October 20, 2014

Big Ideas & Emerging Innovations

REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon

The Chocolate Revolution: Central American Startup Seeks To Grow Sustainable Cocoa Production
Smallholder cocoa farmers are underpaid and impoverished. But there is a new, more ethical chocolate movement going on. By removing middlemen and shortening the value chain, both farmers and buyers are increasing their value and quality, ultimately bringing large-scale social impact to farming communities and driving systemic change in the industry.

One-Third of Food Is Lost or Wasted: What Can Be Done
The FAO estimates that one-third of food produced for human consumption worldwide is annually lost or wasted along the chain that stretches from farms to our collective kitchens. If there's anything good about the shocking scale of global food waste, it's the huge number of opportunities it presents for improvement.

Africa’s Agricultural Potential
The average African farm performs at only about 40% of its potential. So how can these farms rise to their potential to address hunger and malnutrition while boosting livelihoods and promoting inclusive growth? It's not pity and handouts that are needed. It is access to markets and finance, land tenure security, knowledge and technology, and the right policies.

Grow Lights and Drones: How California’s Drought is Driving Farmers into High-Tech
California's grappling with one of its worst droughts in history. Some in the agricultural industry are beginning to explore technology that may help them adapt to the new, arid reality. Increasingly, farmers are interested in grow lights. Recent developments have made grow lights far more energy-efficient, enabling them to be fielded on a much larger scale.

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

Healthy Food for a Healthy World: Accelerating Nutrition

Beginning this week, The Chicago Council will highlight the recommendations from the new report, Healthy Food for a Healthy World: Leveraging Agriculture and Food to Improve Global Nutrition, in a weekly blog series. 

Big Ideas and Emerging Innovations

Highlighting approaches, technologies, and ideas that have the potential to radically advance sustainable and nutritious food security globally.



Big Ideas and Emerging Innovations

Highlighting approaches, technologies, and ideas that have the potential to radically advance sustainable and nutritious food security globally.







Stopping Malnutrition's Assault on Our Health and Economy

In The Huffington Post, Global Agricultural Development Initiative cochairs Doug Bereuter and Dan Glickman outlines the recommendations in The Chicago Council's new report, Healthy Food for a Healthy World: Leveraging Agriculture and Food to Improve Nutrition.


Leverage Trade Policy to Tap Future Food Markets

Lisa Moon and Andrea Durkin outline how trade policy could increase the United States' share of the growing African food market for the Agri-Pulse and Chicago Council monthly column series