The lesson of the FAO director: “This is how we feed the world”

The FAO director provided an overview of the challenges facing contemporary food production and nutrition and a vision of how they can be overcome. Quoting the words of the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg who in recent days dismissed the speeches of world leaders on climate as “bla bla bla”, Qu Dongyu he explained the commitments of the FAO to move “from blah blah blah to concrete action”

The general director of the FAO, the Chinese Qu Dongyu, outlined the four improvement objectives defined by the FAO in its strategic framework within the 2030 Agenda: better and targeted production, better nutrition, better environment and better life. 

Objectives described as interconnected macro areas that need coordinated international policies. 

 «The current agri-food systems – he said – are not working. Too often they create harmful vicious circles ». AND Qu then urged governments to adopt stimulus policies that harness the power of innovation, technology and big data..

 In this context, Covid was a warning signal about the fragility of food security, but it also proved to be an opportunity to reassess how we address the remaining causes of hunger and build resilience against threats to better rebuild.

UNESCO and FAO Trains Pastoralist Livelihood and Education Field School (PLEFS) Community facilitators and supervisors in Rumbek, South Sudan.

UNESCO and FAO in partnership with the implementing partners and the three-government line-ministries (General Education and Instructions, Agriculture and Food Security and Livestock and Fisheries) conducted a two-week capacity building training for 63 Pastoralist Livelihood and Education 

Field School teachers/facilitators and 36 County supervisors and State technical working group members from 14 to 27 October 2021 in Rumbek, Lakes State, South Sudan. 

 The capacity building training aimed at increasing the community facilitators’/teachers understanding and knowledge of the integrated Pastoralist Livelihood and Education Field School (PLEFS) approach and methodologies, as well as the curriculum and basic implementation steps in carrying out effective literacy, numeracy and life skills training sessions for the children, youth and adults at the cattle camps. 

UNESCO is partnering with FAO to implement the literacy, numeracy and life skills component of the project to enhance the acquisition of skills, strategies and education essentials for resilient pastoral livelihood by target communities.

Agribusiness: KICC Meat Expo.

KICC Meat Expo: 18th – 19th Nov 2021. THEME: Safe and quality meat for nutrition and wealth creation.

Calling all players to the first edition of the Meat Expo. The event is geared towards providing players along the value chain an opportunity to showcase their work, products, learn and benchmark with others on industry best practices as well as grow their business networks. 

Businesses offering related products, equipment and technologies will also be present.

 Location: KICC, Nairobi CBD

 Time: 9:00AM – 5:00PM (EAT) 

Date: 18th – 19th November 2021 

Cost: Free Entry

Health links are key to preventing future pandemics.

Health links are key to preventing future pandemics.The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that zoonotic diseases – infections that pass from animals to humans – can present tremendous threats to global health. More than 70% of emerging and reemerging pathogens originate from animals. 

That probably includes the SARS CoV-2 virus, which scientists widely believe originated in bats. There are still questions about specifically where the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged. But experts across the globe agree that communities can take steps to reduce the risk of future spillovers. 

A key is for veterinarians, doctors and scientists to work together, recognizing how closely connected human health is with that of animals and of the habitats that we share – an approach known as One Health. 

 To prevent new pandemics, scientists need to identify specific locations where viruses are most likely to make the jump from animals to humans. In turn, this requires understanding how human behaviors – from deforestation to fossil fuel combustion to conflict to cultural activities – contribute to spillover risks.

Importance of One Health for COVID-19 and Future Pandemics

Importance of One Health for COVID-19 and Future Pandemics. More than 400 animals from 29 countries have been reported infected with COVID-19, including nearly 300 animals in the United States, as well as thousands of mink. 

 One Health Day, a global campaign that highlights the need for a One Health approach to address shared health threats by recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, and our environment. 

This approach is more important than ever as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is a zoonotic virus, which means it can spread between people and animals.

 As more animals are reported infected with the COVID-19 virus, it becomes increasingly clear that a One Health approach is crucial to address new disease threats that affect both people and animals.

Namibia now a net importer of controlled meat products

Namibia now a net importer of controlled meat products.Due to decreasing beef production during 2021 as well as an increase in pork imports, Namibia became a net importer of controlled meat and meat products in 2021. 

A net importer means the country imports more than it exports. Commenting on the monthly trade statistics for the third quarter of 2021, the Meat Board of Namibia pinned it on ongoing re-stocking activity as a result of the drought aftermath that created this unusual trade position.

 “An expected rebound in the cattle sector and better prospects in the sheep sector in the absence of quantitative restrictions is likely to reverse the current scenario,” reads the report. 

 “Exports of beef products increased substantially during the third quarter of 2021 on account of a doubling of the quarterly performance by export abattoirs in comparison to the year 2020.

Flood-mapping tool could change how agricultural planning works

A new flood-mapping tool, containing data from 1985 to now, could be what the Global South needs for agricultural planning that protects food security .

The new data source is the first comprehensive source of flooding information globally. 

  This will be particularly relevant for the Global South, where agricultural output and food security are directly connected to rainfall levels.

 According to one study, tropical rainfall will be drastically impacted by climate change – leading to new levels of flood risk, disaster possibility and food insecurity for people in those regions.

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