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Assessing the productivity of Irish Potatoes in Dominica

agriculture, Food Security, News food security, food systems, Irish potato, roots and tubers

Cultivation of Irish Potato is on the rise in Dominica **(Photo via CARDI)**

The cultivation of Irish Potato has been on the rise in Dominica. The Government of Dominica continues to support the production of the crop as a means of boosting food security and as part of the country’s resilience strategy. Presently, the crop is mainly cultivated by small farmers across several agro-ecological zones with minimal use of agro-chemicals.

For the 2020/2021 growing season (November 2020 – March 2021), CARDI assessed the production and productivity of the Desiree variety across the country. This variety is resistant to drought and potato virus, bulks early and gives good yields.

For the cropping cycle, 57,099 lbs of seed tubers were planted by 126 farmers at an estimated rate of 17,153 tubers per acre. Yield data from four farms across agro-ecological zones showed that the average number of tubers per plant was 8 with an average weight of 0.2 lbs per tuber. Estimated average yield per acre was 27,444 lbs and national production was 526,941 lbs with 458,439 lbs being marketable.

The estimated yield per acre for the 2020/2021 crop cycle showed a dramatic increase of 240% when compared with the national average on record for the 2013/2014 cropping season.

Cost of production data collected showed an average gross profit of approximately 44%. According to Dorian Etienne, CARDI Country Representative, factors such as suitable variety, favorable climatic conditions and low disease incidence and severity could account for what can be described as a bumper crop. Potato is easy to grow making it particularly attractive to women farmers. Like in previous years, the Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA) will bulk-purchase a large volume of the white potatoes produced by the farmers and in turn sell it to local retailers.

These “Island Growers” are Reducing Imports, Improving Regional Access to Affordable Fresh Food

Food Security, Food Systems, News, Sustainable Development Goals 100% climate resilient greenhouse systems., agriculture, COVID-19, food quality, Food sustainability, natural disasters, OECS Sustainable Development Movement Summit 2021, organic farming

(Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Press Room) Food sustainability in the Caribbean has been a hot topic for years. While many islands in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have varying degrees of agricultural production, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters continue to threaten their sustainability and reliable production of affordable fresh produce. Over the past few months, as COVID-19 has shifted the global landscape, the cost of agricultural produce in the Caribbean has become increasingly unstable.

The OECS Sustainable Development Movement Summit 2021 is a platform for, among other things, conversations surrounding regional sustainable development across all sectors, including agriculture, and in recent times, the innovative work of Alquimi Renewables, LLC (“Alquimi”) and its farming operations group, Island Growers Caribbean© (“IGC”), have joined that conversation.

The teams at Alquimi and IGC are implementing a unique business model to radically improve and protect how fresh produce is grown in the Region. This model focuses on producing imported ‘cold weather’ crops in proprietary, climate smart hydroponic greenhouse farms. IGC intends to improve food quality, use organic farming practices, and ensure a consistent supply of produce to regional markets throughout the year by the use of these newly developed, 100% climate resilient greenhouse systems.

Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2021 promises to be unique, game-changing

agriculture, COVID-19, Food Security, Food Systems, News, Uncategorized agriculture, Caribbean Week of Agriculture, CWA, food, Shaun Baugh

Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) scheduled for 4-8 October, promises to be a unique, game-changing event, according to Shaun Baugh, Programme Manager, Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development at the CARICOM Secretariat.

‘Transforming our food systems’ is the theme of the week of activities that reflects the food systems thrust that the world is now undertaking, given the current challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Baugh, who is the coordinator of the event, is warning that if we are not careful, we run the risk of moving from a health crisis to a food security crisis. To stave off such an eventuality, some of the activities of the CWA will focus on new ways of propagation, the use of climate smart technologies, new irrigation methods, and a showcase of the use and versatility of the Region’s foods.

The main collaborating agencies for the event are the CARICOM Secretariat, the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Regional institution such as the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism CRFM) and the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) will also be involved.

Fixing Food Systems

agriculture, Climate change, Food Security, Food Systems, News, Sustainable Development Goals agroecology, COVID-19 recovery, food systems transformation.

Q&A: Why the World ‘Can’t Afford to Wait’ for Transparent, Equitable Food Systems

**The UNFSS hopes to transform how food is produced, packaged, and distributed to tackle food insecurity and wastage. (Photo Credit: Alison Kentish** via IPS)

(IPS) – The world has been put on notice that there is no time to waste in achieving the goal of food systems transformation.

Through Pre-Summit and national dialogues, scientists, policymakers, farmers, NGOs, private sector representatives and youth groups have been building momentum ahead of the United Nations Food Systems Summit in September. The goal is to ensure that the world produces food with greater attention to climate change, poverty, equity, sustainability and waste reduction.

The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is one of the partners addressing the urgency of food systems transformation for food security, equity, the global economy and COVID-19 recovery. Since 2012, the alliance of philanthropic foundations has engaged in global discussions, supported and led global food transformation research and advanced initiatives in climate, health and agroecology.

The Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition (BCFN) collaborates with the Alliance to share ideas and knowledge to design projects capable of guaranteeing a more sustainable food system for future generations.

IPS spoke to the Alliance’s Senior Director of Programmes, Lauren Baker, about the urgent need to overhaul food systems, the impact of COVID-19 on those systems and why true cost accounting is essential to the international effort to revamp the production, sale and distribution of food.

New farm to deliver fresh, organic produce

agriculture, Food Security agroculture, food security, food supply chains, Island Growers Caribbean

(Barbados Today) With more frequent and stronger storms predicted which experts say could significantly disrupt food supply chains, Barbados has received a timely boost to its agriculture food crop production.

Island Growers Caribbean has set up shop in Bridgetown, becoming the first 100 per cent climate-smart and category five hurricane resistant greenhouse system in the region.

It is expected to start production this month, producing over 4,200 pounds of fresh, organic produce each month within its approximately 5,200 square feet greenhouse farm space. This is expected to be expanded up to 75,000 square feet over a three-year period.

Promising to shake things up in the local and regional agriculture sector, the company promises to focus heavily on producing “cold weather crops” including some herbs, berries and other fruits and vegetables that are now imported.

Ahead of Food Systems Summit, FAO DG gets Americas Consensus Position

agriculture, Food Security, Food Systems Antonio Guterres, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Food Systems Pre-Summit, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, rural development, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Food Systems Summit

During the most recent meeting of IICA’s Executive Committee, Tereza Cristina, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, presented the consensus document to Qu Dongyu, Director General of FAO (Photo via IICA)

(IICA Press Release) – The Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Qu Dongyu, was presented with a document outlining the perspective of the Americas on agri-food systems, which had been approved at the latest meeting of the Executive Committee of IICA (The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. It establishes the position of the countries of the Hemisphere ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit.

The document was presented to Qu Dongyu by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil, Tereza Cristina, who remarked that “the unique characteristics of the different regions of the world must be considered in this debate”.

The Brazilian minister—who (was) in Rome participating in the Food Systems Pre-Summit—explained that at the meeting with the head of FAO, the role of Brazilian agriculture in global food security and its sustainable production practices were highlighted. She also indicated that “Brazil maintains that the diversity of food systems must be respected”.

The countries of the Americas came to the Pre-Summit, having achieved a consensus position, after extensive dialogue and debate. The Pre-Summit is the preparatory event for the global forum that will take place in New York in September, in parallel with the UN General Assembly.

The position defines key principles and messages ahead of a Summit that is intended to establish the framework for commitments and measures specifically aimed at improving the world’s food systems.

The Summit was convened by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in order to place the planet on the path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – proposals that are seeking to create a framework for peace and the prosperity of the world’s population.

The ministers of Agriculture of the Americas, in endorsing this unity in action posture to take to the Summit, approved a resolution maintaining that farmers must be duly represented and their critical role in food systems recognised.

The Brazilian minister confirmed that, “I presented the Director General of FAO with the document prepared by IICA, in collaboration with the countries”.

The position of the countries of the Americas was consolidated around 16 key messages, included in the document “On the road to the UN Food Systems Summit: Key messages from the perspective of agriculture in Americas”, with the countries then coordinating with IICA to include their own perspective.

The document contains 16 key messages about the vital role of agriculture, highlighting the fact that farmers and food systems’ workers are a critical and key link and that without agricultural production there would be now raw material to transform into food.

It also stresses that agriculture is a fundamental activity in eradicating poverty, stimulating rural development and ensuring environmental protection.

More information:

Institutional Communication Division

comunicacion.institucional@iica.int

CAHFSA Advises Tightened Measures as African Swine Fever Detected in Region

Food Security, News, Uncategorized African Swine Fever, agricultural health, pig industry, swine

African Swine Fever is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs.

The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHSFA) is advising Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States to intensify protective measures against the African Swine Fever (ASF) which is now confirmed to be in the Americas. The disease has already killed more than 800 pigs in two locations in the Dominican Republic.

African Swine Fever is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs. It is a transboundary animal disease (TAD) that can be spread by live or dead pigs, domestic or wild, and pork products, contaminated feed and objects such as shoes, clothes, vehicles, knives, and. ASF had significantly reduced the pig population in China back in 2019 and has the potential for devastating consequences for the Caribbean.

The matter was under discussion as recent as 29 July 2021, at the 21st Annual Meeting of the CARICOM Committee of Chief Veterinary Officers.

Among the recommendations the meeting advanced to limit the spread of the disease to other countries in the Region were:

Increased border surveillance
Activating or updating national disease emergency/contingency plans
Intensifying surveillance and early detection mechanisms and activities
Intensifying regional coordination among development partners
Revising and updating procedures to manage international garbage from ports of entry, and
Improving collaboration in the area of diagnostics

‘Food availability, access, utilisation and stability must be addressed’ – Minister Mustapha tells Food Systems Forum

Climate change, Food Security, Food Systems, News, Sustainable Development Goals, Uncategorized agriculture, Caribbean food systems, Caribbean Week of Agriculture, climate change, food and nutrition security, food security, food systems, Pre-Summit for the United Nations Food Systems Summit, tourism, United Nations Food Systems Summit, Zulfikar Mustapha

**Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during the UN Pre-Summit (Photo via DPI)**

The current food system makes ‘ultra-processed’ foods readily accessible, appealing and affordable, displacing more nutritious foods. Expanding the non-traditional agricultural sub-sector is therefore, critical for diet diversification and enabling equality in availability and access, especially for rural populations.” – Minister of Agriculture of Guyana, Zulfikar Mustapha

(Department of Public Information Press Release) Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, MP, says in order for countries to ensure safe and nutritious foods remain accessible, food availability, access, utilisation, and stability must be addressed holistically.

The Minister made this statement on Wednesday when he joined Ministers of Agriculture and other officials from around the world in a Pre-Summit for the United Nations Food Systems Summit.

Over 50 countries participated in the Pre-Summit, which was held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In his remarks, Minister Mustapha said: “The current food system makes ‘ultra-processed’ foods readily accessible, appealing and affordable, displacing more nutritious foods. Expanding the non-traditional agricultural sub-sector is therefore, critical for diet diversification and enabling equality in availability and access, especially for rural populations.

Further, of growing concern is the need to reduce on-farm and post-harvest food loss and waste through adopting appropriate harvesting, post-harvest, and storage technologies.”

Following the onset of the pandemic, greater emphasis has been placed on building Guyana’s resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stresses. Minister Mustapha told the meeting that systems are being put in place to confront those threats, safeguarding the livelihood of farmers and fishers in the country.

“COVID 19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of our food production and distribution systems and exacerbated other challenges such as climate change.

Guyana must confront these threats to the livelihood of farmers and fishers by making its food systems more climate-resilient,” Minister Mustapha said.

CARICOM’s Position

Guyana holds lead responsibility for Agriculture, Agricultural Diversification, and Food Security in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The Caribbean Region is amongst the most vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change impacts and has been identified as the second most hazard-prone Region in the world.

Just recently, economies and food systems were impacted by the eruption of a volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, affecting Barbados and other neighbouring islands. Hurricanes left wind and flood damage in Barbados and other islands in the Eastern Caribbean, and Guyana and Suriname experienced unprecedented flooding that resulted in tremendous loss of crops and livestock.

“Actions to reposition Caribbean agriculture include strengthening linkages between the agri-food, tourism, and health sectors; establishing public-private partnerships in local food production and processing; implementing climate-smart technologies and transitioning towards digital agriculture.

Financing for mitigation and adaptation to climate change has become more critical today than ever before and is necessary to protect and transform Caribbean food systems. International support from international financial institutions, and bilateral partners will be critical to ensuring a more resilient agricultural sector through financing, technology, and creating an enabling global environment,” Minister Mustapha said.

The Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit has served as the preparatory meeting for the culminating global event which is scheduled for September 2021. It aims to bring together diverse actors from around the world to leverage the power of food systems to deliver progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the shared vision for people, planet, and prosperity.

It will consolidate all of the substantive work of the Summit into a common vision and set a tone of bold ambition and commitment to action. The Pre-Summit will deliver the latest evidence based and scientific approaches from around the world; strengthen coalitions of action; and mobilise new financing and partnerships. Through the Pre-Summit, the UN Food Systems Summit will reaffirm its commitment to promote human rights for all and ensure everyone, everywhere has the opportunity to participate. The event is open to all, with a small in-person component in the context of COVID-19, complemented by a vast virtual programme and platform.

Female Agriculture Ministers of the Americas Launch Forum to Improve Policies, Promote Rights for Rural Women

Food Security, Food Systems, News, Uncategorized

Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Secretaries of Agriculture Tereza Cristina (Brazil), Tanlly Vera (Ecuador), María Emilia Undurraga (Chile), Samantha Marshall (Antigua and Barbuda), Natasha Kim (Canada), Lily Pacas (El Salvador), Bettina Aguilera (Paraguay), Judith Ordóñez (Honduras), Miriam Guzmán (Dominican Republic) and Martha Rodríguez (Colombia) participated in the forum, alongside Manuel Otero (Director General of IICA), Rebeca Grynspan (SEGIB) and journalist Karla Iberia Sánchez (as moderator).

(Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture Press Release) Within the framework of the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit inaugurated this Monday in Rome, the I Forum of Ministers and Vice Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas was formally established as an entity whose mission is to improve public policies and spotlight the role of women in rural development, favouring the full recognition of their rights.

The inauguration, which was attended by the female ministers, secretaries and deputy ministers of 12 countries of the Americas, was a key step to institutionalizing a space to propose specific policies to promote the sustainable development of agrifood systems through recognizing the crucial contribution of the continent’s rural women to eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

The meeting at which the Forum was established was convened by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and held at the Brazilian Embassy in Rome concurrent with the Food Systems Pre-Summit that runs through 28 July in the Italian capital.

Participants included Samantha Marshall, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Antigua and Barbuda; Tereza Cristina, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil; María Emilia Undurraga, Minister of Agriculture of Chile; Tanlly Vera, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Ecuador; Jewel H. Bronaugh, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture of the United States; and Natasha Kim, Assistant Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food of Canada.

World faces historic task to turn tide on ending hunger, poverty, achieving other SDGs- FAO DG

Food Security, Food Systems, News agriculture, food security, food systems, hunger, poverty, SDGs, sustainable development goals

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu addressing the Pre-Summit opening ceremony. Seated in the front row (l-r) Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed,International Fund for Agricultural Development President Gilbert Houngbo,World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley. (Photo via FAO)

The FAO Director-General stressed how at this “critical moment in time” the world faces “the historic task” to transform the agri-food systems and put back on track the achievement of the SDGs.

(Food and Agriculture Organisation Press Release 26 July 2021, Rome) – A holistic and coordinated approach is urgently needed to transform agri-food systems and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This was the call made by the QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to world leaders participating in the opening today of the Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit.

“Our agri-food systems are not delivering properly, and in many parts of the world these systems were not efficient, inclusive and sustainable,” Qu said, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the situation.

According to a report issued this month by FAO and its partners, around a tenth of the global population – up to 811 million people – were undernourished last year. The number suggests it will take a tremendous effort for the world to honour its pledge to end hunger by 2030.

The FAO Director-General stressed how at this “critical moment in time” the world faces “the historic task” to transform the agri-food systems and put back on track the achievement of the SDGs.

“To achieve this ambitious transformation; we need to change policies, mind-sets, and business models,” he told participants at the Pre-Summit opening ceremony that saw the participation of dozens of heads of state and government, ministers and other high-level representatives, some present in person while others connected by video.

Speakers included Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, – the UN and the Government of Italy are the Pre-Summit co-hosts – the President of Rwanda and Chair of the African Union Development Agency Paul Kagame and, representing Pope Francis, Archbishop Paul Gallagher the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States.