Tag Archives: adoption

Consumers, Experts At Odds Over Solutions To Global Hunger

The Center for Food Integrity  |   October 16, 2013   U.S. consumers and international food security experts agree: supporting the adoption of agricultural technology that leads to self-sufficiency and increasing support for smallholder farmers are important to addressing growing global hunger and malnutrition. The two solutions rate highest among consumers and experts in two separate studies conducted by The Center for Food Integrity (CFI). But support for the top solutions isn’t as strong among consumers, who also are at odds with the experts when it comes to increasing organic food production and direct aid in the developing world. Sixteen recognized leaders on food security issues from seven countries were asked to rate 14 potential solutions to global hunger in the Global Hunger Solutions 2013 survey, part of CFI’s efforts to increase awareness of critical global hunger issues. Consumers were asked to rate the same solutions in CFI’s annual consumer trust research. “The proposed solutions are pressing because one in eight people, or 12.5 percent of the global population, is undernourished according to the United Nations,” said Charlie Arnot, CEO of CFI, “with the vast majority of the chronically hungry, living in developing countries.” On a scale of one to five, with one being “not at all important” and five being “critically important,” the experts rated “public policy that supports agricultural practices that lead to greater food self-sufficiency in the developing world” at 4.4, the highest expert rating; consumers rated the same solution at 4.0. Experts rated “the application of technology that increases agricultural production and reduces the impact of the environment” at 4.2, the second-highest expert rating; consumers rated the same solution at 3.9. Experts and consumers are at odds when it comes to providing direct food aid and increasing organic food production as solutions. Consumers rated “increasing direct food aid in the developing world” at 3.6, while experts rated the solution at 2.5 – the second lowest rating in the expert survey. The biggest disparity is seen when it comes to increasing organic production in the developing world. Consumers rated the solution at 3.6, while experts rated it 1.7, the lowest rating they assigned. “The gap between expert opinion and U.S. consumer opinion on hunger solutions reflects one of the ongoing challenges in addressing food insecurity,” said Arnot. “Building broader consensus around hunger solutions will help build public and policymaker support for those solutions. Focusing on solutions that have the greatest impact and broad support provides the best opportunity for success. Both experts and consumers support the adoption of technology that helps smallholder farmers build capacity to achieve self-sufficiency.” Other results include: “Improved food distribution in the developing world”: consumers 3.9, experts 4.1 “Educational support to smallholder farmers to encourage agricultural practices that maximize yields and minimize environmental impact”: consumers 3.9, experts 4.1 “Public policy that encourages the application of technology that increases agricultural production and reduces impact on the environment”: consumers, 3.8, experts 4.2. A majority of the experts in the 2013 Global Hunger Solutions report expressed optimism that global food insecurity can be solved. “It can be solved but it will require open minds on technology and agriculture productivity improvements,” said Aalt Dijkhuizen, president of Wageningen University & Research Centre, The Netherlands. “It will require using science to enhance agriculture technology, reducing waste, improving logistics and more efficient water technologies,” said Rolando Dy, executive director of the University of Asia and the Pacific Center for Food and Agribusiness. “But particularly in developing countries, you need to have good governance.” Left unaddressed, the food security experts feel continued increases in global hunger and malnutrition will lead to social and political unrest, environmental degradation and the failure of millions of people to reach full mental and physical capacity. “Hunger and malnutrition lowers human potential,” said John Lamb, senior fellow and principal associate for Agriculture and Food Security at Abt Associates. “It has physiological effects on the brain that lead to a loss of IQ. Spreading this problem over an entire population eventually leads to a two- or three-point drop in GDP for a country.” “If we don’t figure out how to increase food production while using fewer natural resources there will be severe environmental consequences – massive destruction of forests, loss of wildlife, biodiversity and carbon sequestration capacity,” said Bob Thompson, visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and senior fellow at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The full CFI Global Hunger Solutions 2013 report can be found at www.foodIntegrity.org. Continue reading

Posted on by tsiadmin | Posted in Education, Investment, investments, News, Property, Taylor Scott International, TSI, Uk | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Consumers, Experts At Odds Over Solutions To Global Hunger

Adihex: Culture and heritage on exhibit

Adihex: Culture and heritage on exhibit Silvia Radan / 5 September 2013 With no pomp, no ribbon cutting, the 11th Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) opened its doors at 11am on Wednesday morning. For the next three days, until September 7, 39,000 square meters of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is being taken by 600 national and international organisations promoting the widest variety of products and services related to outdoor camping, hunting, falconry, horse riding and Arab culture and heritage. “The Adihex is one of the most important annual events of its kind, dedicated to the preservation of culture and heritage. We continuously aim to achieve greater success year after year, especially since Adihex is the only exhibition specialised in the culture and heritage in the Gulf region, and as such maintaining success is surely more difficult than just achieving it,” declared Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, chairman of adihex Higher Organising Committee and Culture and Heritage advisor at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court. An instant eye catcher at the exhibition is Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority’s (ADTCA) pavilion, the biggest of them all. “We are as big as last year, over 1,200 square metres,” said Saeed Al Kaabi, manager of traditional productions at ADTCA and in charge of the pavilion. “The concept is inspired by the Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi’s oldest fort. The architecture of the old walls is reproduced here, at a smaller scale, of course. Inside, we have about 40 Emirati traditional handicrafts and activities represented. We have a coffee shop offering free Arabic coffee, tea and dates; a souk where handicraft makers supported by ADTCA sell their products; a corner where Emirati ladies demonstrate the art of saddu and tally; a VIP majlis designed in the style of an old Emirati house…. We have falconry and from 4pm till closing time at 10pm we have Emirati folklore,” Al Kaabi told Khaleej Times. The ADTCA pavilion is also the host of the Arabic Coffee competition, which this year will give away Dh50,000 in prizes in several age and gender related categories. “So far we have about 30 people registered in the competition, but we never close the registration. Sometimes, a person comes just as the competition is about to start and enters it,” explained Al Kaabi. It is close to never that a non-Emirati dares to enter such a local competition, but so far this year an Egyptian national is challenging a few dozen Abu Dhabi Bedouins at Arabic coffee brewing. Coastal traditions are represented too with a full size dhow boat and several miniature ones. Their makers sit next to them, singing sea tunes from the past while making fishing nets. “I made this boat four years ago and my friend here, Khalifa Khamis Ismail made the miniature boats. Dhows are always made by the sea and in Abu Dhabi we still have a workshop in Al Bateen, part of the Emirates Heritage Club,” said Saif Al Benghazi. Since Adihex began 11 years ago as a wild falcon preservation project, getting falconers to give up their wild birds and go for farm bred ones instead, environmental issues are still big at the exhibition today. “This year we focus our presence at Adihex on falconry, so we promote the Falcon Hospital and our falconry research project in Mongolia, which we started in 2010,” said Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, secretary general of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital plays a major role at Adihex, as it sets up a clinic where all falcon buyers may check the birds prior to purchase, free of charge, to make sure they are not getting a sick falcon. Since the hospital also has a pet and animal rescue centre, it brings here some of its rescued cats and dogs, ready for adoption. “It’s amazing! In the first hour of the opening we had one dog and two cats adopted, as well as four falcons for checkup. Last year, the adoption didn’t start until the last two days of Adihex,” revealed Dr Margit Muller, director of Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. Adihex has prepared a full programme of shows from 5pm till 8pm that includes a short film on Adihex and equestrian, birds and camel shows, which will repeat every evening of the exhibition. silvia@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading

Posted on by tsiadmin | Posted in Education, Entertainment, Investment, investments, News, Shows, Sports, Taylor Scott International, TSI, Uk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Adihex: Culture and heritage on exhibit

Navy’s Use of Biofuels Could Trigger Private-Sector Adoption

Taylor Scott International Continue reading

Posted on by tsiadmin | Posted in Investment, investments, News, Property, Taylor Scott International, TSI, Uk | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Navy’s Use of Biofuels Could Trigger Private-Sector Adoption