What we’ve been reading this week

This week’s summary on the news stories, reports and blogs that have grabbed our attention. We welcome your thoughts and comments on these articles.

First, a great new resource…

Celebrating science and innovation in agriculture, Farming First

Agriculture, the future, and the SDGs

Are pro-poor benefits of Africa’s ‘green revolution’ based on myths? Thomson Reuters Foundation

Your food is global, Global Food Security

No one left behind, The Guardian

INSIGHT-In southern Africa, an illusion built on aid heralds hope and hunger, Thomson Reuters Foundaiton

Supporting Farmers in Syria Now Is Essential for a Sustainable Future, The World Post

How can higher-yield farming help to spare nature? Science

Digital technology 

Telling Africa’s Agriculture Stories Through Radio, TV, Film, AFK Insider

The seeds of success: 4 start ups leading the field in agriculture, CNN

Building bioinformatics capacity in Africa: a personal perspective, Planet Earth Institute

Why the Future Is Bright for the World’s Poorest Farmers, Gatesnotes

Biotechnology and Genetic Modification

Mining banana biodiversity to reduce vitamin A deficiencies in East Africa, Bioversity

Lessons to be learnt from Burkina Faso’s decision to drop GM cotton, The Conversation

Local scientists creating global impacts in agriculture, SciDevNet

Gene editing could create medicines and self-fertilising crops. But are we facing another GM food-style furore? The Guardian

Genetically modified crops: the way forward, Live Mint

In a Move to Acquire Syngenta, China Means Business with GM Crops, MIT Technology Review

Women and minority groups

FAO to increase the capacity of African women in agriculture, News Ghana

Gender, Nutrition, and the Human Right to Adequate Food, FCRN

Five questions with Fatimah Kelleher, Planet Earth Institute

Women stand to gain from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, The Hill

 

 

Agribusiness and the rural economy

Africa: UN Initiative Targets Job Creation and Decent Work Conditions for Young People, AllAfrica

Agribusiness rules lag in agriculture dependent countries, World Bank

East Africa: Youth Hailed As New Farming Force, AllAfrica