December 5, 2016

Big Ideas and Emerging Innovations

Fishermen sail, as they take part in a census of fish close to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, in Hisanohama port in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture May 27, 2013.

The Latest Weapon in the Fight against Illegal Fishing? Artificial Intelligence
Facial recognition software is starting to be used in fighting illegal fishing. Rather than picking out faces, the software tracks the movement of fishing boats to root out illegal behavior. And soon it may be able to recognize when a boat’s haul includes endangered and protected fish. The program will run on cameras, called electronic monitors, which are installed on fishing boats and used for documenting the catch.

Eat It, Don't Leave It: How London Became a Leader in Anti-Food Waste
Olio, a food-sharing app, wants to make it easy for busy food sellers to avoid wasting food. In fact, anybody in London with a smartphone—be it a restaurant, grocer, or just a regular Joe—can upload pictures of their leftover lunches and dinners, spare ingredients, or unwanted produce. Those hankering for a free meal can then peruse the offerings, message those who've got food to spare and then go collect it—for free.

Using Satellites to Support Kenya's Drought-Hit Herders – in Pictures
In Kenya, 1.3 million people are facing serious food insecurity and loss of livelihood as a result of poor rainfall. As the next dry season approaches, one insurance scheme is using satellite data to support some of east Africa’s most vulnerable.

Scientists Aim to Feed the World by Boosting Photosynthesis
By fixing a glitch in plants’ ability to use sunlight to make sugar, scientists have managed to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis by about 15%—an upgrade that could be used to raise agricultural crop yields. The findings could help researchers find ways to feed Earth’s ever-growing human population.
 

About

The Global Food and Agriculture Program aims to inform the development of US policy on global agricultural development and food security by raising awareness and providing resources, information, and policy analysis to the US Administration, Congress, and interested experts and organizations.

The Global Food and Agriculture Program is housed within the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, an independent, nonpartisan organization that provides insight – and influences the public discourse – on critical global issues. The Council on Global Affairs convenes leading global voices and conducts independent research to bring clarity and offer solutions to challenges and opportunities across the globe. The Council is committed to engaging the public and raising global awareness of issues that transcend borders and transform how people, business, and governments engage the world.

Support for the Global Food and Agriculture Program is generously provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Blogroll

1,000 Days Blog, 1,000 Days

Africa Can End Poverty, World Bank

Agrilinks Blog

Bread Blog, Bread for the World

Can We Feed the World Blog, Agriculture for Impact

Concern Blogs, Concern Worldwide

Institute Insights, Bread for the World Institute

End Poverty in South Asia, World Bank

Global Development Blog, Center for Global Development

The Global Food Banking Network

Harvest 2050, Global Harvest Initiative

The Hunger and Undernutrition Blog, Humanitas Global Development

International Food Policy Research Institute News, IFPRI

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center Blog, CIMMYT

ONE Blog, ONE Campaign

One Acre Fund Blog, One Acre Fund

Overseas Development Institute Blog, Overseas Development Institute

Oxfam America Blog, Oxfam America

Preventing Postharvest Loss, ADM Institute

Sense & Sustainability Blog, Sense & Sustainability

WFP USA Blog, World Food Program USA

Archive


| By Roger Thurow

Turning Nutrition Knowledge Into Action

As part of the "Growing Food for Growing Cities" series, Council senior fellow Roger Thurow speaks about mothers around the word in their struggle to purchase nutritious foods for their families, and his new book, The First 1,000 Days. 









Ann Veneman Honored at Women Making History

The Honorable Ann Veneman, former Executive Director of UNICEF and former Secretary of Agriculture, has been honored by the National Women’s History Museum at their Women Making History Event.