Smart phones loaded with different apps have become a norm for many around the globe. This week we travel to Bangladesh to learn about the Digital Bangladesh initiative and how it is creating a digital transformation through the use of apps and other technology. We encourage you to watch the short video linked below and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the world.
Discussion Points (We encourage you to watch the video twice. Once focusing on the text and the other focusing on the video footage.)
What did you find interesting about this video/content and why?
When you focused on the video footage versus the text what did you notice about agriculture in Bangladesh? How is it similar or different than agriculture in your home region? What unique challenges might Bangladesh face that you do not and vice versa?
The video highlighted the use of apps by farmers in Bangladesh. Do farmers in your region utilize apps in their work? How do you think the use of apps are similar and/or different in Bangladesh and your home region?
Do farmers in your home region receive similar help/training with apps and technology? Compare and contrast the assistance/training.
Afghanistan has been at the top of newsfeeds as of late with the withdrawal of United States military forces. We have heard about a lot of things happening in and around Afghanistan, but agriculture is one area that has not been focused on heavily with most media sources. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shares the challenges facing around 7 million farmers in Afghanistan in the story linked below. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations with others around the globe.
How is the drought impacting crop farmers in Afghanistan?
How is the drought impacting livestock farmers in Afghanistan?
How might the recent withdrawal of United States military forces from Afghanistan impact farmers in Afghanistan and the challenges they are facing?
You have just been put in charge of providing assistance to farmers in Afghanistan. What type of assistance will you provide? How will it be delivered? What are considerations you will have to take account for?
Data can be a very powerful tool in decision making and management decisions. Some may think that data management concerns are concerns for individuals in the Global North, but this is something that impacts all including those in the Global South. The attached blog highlights the need and concerns for data management and sharing in agriculture at a global level. We invite you to read the linked and utilize the discussion points below to engage with others.
One is one thing that you learned or surprised you from the blog?
Why/how could data sharing potentially have a positive impact on agriculture around the globe? How does this look differently/similarly in different parts of the world?
What are the concerns with sharing data in agriculture locally and globally? Are people in your local area open to sharing data?
What are your suggestions for best practices in sharing agriculture data globally? Explain your reasoning.
Farmers in India have been protesting since late 2020 and have even turned to social media platforms to tell their story. We encourage you to read the linked article and reflect and engage with others utilizing the discussion points below.
Why have farmers taken to the highways to protest in India? Have farmers in your home area/country done something similar throughout history?
What has caused farmers to turn to social media as part of their efforts in India?
The challenge of misinformation is mentioned in this article. How do we battle misinformation in agriculture? How does this look different around the world?
Imagine you have been brought in to mediate between the government and farmers in India to resolve this standoff. What would you recommend? How might you bring both sides together?
Highlighted below you will find a video (4 minutes) sharing the utilization of technology around the globe by farmers to increase efficiency and productivity. This includes solar pumps in India, farming apps in Nepal, and improved crop varieties in Nigeria. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion questions to guide your conversations around the globe.
Discuss the three innovations highlighted and share the impact that each has had in their respective locations.
Of the three examples shared (solar pumps, farming app, and improved crop varieties) which do you feel had the largest impact and why?
Could your local region benefit from these or similar innovations? Why or why not?
Brainstorm additional innovations that you could see having a positive impact in your local area as well as around the world. Explain the benefits projected from these innovations.
Harvesting clams is no easy task. It is early mornings and intensive labor. The video linked below tells the story of women harvesting clams in Tunisia's Gulf of Gabes. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the world.
Explain clam harvest in this region. What are challenges that are faced?
Identify the different Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are addressed in this video and why they are important. Click here to view SDGs
What can be done to expand the successes highlighted in this video and keep moving forward?
Agriculture is very diverse and different around the globe. Do individuals in agriculture within your home region face the same challenges as those highlighted in the video? How are challenges similar and different in Tunisia's Gulf of Gabes and your home region?
When times are tough farmers find ways to push forward and thrive. This is the case for a group of farmers from Nicaragua who now find themselves in Costa Rica. Linked below is there story. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the globe.
A couple weeks ago we shared a piece on locusts swarming the horn of Africa and threatening major damage. This week we highlight an App that is addressing the problem. We encourage you to read the linked article below and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the globe.
Explain how this newly developed App is helping farmers battle locust swarms.
Can this same or similar technology be used to benefit other areas of agriculture and the world? Explain your thoughts.
Apps are an everyday part of many people's lives. If you could create any App that would benefit agriculture share what the App would do, how it would benefit the agricultural world, and why it is needed.
This week's blog comes to you from the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue. On the opening day of the Dialogue there was a panel that discussed climate change and how agriculture can be a leader in fighting climate change. A representative with the US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance shared the following video with those in attendance. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe.
After watching the video explain your general thoughts and feelings.
How can those in agriculture around the world lead the way in the fight against climate change?
What can you do to combat climate change in your community?
The family in this video highlighted several hardships they are facing. What hardships do farmers and producers face in your community and around the world? How do they overcome these challenges? How can you support them?
Water is life. This is truly illustrated in the cisterns for the Sahel project through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Below we have linked a video that explains this program and how it is impacting farmers production, families, and way of life. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe.
This week we highlight a recent video from Market to Market that shares a unique farmers market structure in Wisconsin. We encourage you to watch the video at the linked web page below and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the globe!
There was such great information shared during the second day of the Borlaug Dialogue! Many topics were covered from big data to aquaculture. As yesterday, I will post highlights from the various panels and presentations. Strike up a conservation with others and see what can be done to fight hunger around the world.
Precision Ag and Big Data: Technologies for Resilience: Ruben Echeverria, Yangxuan Liu, Benjamin Pratt, Cory Reed, Jose Simas, Michael Stern
There are more cell phones than people in the world.
There are 570 million farms globally and 72% are smaller than 1 hectare (2.47 acres).
Technology and innovation is the solution.
Ninety countries around the world have GPS/guidance capabilities in agriculture.
Technology needs to be used to improve fertilizers. We need more research in this area.
Precision Ag/data management is not just for crops but also applies to animal production.
Small data for smallholder farmers is very important. Lets not forget this.
Big data analysis does not replace the experts.
Data privacy will continue to be a major issue.
Special Address on the Occasion: Cargill 150th Anniversary: David MacLennan
Change in global food system is constant.
Agriculture accounts for 40% of land use and 70% of water use.
Today yields are 6-8 times higher than they were 150 years ago.
We must grow the right crops in the right soils and climates. Then let free trade work.
We must close the gap between farmers in developing and developed countries.
Keys to Success in Feeding the World
Honor comparative advantage
Trust trading partners
Enact smart public policy
Let markets work
Invest in innovation
Pursue sustainability
Conversation: Voices from the Farm: Gebisa Ejeta, Eric Pohlman, Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg
Smallholder farmers in Africa produce 80% of the food in the continent, but yet these farmers are some of the hungriest people in the world.
Forty percent of the harvest is lost post harvest in Africa.
We must get farmers in Africa to look at agriculture as a business.
Animal agriculture currently accounts for 40% of agriculture GDP.
We need to change how we think in order to implement successful practices.
Access to credit in rural areas of Africa is a huge challenge.
There are a lot of things that are working, but we need to expand and improve.
Innovation: An Essential Ingredient to Feeding 9 Billion: James Borel
The path of food security begins by exploring the challenges, then developing solutions.
Demand is more than one planet can handle.
In 2009 the amount of people living in urban areas surpassed the amount living in rural areas.
About half of all farmers and their families are malnourished around the world.
Farmers feed the world, but they cannot do it alone.
We must find ways to significantly reduce food waste.
Hope for Feeding Our World: Chris Policinski
We cannot let rich countries drive and determine what developing countries need.
We cannot wage a war against science if we want to feed the world.
Agriculture Productivity Drivers = Adoption of modern business, production management practices on the farm + Application of safe, proven agricultural technologies
Less than 2% are involved in production agriculture.
We need to get past "or" and move to "and." For example, it should not be "organic or conventional farming" it should be "organic and conventional farming."
Symposium Luncheon Address: Sheryl WuDunn
We must intervene early no matter what the cause.
Maternal attachment is so important to children success (both mother and father).
The brain develops the most in the first 1,000 days of life.
"Growing up poor is bad for your brains."
Thirty percent of american girls will get pregnant by the age of 19. Three times higher than European girls.
Note the video below that was shared at the event in a discussion o empowering women:
Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture for Improved Food Security and Nutrition: Per Pinstrup-Andersen, Jeppe Kolding, Ami Mathiesen, Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted
The future of mankind is based on fish.
Aquaculture is the fastest growing area in the food industry in the past 20 years.
Eating fish make healthier children in developing countries.
China is number one in fish production from aquaculture.
Small fish have a higher nutritional value than large fish. Smaller fish are also more environmentally friendly.
Africa and developing countries are not ready for aquaculture yet.
Fifty percent of fish feed has to come from proteins and fats.
Whole sun dried fish serve as vitamins and minerals at high concentrates ,becasue the drying has removed all water.
"Fish are animals breeding like plants and eating like lions."
Secretary's Roundtable: Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition: Hon. Thomas Vilsack, Alexander Howard, Brady Deaton, Gavin Starks
USDA is committed to opening up public funded research data for all to easily access.
We cannot expect others to open their data if we do not open ours.
The ability to communicate in real time is huge.
We need to find ways to protect identities, but share data through anonymity.
We have to think about data ethics.
Open data can help reduce friction in trade.
If you open data it is amazing how quality improves.
Thirty percent of food in the world is not used as intended.
The goal is to make data open to the public just not large companies and organizations.
The more precise we become it will benefit the farmer financially and the environment.
Law is always trying to catch up with the technology.
We concluded the day by enjoying a great dinner at he Machine Shed Restaurant before returning to the hotel to watch the Laureate Award Ceremony on television where Sir Fazle Hasan Abed was honored. We are all looking forward to a spectacular final day of learning, analyzing, and discussing the challenge of feeding 9 billion plus by 2050!
