gıda atıklarıyla mücadele etmeyi amaçlayan Köln merkezli İYİ GIDA’nın kurucusudur. Photo: ©FAO/Gregory Beals

Almanya'nın Kaarst kentinde Lammertzhof Çiftliği'nin sahibi Heinrich Hannen, başından beri İYİ GIDA’ya sebze tedarik ediyor. Bu tür çabaların, küresel çapta gıda atıklarıyla mücadelede sadece küçük bir etki olabileceğine, fakat büyük fikirlerin böyle başladığını sözlerine ekleyen Hannen “Dünyayı değiştirmek istiyorsan, kendinle başlamalısın. Yaptığımız şey bu.” diyor.

Orta ve yüksek gelirli ülkelerde gıda kayıpları ve israfının sebepleri, genellikle tüketici davranışları ile birlikte tedarik zincirindeki farklı aktörler arasındaki koordinasyon eksikliği ile ilgili. Örneğin, meyve ve sebzeler genellikle ticari yüksek kalite standartlarına uymadıkları için israf edilmekte. Görünüşü bakımından mükemmel olandan - şekli, rengi, ebadı ve lekeleri olan ve / veya çürük olanlar genellikle alıcılar tarafından talep görmemekte.

Bununla birlikte, meyve ve sebzeleri çöpe attığımızda aslında tohumlar, toprak, emek, su, enerji ve iş gücü gibi gıdanın üretiminde kullanılan değerli kaynaklarımızı da boşa harcamış oluyoruz.

Daha az israf etmek, daha iyi gıda tüketmek ve sürdürülebilir bir yaşam tarzı benimsemek, açlıktan uzak bir dünya inşa etmenin anahtarı. Yaptığımız seçimler ve bugün gerçekleştirdiğimiz eylemler #SıfırAçlık hedefli geleceğimiz için hayati önem oluşturmakta.


TÜRKİYE KİŞİ BAŞI EKMEK TÜKETİMİNDE DÜNYA BİRİNCİSİ!

Ekmek konusu hiçbir zaman halkımızın gündeminden düşmez. Niye mi? Baking Center Genel Müdürü Ayten Çalışkan, Türkiye’nin yıllık kişi başı 199.6 kilo ile dünyada en çok ekmek tüketen ülke olarak 2000 yılında Guinness Rekorlar Kitabı'na girdiğini ve halen bu rekoru elinde tuttuğunu söylüyor! Dolayısıyla ekmek gerek halkın temel tüketim maddesi olması gerekse içerik ve kalitesiyle sürekli ilgi konusu oluyor. Aslında ekmek, insanoğlunun da bilinen en eski ve en önemli gıda maddesi olma özelliğini taşımakta... Tabii bu yüzden Türkiye, rekor ekmek tüketimiyle de dünyada dikkati çekiyor. Dünya Sağlık Örgütü'nün verileri, Türkiye’de halkın günlük enerjisinin ortalama yüzde 40'ını sadece ekmekten aldığını ortaya koyuyor. Bu kapsamda en temel tüketim maddelerinden biri olan ekmeğin kaliteli, besleyici ve hijyenik olması büyük önem taşırken, ekmeğin üretiminde en temel unsur olan maya ise baş rolü üstleniyor.

Ayten Çalışkan'a göre, farklı amaçlarla kullanılmak üzere hemen her evin mutfağında bulunan mayanın içeriğinde ortalama yüzde 50 oranında proteinin yanında B grubu vitaminler, demir, krom, magnezyum, fosfor, çinko ve selenyum gibi mineraller var. Çalışkan, “Ülkemizde ekmek en temel besin maddeleri arasında, bunu biliyoruz. Ancak sağlıklı ve kaliteli ekmek üretme noktasında un kalitesinin yanı sıra ekmeğin ana hammaddeleri arasında yer alan mayanın da kalitesi ve sağlıklı olması çok önemli" diye konuşuyor.

12 Nisan 2019


BİYOEKONOMİ NEDİR?

Biyoekonomide odak noktası, hayvancılık ve et… Biyoekonomi nedir?

19 Haziran 2018 

1900’lü yıllarda bir civciv ancak 112 günde pazarlanabilirken, bu süre günümüzde 45 güne indirilmiş durumda. Canlılardan biyoteknoloji gibi yeni yöntemlerle artı değerler üretilerek ekonomik kazanç sağlanmasını hedefleyen biyoekonomi, acaba bizlere daha neler sunacak?

Biyoekonomi nedir?

Bitki, hayvan ve diğer tüm canlıların araştırma, geliştirme, üretim, ticaret ve tüketimi ile ilgili ekonomik faaliyetlerin tümü biyoekonomi ile tanımlanmıştır. Bilimsel anlamda biyoekonomi ile canlılardan biyoteknoloji gibi yeni yöntemlerle artı değerler üretilerek ekonomik kazançların sağlanması hedeflenmektedir. Bu kazançta amaç, sağlıkta gelişme, tarım ve endüstride verim ve kalite artışı, çevrede sürdürülebilir iyileştirmedir.

Söz konusu etkinlik, tarım ve ormana yönelikse YEŞİL, endüstriye yönelikse BEYAZ ve denizlere yönelikse MAVİ biyoekonomi anlaşılır.

Biyoekonomi planlarını açıkladılar
Biyoekonomi çok genç bir kavram olup, ancak 1990’lardan sonra dile getirilmeye başlamıştır. Son yıllarda, gerek AB ve gerekse ABD, gelecek için biyoekonomi planlarını ardı ardına ilan etmişlerdir. 2012 yılının Şubatında AB “Avrupa İçin Sürdürülebilir Biyoekonomi”, iki ay sonra da ABD “Ulusal Biyoekonomi” planlarını açıklamışlardır. Bu planlarda ana hedef biyolojide Ar-Ge ve yeniliklere yönelikti. Fakat AB BEYAZ biyoekonomiye odaklanırken, ABD her üç dalı da birlikte kucaklamaktadır.

Gıda üretiminin %70 artırılması gerekiyor
2050’lere doğru tarımsal üretim artışının nerelere gelmesi beklentisi, Uluslararası Gıda Politikaları Araştırma Enstitüsünün (International Food Policy Research Institute – IFPRI) yayınladığı bir raporda ele alınmıştır. Söz konusu rapor, şu anda tükettiğimiz gıdanın miktarının %70 artırılması gereğine değinirken, bu artışın et için %80 ve tahıl için %52 civarında olması tahminlenmiştir. Bu da, günümüzde 260 milyon tonluk dünya et üretiminin 2050’lere 455 milyon tona çıkarılması gerekeceği anlamına gelir.

Hayvancılığın çevresel etkileri
Diğer taraftan tarımın çevreye olumsuz katkısı dile getirilirken, hayvancılık öne çıkmaktadır. Örneğin bir kilo sebze için 322 litre, bir kilo meyve için 962 litre su tüketilirken, bir kilo tavuk eti için 4325 litre, bir kilo koyun eti için 8763 litre ve bir kilo sığır eti için 8763 litre su tüketilmektedir. Yalnız unutmamak gerekir ki dünyada üretilen tahılın üçte biri yeme, yani hayvan beslenmesine yöneliktir.

Su tüketiminin yanında suların kirlenmesinde hayvan yetiştiriciliğinin pek de masum olduğu söylenemez. Patojen, metal, ilaç – hormon kalıntısı gibi maddelerin sulara karıştığı yeni bir bilgi değildir. ABD’de kullanılan antibiyotiklerin %80’ninin hayvan yetiştiriciliğinde kullanıldığı da bir diğer gerçek.

Dünyadaki tarımsal arazinin %80’ini kapsayan çayır-mera ve yeme yönelik bitkisel üretim alanları hayvancılığa ayrılmıştır. Sera gazı olayında da, değişik tahminlere göre, %6-32 oranında hayvan yetiştiriciliği sorumlu gösterilmektedir.

Laboratuvarda et üretimi
2013’lere gelindiğinde, bilim adamları, etin artık laboratuvarlarda elde edilebileceğini sergilemeye başladılar. Bununla da yetinmeyip, olay ticari boyutlara taşındı (Maastricht Üniversitesi, Hollanda,  Prof. Mark Post, (şirketi: Mosa Meat)). Amerikada ise bu yönde kurulan şirketler, örneğin Memphis Meats, Cargill, Tyson Food gibi gıda devlerinin yanında, Bill Gates, Richard Bronson gibi tanınmış yatırımcılar tarafından da ticari olarak desteklenmektedir. Nestle ve Unilever gibi AB firmalarının bu fırsatı kaçırmayacakları bir gerçek. Alman PHW grubu, İsrailli bu konuda yeni girişimci “Supermeat” satın alma işlemlerini başlattı bile. Bu iş tavuk ve sığır etlerinin ötesine de taşınmaya meyilli görünüyor. FinlessFoods hücre kültüründen yararlanarak, nesli tükenme noktasına gelen kırmızı ton balığı etini yapay olarak karada üretmeyi hedeflemektedir.

Piyasaya çıkmaları zaman alacak
Aslında et, ağırlıklı olarak kas ve yağ hücrelerinin bileşimidir. Büyüyüp gelişmeleri için uygun besin maddelerine gereksinim duyarlar. Hayvan vücudundaki bu sistemi laboratuvarda hatta daha geniş ortamlarda gerçekleştirdiğimizde, etimiz antibiyotiksiz, ilaçsız, daha sağlıklı ve daha güvenli olacaktır. Bu yapay ürünler, yukarıda değinilen çevresel olumsuzları aşma, ucuzlukları, insan sağlığına olan faydaları ve hayvanların refahını koruma potansiyelleri nedeniyle yer bulabileceğe benziyor. Yalnız piyasaya çıkmaları için bayağı bir zaman gerekebilir. Gerçi Memphis Meats  “2021 yılında pazardayız” çağrısı yapıyorsa da, bilimsel birçok sorunun çözüm beklediği bir gerçektir. Bu ara diğer bir ABD firması “Justforall” tavuksuz piliç etini 2018 sonlarına doğru market raflarında olacağını duyurmaktadır.

ABD’de 1500’e yakın restoranda IMPOSSIBLE Burger’in sunduğu vejetaryen menü hiç de küçümsenecek gibi değildir. Et ikame maddesi olarak bitkisel protein dokularının devrede olduğu ürünün, ete eşdeğer lezzet sunması ilginç. Firma etin rengini, kandan değil de, soya köklerinden elde edilen leghemoglobinle sağlamaktadır. Ne var ki söz konusu bitkisel hemoglobin soyada düşük orandadır ve bundan böyle bir maya türünden (Pichia pastoris) elde edilecektir. Genetiği değiştirilmiş ürünler gurubundaki bu mayalar, ne ABD’de ve ne de AB’de de biyoteknoloji ile ilgili yasa düzenlemelerine tabidir.

Biyoekonomi bize daha neler sunacak?
1900’lü yıllarda bir civciv ancak 112 günde pazarlanabilirken, bu süre günümüzde 45 güne indirilmişti. Acaba biyoekonomi bizlere daha neler sunacak. Yahut sunabilecek mi? Görüldüğü kadarı ile olayın ekonomik boyutu o kadar önemli ki, ABD hayvancılık lobisi (Cattlemen’s Association) bitki kaynaklı temiz etin yasaklanması için harekete geçti bile…

Prof. Dr. Nazımi Açıkgöz 


JAPAN OPENS MARKET TO BRITISH BEEF AND LAMB...

Press release... 

Deal worth £127 million over first five years of access for UK

UK exporters are set to benefit from a multi-million pound boost as Japan today (10 January 2019) opened its market to imports of UK lamb and beef.

The agreement, signed during Prime Minister Abe’s visit to the UK, is estimated to be worth a total of £127 million over the first five years of access – approximately £75 million for beef and £52 million for lamb.

Japan, a major importer of beef with a growing demand for high quality lamb, has lifted its two-decade long ban on imports of these products with immediate effect.

The deal follows a year of global successes for UK exporters, which included China lifting its ban on UK beef, Taiwan opening its market to pork and India preparing to import UK sheep meat.

Farming Minister George Eustice said:

The opening of the Japanese market is an excellent result for beef and lamb producers across the UK and demonstrates confidence in our high standards of food and drink.

As we enter a new era as a global exporter, unlocking this market marks a major step for future trading relationships and signals our commitment to supporting our food and drink industry to export more British produce.

The lifting of the ban follows a series of visits and negotiations between UK and Japanese officials, which culminated in an inspection of UK beef and lamb production systems in 2018, successfully hosted by Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, DAERA, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the UK Export Certification Partnership.

Japan is renowned for its stringent food safety and import controls regime and opening this market is expected to send positive signals to other countries, particularly in Asia, regarding the safety of UK exports.

AHDB International Market Development Director Dr Phil Hadley said:

Today’s announcement is fantastic news for our farmers and producers and it follows years of hard work by government, AHDB and key industry stakeholders.

Access to this lucrative new market is a testament to the high quality produce and world-renowned standards we have here in the UK. We are confident this new deal to export beef and lamb to Japan, alongside our existing pork trade, will create some exciting opportunities for our beef and sheep producers.

NFU livestock board chairman Richard Findlay said:

This is clearly very positive news and a much needed boost for British beef and sheep producers.

Currently 90% of our sheep meat exports go to the EU so expanding our export portfolio is a hugely positive step. Japan will no doubt be a high value market which plays well with the high quality, traceable beef and lamb produced here.

Benefits will be felt across the supply chain throughout the UK, with access particularly welcomed by beef producers in both Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The market opening for lamb will also be good news for farmers in Wales, where the meat accounts for a third of total food and drink exports - worth £110 million.

Farmers and food producers can begin exporting as soon as the administrative listing process is completed.


EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES OF AGRO-PRODUCTS TO AZERBAIJAN...

Press Release...

The Ambassador of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr.Ali Alizada called on Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan in Islamabad today.

In the meeting matters relating to increase in agriculture cooperation were discussed. Moreover it was agreed that efforts would be made from both sides for the signing of MoU which will increase the volume of Pak export of potato, citrus and mango to Azerbaijan.

The relations between the two nations were established with the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the areas of cooperation are expansive including economic, cultural and military.

Both the countries have established Joint Working Group on agriculture cooperation; first meeting in this regard was held in December 2017, the second meeting of JWG is likely to be held this year around.

Federal Minister Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan said that we are putting all out efforts for the manifold progress in agriculture sector and looking forward for an increased cooperation with Azerbaijan. Since Pakistan is blessed with immense potential hence we could increase trade turnout in agriculture sector.

Federal Minister said that much of the potential of agro trade is lost due to the indirect trade; we should do away with shadow economy. The Minister told the honorable guest that  Pakistan citrus, mangoes and potatoes are best in the world, and Pakistani mangoes are exported to 58 countries in the world, and we hope that Azerbaijan import Pakistan mangoes which are of exceptional quality and sweetest taste.

Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan said that Pakistan is looking forward to increase the potato export to Azerbaijan as it is also exported to Russia and both the countries must deliberate to find out a way for a direct trade, and the minister further added that we want our potato which is of very fine quality must land in Azerbaijan without adulteration due to direct  trade between the two countries, besides this will give both the countries chance to explore new venues of cooperation in agriculture field.

Mr. Ali Alizada said that federal Minister must attend the Caspian Agro, 2019 and also introduce potential mango exporters, and he added that these arrangements for enhanced cooperation could be made well ahead of the potential signing of MoU on agriculture.

The Azerbaijan Ambassador also added that Pakistan rice is very famous in his country and we are pleased to the prospect of rice export from a brotherly country, as there is a huge rice demand in Azerbaijan.

Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan said that we could explore the possibility of joint ventures in agriculture sector so both countries could mutually benefit from the positive outcome of such ventures, the Minister proposed that we could move ahead in value addition in potato for instance, the starch plant could be the starting point and the incumbent government for the ease of doing business and to support the farmers levied no duty on the import of machinery and hence a plant could be settled in Pakistan . Besides, Pakistan rice can compete with best quality rice in the world and we would be pleased if Pak rice is boosted in Azerbaijan.

H.E Mr. Alizada told the federal Minister that Azerbaijan is exporting finest quality  vegetable & fruit seeds to different countries and hoped that Pakistan may like to see the potential in this regard, to which Mehboob Sultan told the honorable guest that he will do what is to be done and apprise the concerned quarters.

The Minister said in the end that he hoped both the countries would keep the current track of cooperation and with sincere efforts promote the friendly relations in all spheres including agriculture.

Azeri ambassador welcomed the proposal and pledged to work in the direction and bring concerned on the table. H.E Mr. Alizada added that we support Pakistan stance on Kashmir issue on OIC forum and we commend the immense support from Pakistan to strengthen Azerbaijan army and with the support from a friendly country like Pakistan Azeri military/army force is now a power to reckon with and ranks among world’s top fifty forces.

It is pertinent to mention that the next JWG meeting is likely to be held in August, 2019 in Islamabad.

Azerbaijan is a member state of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the NATO partnership for Peace (PFP) program, and a member of UN since 1992. Azerbaijan is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and holds observer status in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Azerbaijan has a high level of human development that ranks at par with most Eastern European Counties. 

10 Nisan 2019


WHAT IS CIRCULAR AGRICULTURE?

Circular agriculture: a new perspective for Dutch agriculture

September 13, 2018

For more than half a century, Dutch and European agricultural policy has focused on efficiently producing as much food as possible for a low price and with a reasonable income for the farmers. Using this policy that was developed by the legendary Sicco Mansholt, Dutch agriculture attracted admiration from beyond its borders and grew into a nation with the second-largest agricultural output in the world.

This great success of the last half century, however, is not a guarantee for the future. Time has come in our view, to think about the next steps, the transition towards a truly sustainable agriculture. Efficient production remains necessary, especially because the demand for food and other agricultural products and resources only continues to grow. The need to produce affordable, safe and healthy food, not just for the country but also for Europe and the world will continue for at least another half century. But the concepts of intensification and efficiency, however powerful they have been, are not enough. They need to be transformed into optimization of the use of all resources, not just at the level of the farm, but also broader at local, regional, national and transnational levels. Optimization of the interlocking systems at different scales is fundamentally different from maximization at the field, stable, greenhouse or farm level. It allows us to use land, water, chemicals and nutrients to optimal effects and to reduce or even eliminate the waste of residual biomass since this can be used elsewhere in the food system. This is indeed a fundamental transition requiring mental and policy adjustments. Moreover, it entails trade-offs because choices need to be made about what the best route to optimization is. It is the role of science to present clearly the costs and benefits of different types of transitions.

Circular agriculture

Shortly before the summer, Wageningen University & Research presented the concept note “Kringlooplandbouw” (circular agriculture), in which a new perspective is outlined for Dutch agriculture. This note was discussed in a technical briefing with the agricultural committee of the Dutch Parliament in mid-June. At 8 September, the Dutch minister of agriculture, nature and food quality, launched here vision on the transition of the Dutch agriculture in a direction of circularity.

Wageningen University & Reseatch organizes once a year in Brussels the “Mansholt Lecture”, to discuss European policy and issues in the domain of food, agriculture and sustainable livelihoods. The “Mansholt Lecture 2018” will address the transition “Towards a circular food system in Europe”. In this leaflet we briefly outline the concept and perspectives of circular agriculture, based on our policy briefings in the Netherlands.

Later this year we will publish a booklet as a reference document for what has been presented and discussed at the “Mansholt Lecture 2018” on 19 September in Brussels.
Circular agriculture

We will first briefly outline what circular agriculture means in our opinion.

Let’s start with what it is not! Circular agriculture does not mean that we will return to the rural nostalgia of the early 1900s. Images from the period sometimes suggest a wonderful time that never existed: agriculture struggled with a high degree of illness, too little fertiliser, and the continuous risk of a bad harvest. Circular agriculture is not a blueprint meant to strangle farming businesses even further with oppressive dogmas, market requirements and government regulations.


Infographic Kringlooplandbouw EN.png


Circular agriculture is a collective search by farmers, interested citizens, businesses, scientists and researchers for the optimum combination of ecological principles with modern technology, with new partnerships, new economic models, and credible social services. It not only focuses on good yields and the sparing use of resources and energy, but also stresses the importance of putting as little pressure on the environment, nature and climate as possible.

Animation: produce 70 percent more food

Circular agriculture means that we keep residuals of agricultural biomass and tfoodprocessing within the food system as renewable reources. By being much more sparing with scarce resources and wasting less biomass, fewer imports are needed such chemical based fertilisers and remote livestock feedstocks. This means that the availability of circular resources will determine the production capacity and the resulting consumption options.

Closing cycles will be the new model on which future agriculture is based. The model will not be restrictive; it will instead be a new paradigm that provides the freedom for a wide range of company styles and earnings models and, of course, it will be adapted to the social and ecological environment depending on the availability of resources, markets, and buying options,. In short, there will be a wide range of activities varying from intensive to extensive; small to large, low-tech to hi-tech.

Making optimal use of waste streams

A central principle of circular agriculture is that no more acreage or resources are used than are strictly necessary. Fields will primarily be used for the production of food crops. In order to use them optimally, successive crops will be sown, so that food will be growing in the field almost year-round. Whenever possible, mixed crops will be added to the rotation. An important role has been established for plants that serve dual purposes, primarily as foodstocks, while the remains (leaves and stems) will be used as feedstock for livestock or biofertilizers to improve the soil.

Grass for livestock feed will only be cultivated in areas where field agriculture is not effective. The emphasis for this lies on multi-annual or permanent grasslands with various grass types and herbs. The food supply for livestock farming will be supplemented with residuals from field agriculture, horticulture and the food industry. These also include residuals that are not being fully utilised yet, such as protein rich beetroot leaves, or those that are under the current legislationnot permitted to be used now, such as insect and worm meal grown on biomass waste and “swill” (food scraps that have been cooked down). In the meantime, there are good techniques available for converting these “waste streams” into high-quality animal feed that is safe for humans and animals.

In circular agriculture, the cycles are closed: as nearby as possible and as distant as necessary. Optimal use of waste streams does not always mean that the cycles can be closed at the farm level or regional level. That is not necessary. Circular agriculture is a part of the circular food system, which, in principle, involves the entire world. We want to minimise waste streams across the world, but the aim is to ensure that cycles are closed at the whole range from local to national and international levels as much as possible.

For livestock farmers, circular agriculture primarily means that they use roughage and other feedstocks from field crop production, horticulture, and the food industry as well as the rest of the food chain. As a result, this will avoid feeding animals plant-based proteins that are also suitable for human consumption. To do so, the farmer will also examine alternative resources of the future, such as marine seaweed. They will also produce good-quality fertiliser by separating faeces and urine in the stable or manure pit.

For crop farmers, circular agriculture means using high quality animal-based fertilisersand crop remnants to stimulate soil life. Chemical based fertiliser will only be used when crops need additional nutrition due to yield exports. Crop farmers will also make maximum use of soil agrobiodiversity with mixed cropping systems and smart rotations. With new forms of precision mechanisation, based onm developments in sensors and robotics, this is feasible.

Healthy soil is the foundation

Agricultural production depends on healthy soil life and a good soil structure. The health of the soil is largely determined by the quality of the organic material it contains, the balance in groundwater dynamics and the availability of nutrients that are essential for people, animals, and crops: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and a wide range of micronutrients.

Loss of nutrients leads to air, water, and ground pollution and a loss of biodiversity. It also exhausts limited resources, such as phosphate, which is then supplemented with mined fertilisers or low-quality manure slurries.

Due to the crucial role of nutrients in the cycle, healthy soil is one of the most important foundations for circular agriculture. Soil fertility and, primarily, the quantity of organic material are not only determining factors for crop yield, but also ensure that nutrients, trace elements, and water are better retained. Not to mention that in healthy fields with healthy soil life, there are fewer illnesses and pests. Something also worth noting: increasing the level of organic materials is a natural way to absorb and contain CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

In circular agriculture, soil life is optimally nourished using a resourceful combination of good quality animal-based fertiliser, preferably composted manure and crop remnants. Animal manure will no longer be stored in liquid form in the manure pit, but will be separated at the farm into dry (faeces) and wet (urine). Another interesting source of nutrients is sanitised sewage sludge originating from domestic wastewater treatment and process water from food industries.

Even when reuse is maximised, a nutrient loss in the cycle is inevitable. Shortages can be supplemented by including nitrogen-fixing crops in the rotation and through targeted use of artificial fertiliser, depending on the growth stage of the crop. Thanks to new technology, this can now be detected in practice at the level of the individual plant through tools such as leaf-colour sensors. The great advantage of precision fertilisation is not only that less fertiliser is required, but that it also reduces loss to the environment.

Farmers and nature

For as long as agriculture has existed, farmers have been engaged in a battle against illnesses and pests, which continuously manage to adapt their resistance. To this day, they rely heavily on the use of natural and synthetic chemicals and medicines in this “arms race”.

A broad systematic approach is assumed in circular agriculture, in which healthy crop and welfare of the animals are key. This approach begins with robust plants and animals, with genetic insights being used to select plants and animals that are more resilient to illnesses and pests as well as to the effects of climate change.

The resilience of crops will be enhanced by using the agrobiodiversity in, on, and around fields as a form of natural pollination and organic crop protection. For example, this can be done through the use of flowers at field edges, blocks of land, and beetle banks, which can serve as hiding places for wild bees and other pollinators as well as for natural enemies of different pest species. Incorporating natural processes into our methods is not only beneficial for agriculture, it also contributes to a beautiful and decidedly natural farming landscape. A form of circular agriculture that takes things a step further is called agroecological “nature-inclusive agriculture”, which is specifically focused on ecosystem services including the retention and use of nature and biodiversity in and around the farm in a natural farming landscape

The climate benefits as well

Just as with other sectors, agriculture must also make a contribution to mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions. This is also important because the agricultural sector is extremely sensitive to the effects of climate change.

The key tenet of circular agriculture is to utilise agricultural biomass as often and as effectively as possible. This also means avoiding the natural degradation of unused biomass (crop remnants, fertiliser) and the accompanying production of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane. This also means less artificial fertiliser is necessary for circular agriculture, so that less CO2 is released during production. High-quality fertiliser (manure, soil, compost) also increases the retention of carbon in the soil, which is a natural way to combat climate change.

In turn, circular agriculture offers options to combat greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture to a far greater extent than the measures that are simply focused on making common agricultural processes more climate-friendly. It is precisely through this combination that agriculture can really deliver big results for the climate.

”Ligthhouse Farms” as places of inspiration

Of course, there are still many questions: How can circular agriculture be designed as a smart, healthy, and safe process in such a way that it yields the most benefits for the food production of the future, while simultaneously offering the best prospects for farmers and business community as well as for climate, nature, and society? We already know a great deal about efficient food production, yet still not enough when it comes to using cycles to prevent the waste and loss of resources and biomass.

Experimental testing sites at so called “lighthouse farms” allow us to learn and improve circular agriculture. These testing areas also serve as a source of inspiration and provide new knowledge for researchers and students. Important areas in which we must gain more experience include: preserving sanitary safety, actually reducing environmental pressure, and intelligently creating value from residues as coproducts. All of these actions must be taken into account with the understanding that the circular economy is not independent of the development of a broad, biobased economy which uses biomass for the production of materials and chemicals.

Farmers cannot do it alone

As already discussed, circular economy is not a blueprint: it is a collective search for new perspectives for the food supply and, in turn, for Dutch agriculture. Developing a circular food system, with circular agriculture being an integral component, is an enormous challenge for Dutch agriculture. It is shift comparable in scope to the move towards high-production agriculture in the 1950s and 1960s.

Although farmers may play the key role in this shift, it does not mean they can do it alone. A transition such as this demands effort from all parties in order to overcome technical, economic, legal, and social barriers. The development of a diverse range of new earning models and the corresponding business models and chain partners is essential. In the process, the Netherlands can return to the leading position it held in the 1950s as well as make circular agriculture the starting point for the global, sustainable agriculture system of the future. All of this can be achieved with a Dutch agricultural sector that continues to make valuable contributions to a vital trade balance.


NEW PROPOSALS TO BOOST SECURITY FOR TENANTED FARMERS!

Press release...

UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs  

New proposals to boost security for tenanted farmers...

12 week consultations launched in England and Wales to seek views on reforms to agricultural tenancy legislation
Plans to modernise and update agricultural tenancy legislation have been published today (Tuesday 9 April) as part of a public consultation and call for evidence.

The proposals build on the work of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG), which has provided advice on the key policy priorities for the tenanted sector as we leave the EU.

The consultations in England and Wales set out proposals to remove existing barriers to productivity improvements and help bring about structural change, improving the overall competitiveness and sustainability of the tenant farming sector.


ALL THE DOORS SHOULD BE OPEN FOR PAKISTAN: IRANIAN AMBASSADOR...

H.E. Mr. Mehdi Honardoost, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran called on the Honorable Minister for National Food Security & Research on 28th February, 2019 at in his office.

Matters relating enhancement of relations through trade especially in the field of agriculture were discussed.

Pakistan and Iran share a geographical border that provides an opportunity to facilitate trade in agricultural products. There are certain issues in export/import of agricultural commodities between the two sides. Both countries signed an Agreement in 2005 for issuance of SPS Certificate for export of Pakistani mango and citrus to Iran. The scope of the Agreement was enhanced with the visit of the Iranian Quarantine Experts in 2015 as the number of Hot Water Treatment (HWT) facilities were increased from three to sixteen.

Federal Minister said that both countries share a long border and we should exploit the potentials of this long border and should not miss opportunities which this border offers.

H.E Honardoost told the honorable Minister that that meat and livestock is Iran’s bigger demand and it imports from Latin America and Brazil and it costs them immensely and besides Iran is aware of Pakistan’s potential in the field and is more eager to import from Pakistan.

Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan told the Iranian ambassador that Pakistan has a state of the art meat processing plant in Karachi and it has potential to export to Iran the required quantity of meat and it is fortunately equipped enough to export meat to any country of the world. Federal Minister asked the guest that Iranian team could visit the remarkable meat facility in Karachi.

It was also proposed in the meeting that through a mutual venture an abattoir could be started at Taftan border for ready and fresh meat through Pakistan.

The matter regarding Punjab Agriculture & Meat Company (PAMCO) was also brought into the notice of Iranian side, Iranian government has 15% to 16% shares of the company and currently no export benefit is secured through the company and Mr.Honardoost said that we are eager to talk on every forum at their side to benefit from Pakistan meat. Federal Minister also proposed that relevant delegation could also meet Punjab agriculture Minister in this regard for further detail of the matter.

Mehboob Sultan told the Iranian ambassador that Pakistani mangoes are exported to different countries across the world up to the satisfaction of importing countries, Iranian reservations regarding hot water treatment plants for mangoes could be removed and suggested that Iranian concerned officials/experts could visit the plants and they would witness that these

Plants are working with state of the art technology and mangoes thus exported meet all international standards.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan has more than 34 hot water treatment plants and processed fruit is exported as far as to Australia. The minister suggested that both countries should mutually settle all issues related to Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) measures. And National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPO) of both the countries should have frequent collaboration to amicably resolve the quarantine issues to promote bilateral trade.

Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan said that both countries could cooperate in innumerable ways and it is in the best interest of both the countries to enhance their interactions and expand trade volume.

The minister told the Iranian Ambassador that we hope that Iran restarts issuing transit permit(s); (stopped some 3-4 years ago)for Pakistani goods i.e. fodder, wheat straw, carrot and garlic to be exported through Iran to Russia, Kyrgazistan, Iraq , Behrain, Oman and UAE. These products of Baluchistan were exported through shortest land route through Iran but presently due to the non-issuance of Transit permit to our exporters the goods have to be exported through sea route which is expensive, expansive and cumbersome and due to the complexities involved few exporters even get discouraged. The ambassador told the minister he will communicate to concerned quarters in this regard. The Iranian Ambassador further said that the Iranian Supreme leader directed that “all the doors should be open for Pakistan”

He also expressed their side’s desire regarding overseas farming, to which the Honorable Minister said that Pakistan side will look into the matter and if such option is available it would be communicated to the Iran.

Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan said that we could promote bilateral relations through tangible means: trade and business and this will discourage the smuggling through Pak-Iran border; which in turn would benefit both the states.

Both the sides expressed their resolve of enhancing exchange of delegations for better understanding and settlement of issues.


GIDA VE İKLİM KAYNAKLI GÖÇMEN SAYISI 1 MİLYARA ULAŞTI!

Barilla Gıda ve Beslenme Vakfı (BCFN), "Gıda Sürdürülebilirlik Endeksi"nden sonra, MacroGeo ile dünyada ilk kez açlık, iklim değişikliği ve göçlerin akışı arasındaki bağlantıyı araştırdı. "Gıda ve Göçler" araştırmasına göre Dünya genelinde doğdukları ve yaşadıkları ülke içinde yer değiştirenlerin sayısı yaklaşık 760 milyonu, başka bir ülkeye göçenlerin sayısı ise 245 milyonu buldu. Araştırmanın Avrupa ayağında 2010 ile 2015 yılları arasında çeşitli ülkelerden 5,4 milyon kişinin Orta Avrupa’ya, 4,5 milyon kişinin ise Akdeniz Avrupa'sına göç ettiği açıklandı. Afrika'daki göç güzergahlarına bakıldığında; araştırmacılar, göçmenlerin yüzde 10'unun kuzey rotasını kullanarak Avrupa’ya geçtiklerini, geri kalan yüzde 90'ının ise kıta içinde yer değiştirerek, özellikle Batı Afrika Ekonomik Topluluğu sınırlarına yöneldiklerini belirttiler. Araştırma, gıda güvensizliğindeki her yüzde 1'lik artışın, nüfusun yüzde 1,9'unu göçe zorladığını ortaya koyarken, savaşlar sebebiyle anavatanlarından kaçanların oranı ise yüzde 0,4 olarak açıklandı.

GIDA VE GÖÇ BAĞLANTISI - BCFN Başkanı Guido Barilla ortaya çıkan bulgular hakkında şunları söyledi: "Gıda ve göçler arasında yakın bir bağlantı var; insanlar gıda güvensizlikleri nedeniyle göç ediyorlar çünkü iklim değişikliği dünyanın çeşitli bölgelerinde gıda üretimini olumsuz etkiliyor. Diğer taraftan iklim değişikliği de büyük ölçüde gıda üretim yöntemlerinden kaynaklanıyor. Tarım, sera gazlarının yüzde 24’ünden sorumlu. Bu oran, sanayiden (yüzde 21) ve ulaşımdan (yüzde 14) daha yüksek. Afrika’da yaşanan gibi ağır demografik baskılar da göç etme kararının oluşturan diğer ana unsur. Sadece entegrasyon politikalarıyla değil, Birleşmiş Milletler’in (BM) 2030 gündeminde belirtildiği üzere sürdürülebilir kalkınmayı destekleyen politikalar aracılığıyla da bu kalıpları kırmalıyız."

NÜFUS HIZLA ARTIYOR - MacroGeo Başkanı Lucio Caracciolo ise araştırmayla ilgili olarak; "Göç hareketlerinin sebeplerini anlamak, zaman içinde nasıl bir evrim geçireceklerini ve dolayısıyla bizim kendi alışkanlıklarımızı nasıl etkileyeceklerini anlayabilmemiz açısından büyük önem taşıyor. Bu araştırmayı gıda alanında yaparak bir adım ileriye gidiyoruz. Zira yemek bir kültürdür, keyiftir ve dolayısıyla entegrasyonla ilgilidir. Yiyecek seçimleri, göçmen ve mültecilerin doğdukları topraklardaki alışkanlıklarını ve anılarını yaşatma ya da alternatif olarak geçmişin bir parçası diye düşündükleri şeylerle aralarına mesafe koyma isteğini gösterebilir. Ama bir taraftan da gıda, BM 2030 Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Gündeminde belirlenen hedeflere ulaşmak için bir araç olarak da görülmelidir; çünkü gıda, sosyal çelişkileri aşmakta temel bir unsurdur ve gıdaların çevresel etkilerini sınırlayarak nasıl üretileceklerini öğrenmemiz gerekiyor" açıklamasını yaptı. Afrika örneğinden yola çıkan ve son 30-40 yılda kıta içinde ve dışarı doğru yaşanan başlıca göç hareketlerinin sebeplerini inceleyen uzmanlar, göçü hızlandıran faktörleri, iklim değişikliğinin yol açtığı çevresel etkiler ve kaynaklara erişim olarak sıraladı. Afrika, dünyadaki içme suyunun yaklaşık yüzde 9’una sahip olmasına rağmen Dünya Sağlık Örgütü’ne göre 2015 itibariyle Afrika’nın Sahra altı bölgesinde 319 milyon insanın hala içilebilir su kaynaklarına erişimi yok. Uzmanlar ayrıca bölgede 1,2 milyar olan nüfusun 2050'de 2,4 milyara yükseleceğini, artacak gıda ihtiyacı baskısının yanı sıra savaş, çatışmalar, yoksulluk, işsizlik ve refah eksikliği gibi sorunlar yüzünden göçün aynı doğrultuda devam edeceğine dikkat çektiler.

İŞBİRLİĞİ ŞART - Caracciolo ayrıca ülkelerin gelecek planlarıyla ilgili olarak; "Göç olgusu, kaynak ve göç alan ülkeler arasında ‘işbirliği’ kavramına dayalı orta ve uzun vadeli planlamalar gerektiriyor. Kaynak ülkelerde ekonomik ve insani kalkınma yatırımları yapılması zorunlu olduğu gibi, sadece Akdeniz ülkelerini değil uluslararası işbirliği çerçevesinde ABD, Çin ve Körfez ülkeleri gibi bu konudaki başlıca jeopolitik oyuncuları da içermelidir" dedi.


DÜNYA MISIR DURUMU – Mart 2019

Prof. Dr. M. Hikmet BOYACIOĞLU
Freelance Consultant, Cereal Science Associate Editor,
Cereal Chemistry Correspondent, World Grain Contributor,
Baking & Snack
mhboyaci@gmail.com @ProfBoyacioglu

2019/20 Sezonu Görünümü -

Uluslararası Hububat Konseyi, IGC; 28 Mart 2019 tarihli son raporunda, 2018/19 sezonu sonunda 1.114 milyon ton miktarda gerçekleşeceğini öngördüğü dünya mısır üretiminin, Temmuz 2019/Haziran 2020 döneminde, 2018/19 sezonundan 10 milyon ton yüksek, 1.124 milyon ton düzeyinde gerçekleşmesini beklediğini açıklamıştır.

IGC; 2018/19 sezonu sonunda 1.148 milyon ton miktarda gerçekleşeceğini öngördüğü dünya mısır tüketiminin, 2019/20 döneminde, 2018/19 sezonundan 14 milyon ton yüksek, 1.162 milyon ton düzeyinde olmasını beklemektedir. Konsey; 2018/19 sezonu sonunda 161 milyon ton miktarda gerçekleşeceğini öngördüğü dünya mısır ticaretinin, 2019/20 döneminde, 2018/19 sezonundan 1 milyon ton düşük, 160 milyon ton düzeyinde gerçekleşeceğini öngörmektedir.

IGC; 2018/19 sezonu sonunda 305 milyon ton miktarda gerçekleşeceğini öngördüğü dünya dönem sonu mısır stoklarının, 2018/19 döneminde, 2019/20 sezonundan 38 milyon ton düşük, 266 milyon ton düzeyinde gerçekleşmesini beklemektedir. Konsey; başlıca ihracatçıların (AB, ABD, Arjantin, Avustralya, Kanada, Kazakistan, Rusya ve Ukrayna) 2018/19 sezonu sonunda 64 milyon ton miktarda gerçekleşeceğini öngördüğü dönem sonu mısır stoklarının, 2019/20 döneminde, 2018/19 sezonundan 5 milyon ton düşük, 59 milyon ton düzeyinde öngörüldüğünü açıklamıştır.

Kaynak: “International Grain Council”. Londra, İngiltere.



09 Nisan 2019


LAND DISTRIBUTION MATTER IN SOUTH AFRICA!

Pretoria – Due to uncertainty created by the South African government’s move to expropriate land without compensation, several South African farmers are migrating to settle in other countries, agricultural industry association Agri SA said on Wednesday.

“This is extremely serious, and the knock-on effect on the whole economy is going to be there. If you don’t have confidence [in an economy], why would you invest? Something else is also happening … we are losing young farmers. They decide they cannot do this, they don’t see a future to a certain extent,” said Pierre Vercueil, Agri SA deputy president who is also a commercial farmer.

“We see immigration [of farmers from South Africa]. You just have to go the embassies and ask what is happening. Over the last 20 years, we have seen the decrease in farmers’ numbers from something like 60 000 to 35 000, and this is escalating.

On Tuesday, Parliament by majority vote adopted a report recommending that Section 25 of the Constitution be amended to explicitly allow expropriation without compensation.

The report by the Constitutional Review Committee was supported by 209 legislators and opposed by 91, following a robust debate in the House.

Vercueil said South African farmers were migrating to countries including Zambia, Canada, Angola, Botswana, New Zealand, Australia and Russia.

“This is the situation. We’ve got a brain-drain. We are landing ourselves in a situation where the future is being compromised by populist policies, which is not sustainable,” he said.

Free State Agriculture president Francois Wilken said the government should not “fool around with the nation’s food”.

“We as farmers are committed to produce enough food for the nation. That is why we need security of land. We can’t produce if we haven’t got title deeds or with the sword of expropriation without compensation over our heads. Don’t fool around with the food at the nation’s table. You cannot forever come and tell us that everything will be alright, then you get on a stage and destroy the industry. This won’t work,” said Wilken.

“Today is the day when the nation of South Africa must come behind the farmers, the producers, commercial farmers, upcoming farmers, everyone producing food. About 70 percent of our people live in cities. We need the commercial farmers, and the upcoming farmers.”

Annelize Crosby, head of land division at Agri SA said the organisation has assembled a legal team, with senior counsel, to closely monitor developments on the highly contentious matter of land distribution in South Africa.

African News Agency (ANA) December, 2018 



'BİRLEŞMİŞ MİLLETLER SÜRDÜRÜLEBİLİR KALKINMA HEDEFLERİ' NELERDİR?

Birleşmiş Milletler (BM) Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Hedefleri; 2012 yılında, yoksul, zengin ya da orta gelirli bütün ülkeler için bir yandan gezegenimizi korurken, diğer yandan da refahı artırma mücadelesine katkı çağrısı olarak ilan edildi. Söz konusu hedefler doğrultusunda yoksulluğu sona erdirme çabası bir yandan iklim değişikliği ve çevresel korumayı ele alırken, ekonomik büyümeyi inşa eden ve eğitim, sağlık, sosyal koruma ve iş fırsatlarını içeren bir dizi sosyal ihtiyacı içeren stratejilerle el ele gitmelidir.

HEDEF 2.1; 2030 yılına kadar açlığı sona erdirelim, özellikle yoksullar ve çocuklar dahil zor durumdaki insanların tüm yıl boyunca güvenilir, besleyici ve yeterli gıdaya erişimini sağlayalım. 

HEDEF 12.3; 2030 yılına kadar kişi başına düşen küresel gıda israfını perakende ve tüketici düzeyinde yarıya indirelim. Hasat sonrası kayıplar dahil olmak üzere üretim ve tedarik zincirindeki gıda kayıplarını azaltalım.  

İ. U.


UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS...

The UN Sustainable Development Goals were announced in 2012 as a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

GOAL 2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

GOAL 12.3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.



TOMATO SUMMIT IN NIGERIA...

Stakeholders in the sector converged in Kano February 6, 2019

Press Release /by Aishat Onusi

Stakeholders in the tomato industry on Januray 25th, 2019 gathered in Kano state at the 1st National Tomato Summit to discuss “Strengthening Opportunities in Tomato Value Chain towards a National Self Sufficiency”.

The summit organized by the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) and Grow Africa in collaboration with the Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN) had in attendance, Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh.

Speaking at the event, NABG Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Iwejere, said the aim of the forum was to identify some challenges bedevilling production in the tomato value chain and proffer solutions towards the attainment of national self-sufficiency.

Country Director, TechnoServe, Larry Umunung, said the summit was timely in view of the loses recorded in tomato production in Nigeria. According to him, Nigeria loses about 45% of tomatoes produced annually, noting that, “this summit will help in sensitising stakeholders to device means of achieving effective and profitable production.”

Honourable Minister, Audu Ogbeh pledged Federal Government’s support in the provision of solar-powered cold rooms in Kano state for tomato preservation.

Key issues examined by the summit included tomato value chain development and post-harvest processing, mobilizing more private investment to increase production, improving quality and standards, building of storage infrastructure and encouraging best practices in preservation to minimize post harvest losses.


WOMEN FARMERS TO BE IN THE AGRICULTURE MAINSTREAM IN INDIA...

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare
07-March-2019 18:47 IST

Special emphasis has been given on the role & contribution of women in doubling the income of farmers by 2022:- Radha Mohan Singh

In order to bring women in the agriculture mainstream, more than 30% funds have been allocated for women under various major schemes / programs

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh has congratulated women on the occasion of International Women's Day. He has said that the efforts of the government will certainly prove to be effective in strengthening the participation of women and their empowerment in agriculture. He said that in order to bring women in the agriculture mainstream, the government has allocated more than 30% funds for women under various major schemes / programs and development related activities. Also, women based activities have been started to reach the benefits of different beneficiary-oriented programs / schemes and missions to women.
The Minister said that the participation of women in the decision-making bodies at the state, district and block level under the ATMA scheme have ensured their involvement in the planning process. Along with this, changes in reporting performas have been made to maintain the statistics of benefits reaching women. A book showing the norm of fixed aid for women farmers is also being published. A National Gender Resource Centre in Agriculture has developed a women sensitization module to bring about change in the mindset and behaviour of male program operators. In the team of committed extension personnel under the revised ATMA scheme in 2014, the position of a women coordinator in every state was also created.
The Minister informed that in order to support the food security groups of the women farmers' at the domestic and household level,  financial assistance of 2 groups / per block and Rs 10,000 per group / per year is being given under the amended ATMA scheme 2014-15. In addition to these efforts, special emphasis is being given to women development activities to ensure their participation in the economic and social upliftment in the field of cooperatives. Regular cooperative education programs of women are being organized by the National Cooperative Union of India through the State Cooperative Societies. As a result of these efforts, during 2017-18, 31.47 lakh women have been benefitted by training from the NCUI in the field of cooperatives. Similarly, 6.07 lakh and 7000 women have benefited through KVKs and skill training respectively. A total of 8.62 lakh women have benefitted in 2017-18.
Shri Singh informed that in order to facilitate women's participation in agriculture, women farmer empowerment projects under the National Rural Livelihood Mission have benefitted more than 34 lakh  women through 82 projects across 22 states and one Union Territory. In addition, appointment of one women scientist has been made mandatory in 668 KVKs established across the country. Apart from this, it was decided in 2016 that every year 15th October will be celebrated as "Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas" by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
The Minister further said that in order to make women more empowered in the agriculture and allied sectors and to increase their access to land, credit and other facilities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, in the National Agricultural Policy for Farmers has made several provisions like giving joint lease on both domestic and agricultural land. Alongside this, provisions like issuing Kisan Credit Cards, creating livelihood opportunities through crop-livestock practices, agro-processing etc. are part of the agricultural policy.


"EARTH PROVIDES ENOUGH TO SATISFY EVERY MAN'S NEEDS, BUT NOT EVERY MAN'S GREED!"


CBPS


Start simple with MyPlate...

USDA Press Release - 

USDA Announces Launch of the Start Simple with MyPlate Campaign

Start Simple with MyPlate
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2019 -- In a continuing effort to help Americans make healthy food choices, and in honor of National Nutrition Month®, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced a new campaign to help simplify the nutrition information that surrounds us each day.
Start Simple with MyPlate is a new initiative to reduce confusion surrounding healthy eating and help people start with the basics. The Start Simple with MyPlate campaign provides ideas and tips from the five MyPlate food groups that Americans can easily incorporate into their busy lives to help improve their health and well-being over time.
USDA recommends people visit www.choosemyplate.gov/startsimple to get started with tips on the MyPlate food groups, or to use a variety of simple resources to put these tips into action. Online resources include the MyPlate Plan and widget, a tip sheet (PDF, 1 MB), the MyPlate Action Guide, a one-week menu template (PDF, 498 KB), as well as a toolkit for nutrition professionals.
USDA also invites Americans to join the #MyPlateChallenge by sharing healthy eating tips or ideas related to the five MyPlate food groups. People can post a MyPlate-inspired healthy eating tip with a photo or video and share it on social media. Once they post their healthy eating tip, people can challenge a family member, friend, or co-worker to share their own tip.
Join USDA as we celebrate the different ways people strive to eat healthy and Start Simple with MyPlate! View more information about the challenge here: www.choosemyplate.gov/startsimplechallenge.