Blog for People, Food and Nature

August 9, 2012

Worms for Water in India

Examples of success from the field are not only due to good practices, but also partnerships that Published as part of Reuters’ Alertnet ‘Battle for Water’ news coverage, a video by the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) depicts an effort in India to improve soil fertility, water management, and rural livelihoods. Dungar ...
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August 8, 2012

Stories of Water

With agriculture a the primary user of freshwater worldwide, there is an abundance of stories on the hydrologic challenges farmers face and the creative ways with which they persevere. Water management is of prime importance to the Landscapes Initiative, as it often involves coordinating across spatial scales, across stakeholder groups, and across land use types. For [… ...
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August 7, 2012

August for Water

Photo credit: Bernard Keraita/IWMI As August progresses, issues related to the quantity and quality of water abound. Drought in the United States over the past couple of months have stirred questions on water scarcity, climate change, and crop production. During Rio+20, the Landscapes Blog reported on the United Nations-led Water Day, which brought some of […] ...
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August 3, 2012

Fixing the Broken Food System: Power of Consumers

As the Blog moves through aspects of the agricultural supply chain, one important stakeholder group (and a good place to conclude the week) are those at the end of the chain, the consumers. Considering the global nature of the food system, a consumer’s behavior has implications beyond an individual’s immediate surroundings. Ensuring that there is […] ...
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August 2, 2012

Measuring Impacts of Eco-Standards

Yesterday, the Landscapes Blog covered a publication on standards and certifications relevant to soybean production in Brazil. Such eco-standards and certification systems have proliferated over the past two decades, with growing interest and recognition by consumers, producers, businesses, and investors. But are these certifications and standards actually achieving what they s ...
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August 1, 2012

Certifying Responsible Soy

Soy production has grown substantially in recent years, as both a vital protein source and feed for livestock. As one of the major producers of soy, with nearly 25% of the world’s cultivated land in the crop, Brazil is a driving force in the global value chain. And because of this expansion, augmented attention on […] ...
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