QUICK NOTESMongabay, a leading resource for news and perspectives on environmental and conservation issues related to the tropics, has launched Tropical Conservation Science - a new, open access academic e-journal. It will cover a wide variety of scientific and social studies on tropical ecosystems, their biodiversity and the threats posed to them. Tropical Conservation Science - March 8, 2008.At the 148th Meeting of the OPEC Conference, the oil exporting cartel decided to leave its production level unchanged, sending crude prices spiralling to new records (above $104). OPEC "observed that the market is well-supplied, with current commercial oil stocks standing above their five-year average. The Conference further noted, with concern, that the current price environment does not reflect market fundamentals, as crude oil prices are being strongly influenced by the weakness in the US dollar, rising inflation and significant flow of funds into the commodities market." OPEC - March 5, 2008. Kyushu University (Japan) is establishing what it says will be the world’s first graduate program in hydrogen energy technologies. The new master’s program for hydrogen engineering is to be offered at the university’s new Ito campus in Fukuoka Prefecture. Lectures will cover such topics as hydrogen energy and developing the fuel cells needed to convert hydrogen into heat or electricity. Of all the renewable pathways to produce hydrogen, bio-hydrogen based on the gasification of biomass is by far both the most efficient, cost-effective and cleanest. Fuel Cell Works - March 3, 2008. An entrepreneur in Ivory Coast has developed a project to establish a network of Miscanthus giganteus farms aimed at producing biomass for use in power generation. In a first phase, the goal is to grow the crop on 200 hectares, after which expansion will start. The project is in an advanced stage, but the entrepreneur still seeks partners and investors. The plantation is to be located in an agro-ecological zone qualified as highly suitable for the grass species. Contact us - March 3, 2008. A 7.1MW biomass power plant to be built on the Haiwaiian island of Kaua‘i has received approval from the local Planning Commission. The plant, owned and operated by Green Energy Hawaii, will use albizia trees, a hardy species that grows in poor soil on rainfall alone. The renewable power plant will meet 10 percent of the island's energy needs. Kauai World - February 27, 2008. |
- High food prices bringing fertile farmland back on...
- A burning issue: satellite data show very large po...
- RAB: biomass now the key renewable energy source, ...
- Three studies look at soil's carbon storage capaci...
- Bio-SNG pilot plant comes online in the Netherland...
- Austin Energy plans $2.3 billion investment in bio...
- Aspiravi and Spano build 26MWe biomass power plant...
- FAO calls for boost to cassava R&D for biofuels an...
- Torrefaction gives biomass a 20% energy boost, mak...
- Green Planet Energy to invest $228 million in 14 b...
- Researchers at the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute (TFRI) and North Carolina State University in the U.S. have developed genetically modified Eucalyptus trees that store far more carbon dioxide and contain less lignin. - Biopact Sept. 17, 2007
- The International Eucalyptus Genome Consortium's sequencing effort has been taken up as a project under the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Joint Genome Project for the year 2008. - Biopact June 12, 2007
- Brazilian state of Acre intends to make cattle ranchers reforest land which they have cleared for grazing. The sustainable forestry policy is based on replanting economic tree crops such as mahogany, acai, Brazil nut and palms - BBCNews Sept. 27, 2006
- Illegal deforestation of acacia for charcoal is becoming a serious problem in Kenya's Naivasha area. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai's Green Belt Movement re-afforests with acacia but needs more support to win fight against illegal loggers - Kenya Times Sept. 5, 2006
- Australian scientists are conducting a 'time-machine' experiment to see how eucalyptus trees cope with increased levels of CO2 and global warming. - University of Western Sydney Aug. 28, 2006
- International research effort underway to sequence cassava genome, which may result in increased starch yields - USDA Agricultural Research Service - Aug. 30, 2006
- Cassava has one of the highest rates of CO2 fixation and sucrose synthesis for any C3 plant. With this in mind, researchers from Ohio State University develop transgenic cassava with starch yields up 2.6 times higher than normal plants by increasing the sink strength for carbohydrate in the crop. This means cassava makes for a 'super crop' when it comes to both CO2 fixation and carbohydrate production, i.e. sugars, the feedstock for ethanol - Plant Biotechnology Journal - Volume 4/Issue 4 - July 2006
- Vietnam's Institute of Tropical Biology to invest in Jatropha research - Le courrier du Vietnam - Sept. 6, 2006
- Genetic study proves humans have pushed orangutans to the brink of extinction; genetic decline coincides with establishment of oil palm plantations in Malaysia/Indonesia since the 1950/60s- Public Library of Science / Biology, Volume 4/Issue 2 - February, 2006
- Synthetic Genomics and the Asiatic Centre for Genome Technology Sdn Bhd (ACGT) have created a multi-year research and development joint venture to sequence and analyze the oil palm genome. In-depth genomic analyses will be followed by subsequent studies that will analyze the oil palm’s root and leaf microbial communities, to identify biomarkers and metabolic pathways that affect the plant's growth and viability. Biopact - July, 2007
- Researchers at the International Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics have developed a sweet sorghum for the production of ethanol. The new variety has a very high sugar content in its root. Average yields in trial fields in the Philippines were between 95 to 125 tons, considerably higher than those of sugarcane - ICRISAT - Feb. 28, 2007
- Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania, develops sorghum and millet processing technologies suitable for local conditions in effort to empower small farmers - IPP Media - Sept. 6, 2006
- South Africa blocks GM Sorghum project for fears over contamination of local wild sorghums - Kruger Park - Aug. 26, 2006
- Brazilian authorities have given their fiat for field trials with genetically modified sugar cane plants. The Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira (Cane Technology Center - CTC) will test three genetically modified varieties that are expected to yield 15% more sugar - GMO Compass
- Bamboo planting can slow deforestation, scientists from the International Center for Research in Agroforestry in Nairobi, Kenya, say. Bamboo rapidly becoming economically beneficial crop with large potential for energy, bioremediation, and afforestation - Chosun (S.Korea) Aug. 30, 2006
- "The beauty of miscanthus is that you only have to sow it once...Because of the way it grows, there is no need for fertilisers or chemicals", an English entrepreneur talks about his experience with Miscanthus as an energy crop - Grantham Today Aug. 8, 2006
- Bioenergy basics
- IEA Bioenergy
- EU Renewable Energy Portal
- FAO Bioenergy
- FAO Forest Energy Program
- Bioenergy Network of Excellence
- Bioenergy Future Group
- Bioenergy International
- Bioenergy Mailing List
- EUEI: European Energy Initiative for Poverty Eradication & Sustainable Development
- LAMNET: International cooperation on Bioenergy in the developing world
- Global Village Energy Partnership
- SparkNet: energy for low-income households in Southern and East Africa
- World Energy Council: energy for sustainable development
- International Network for Sustainable Energy (in the South)
- The Energy & Resources Institute
- Renewable Energy for Development (SEI)
- CARENSA: Cane Resources Network for Southern Africa (supported by the EU)
- EUBIA: European Biomass Industry Association
- ENDA: Energie, Environnement et Developpement
- Practical Action
- AFREPEN: Energy, Environment and Development Network for Africa
- Ethical Sugar
- Societe Civile (Republique Democratique du Congo)
- Wegweiser Buergergesellschaft
- Ubuntu: World Forum of Civil Society Networks
- Choike: a portal on Southern civil societies
- Civil Society Building
- CSO at the UNDP
- Attac
- World Social Forum
- European Social Forum
- ADEME: France's energy & environment agency
- The EU's "Green Paper" energy website
- EuropaBio
- Bio-Economy: The EU Bio-based Economy web
- Alternatives Economiques
- Cooperation Internationale pour le Developpement et la Solidarite
- Agir Ici
- Centre de Recherche et d'Information pour le Developpement
- Raisons d'Agir
- Greenedia
- BioConversion Blog
- Energy Blog
- Environmental News Bits
- Ethablog: the Brazilian Experience (English)
- Ethanol Brasil: the Brazilian Experience (Portuguese)
- Biodiesel Blog
- FutureCars
- GreenCarCongress
- AllAfrica/slash/Sustainable
- AllAfrica/slash/Energy (Anglophone)
- AllAfrica/slash/energie (Franco- & lusophone)
Previous Articles
CROP NEWS
Categories
Resources
-
Bioenergy
Energy & development
Civil Society in Africa
Altermondialism
EU & African institutions
Social & green think tanks
Bio-blogs
Energy News from Africa
Archives
-
22/11/2003:: 
01/01/2004:: 
16/02/2004:: 
25/03/2004:: 
08/04/2004:: 
14/04/2004:: 
22/04/2004:: 
29/04/2004:: 
02/06/2004:: 
16/09/2004:: 
22/10/2004:: 
28/10/2004:: 
05/02/2005:: 
18/02/2005:: 
03/03/2005:: 
14/04/2005:: 
05/05/2005:: 
06/05/2005:: 
07/05/2005:: 
30/05/2005:: 
01/06/2005:: 
16/07/2005:: 
07/08/2005:: 
21/09/2005:: 
02/10/2005:: 
08/12/2005:: 
01/01/2006:: 
06/01/2006:: 
10/02/2006:: 
13/02/2006:: 
20/02/2006:: 
21/02/2006:: 
28/02/2006:: 
07/03/2006:: 
15/03/2006:: 
22/03/2006:: 
24/03/2006:: 
04/04/2006:: 
07/04/2006:: 
14/04/2006:: 
25/04/2006:: 
27/04/2006:: 
01/05/2006:: 
02/05/2006:: 
06/05/2006:: 
08/05/2006:: 
14/05/2006:: 
17/05/2006:: 
19/05/2006:: 
22/05/2006:: 
25/05/2006:: 
26/05/2006:: 
29/05/2006:: 
30/05/2006:: 
31/05/2006:: 
02/06/2006:: 
06/06/2006:: 
07/06/2006:: 
08/06/2006:: 
10/06/2006:: 
11/06/2006:: 
12/06/2006:: 
13/06/2006:: 
14/06/2006:: 
15/06/2006:: 
16/06/2006:: 
17/06/2006:: 
18/06/2006:: 
19/06/2006:: 
20/06/2006:: 
21/06/2006:: 
23/06/2006:: 
24/06/2006:: 
25/06/2006:: 
26/06/2006:: 
27/06/2006:: 
28/06/2006:: 
29/06/2006:: 
30/06/2006:: 
01/07/2006:: 
02/07/2006:: 
03/07/2006:: 
04/07/2006:: 
05/07/2006:: 
06/07/2006:: 
07/07/2006:: 
09/07/2006:: 
10/07/2006:: 
11/07/2006:: 
12/07/2006:: 
13/07/2006:: 
14/07/2006:: 
15/07/2006:: 
16/07/2006:: 
17/07/2006:: 
18/07/2006:: 
19/07/2006:: 
20/07/2006:: 
21/07/2006:: 
22/07/2006:: 
23/07/2006:: 
24/07/2006:: 
25/07/2006:: 
26/07/2006:: 
27/07/2006:: 
28/07/2006:: 
29/07/2006:: 
30/07/2006:: 
31/07/2006:: 
01/08/2006:: 
02/08/2006:: 
03/08/2006:: 
04/08/2006:: 
05/08/2006:: 
06/08/2006:: 
07/08/2006:: 
08/08/2006:: 
09/08/2006:: 
10/08/2006:: 
11/08/2006:: 
12/08/2006:: 
13/08/2006:: 
14/08/2006:: 
15/08/2006:: 
16/08/2006:: 
17/08/2006:: 
18/08/2006:: 
19/08/2006:: 
20/08/2006:: 
21/08/2006:: 
22/08/2006:: 
23/08/2006:: 
24/08/2006:: 
25/08/2006:: 
26/08/2006:: 
27/08/2006:: 
28/08/2006:: 
29/08/2006:: 
30/08/2006:: 
01/09/2006:: 
02/09/2006:: 
03/09/2006:: 
04/09/2006:: 
05/09/2006:: 
06/09/2006:: 
07/09/2006:: 
08/09/2006:: 
09/09/2006:: 
10/09/2006:: 
11/09/2006:: 
12/09/2006:: 
13/09/2006:: 
14/09/2006:: 
15/09/2006:: 
16/09/2006:: 
17/09/2006:: 
18/09/2006:: 
19/09/2006:: 
20/09/2006:: 
21/09/2006:: 
22/09/2006:: 
23/09/2006:: 
24/09/2006:: 
25/09/2006:: 
26/09/2006:: 
27/09/2006:: 
28/09/2006:: 
29/09/2006:: 
30/09/2006:: 
01/10/2006:: 
02/10/2006:: 
03/10/2006:: 
04/10/2006:: 
05/10/2006:: 
06/10/2006:: 
07/10/2006:: 
08/10/2006:: 
09/10/2006:: 
10/10/2006:: 
11/10/2006:: 
12/10/2006:: 
13/10/2006:: 
14/10/2006:: 
15/10/2006:: 
16/10/2006:: 
17/10/2006:: 
18/10/2006:: 
19/10/2006:: 
20/10/2006:: 
21/10/2006:: 
22/10/2006:: 
23/10/2006:: 
24/10/2006:: 
25/10/2006:: 
26/10/2006:: 
27/10/2006:: 
28/10/2006:: 
29/10/2006:: 
30/10/2006:: 
31/10/2006:: 
01/11/2006:: 
02/11/2006:: 
03/11/2006:: 
04/11/2006:: 
05/11/2006:: 
06/11/2006:: 
07/11/2006:: 
08/11/2006:: 
09/11/2006:: 
10/11/2006:: 
11/11/2006:: 
12/11/2006:: 
13/11/2006:: 
14/11/2006:: 
15/11/2006:: 
16/11/2006:: 
17/11/2006:: 
18/11/2006:: 
19/11/2006:: 
20/11/2006:: 
21/11/2006:: 
22/11/2006:: 
23/11/2006:: 
24/11/2006:: 
25/11/2006:: 
26/11/2006:: 
27/11/2006:: 
28/11/2006:: 
29/11/2006:: 
30/11/2006:: 
01/12/2006:: 
02/12/2006:: 
03/12/2006:: 
04/12/2006:: 
05/12/2006:: 
06/12/2006:: 
07/12/2006:: 
08/12/2006:: 
09/12/2006:: 
10/12/2006:: 
11/12/2006:: 
12/12/2006:: 
13/12/2006:: 
14/12/2006:: 
15/12/2006:: 
16/12/2006:: 
17/12/2006:: 
18/12/2006:: 
19/12/2006:: 
20/12/2006:: 
21/12/2006:: 
22/12/2006:: 
23/12/2006:: 
24/12/2006:: 
25/12/2006:: 
26/12/2006:: 
27/12/2006:: 
28/12/2006:: 
01/01/2007:: 
02/01/2007:: 
03/01/2007:: 
04/01/2007:: 
05/01/2007:: 
07/01/2007:: 
08/01/2007:: 
09/01/2007:: 
10/01/2007:: 
11/01/2007:: 
12/01/2007:: 
13/01/2007:: 
14/01/2007:: 
15/01/2007:: 
16/01/2007:: 
17/01/2007:: 
18/01/2007:: 
19/01/2007:: 
20/01/2007:: 
21/01/2007:: 
22/01/2007:: 
23/01/2007:: 
24/01/2007:: 
25/01/2007:: 
26/01/2007:: 
27/01/2007:: 
28/01/2007:: 
29/01/2007:: 
30/01/2007:: 
31/01/2007:: 
01/02/2007:: 
02/02/2007:: 
03/02/2007:: 
04/02/2007:: 
05/02/2007:: 
06/02/2007:: 
07/02/2007:: 
08/02/2007:: 
09/02/2007:: 
10/02/2007:: 
11/02/2007:: 
12/02/2007:: 
13/02/2007:: 
14/02/2007:: 
15/02/2007:: 
16/02/2007:: 
17/02/2007:: 
18/02/2007:: 
19/02/2007:: 
20/02/2007:: 
21/02/2007:: 
22/02/2007:: 
23/02/2007:: 
24/02/2007:: 
25/02/2007:: 
26/02/2007:: 
27/02/2007:: 
28/02/2007:: 
01/03/2007:: 
02/03/2007:: 
03/03/2007:: 
04/03/2007:: 
05/03/2007:: 
06/03/2007:: 
07/03/2007:: 
08/03/2007:: 
09/03/2007:: 
10/03/2007:: 
11/03/2007:: 
12/03/2007:: 
13/03/2007:: 
14/03/2007:: 
15/03/2007:: 
16/03/2007:: 
17/03/2007:: 
18/03/2007:: 
19/03/2007:: 
20/03/2007:: 
21/03/2007:: 
22/03/2007:: 
23/03/2007:: 
24/03/2007:: 
25/03/2007:: 
26/03/2007:: 
27/03/2007:: 
28/03/2007:: 
29/03/2007:: 
30/03/2007:: 
31/03/2007:: 
01/04/2007:: 
02/04/2007:: 
03/04/2007:: 
04/04/2007:: 
05/04/2007:: 
06/04/2007:: 
07/04/2007:: 
08/04/2007:: 
09/04/2007:: 
10/04/2007:: 
11/04/2007:: 
12/04/2007:: 
13/04/2007:: 
14/04/2007:: 
15/04/2007:: 
16/04/2007:: 
17/04/2007:: 
18/04/2007:: 
19/04/2007:: 
20/04/2007:: 
21/04/2007:: 
22/04/2007:: 
23/04/2007:: 
24/04/2007:: 
25/04/2007:: 
26/04/2007:: 
27/04/2007:: 
28/04/2007:: 
29/04/2007:: 
30/04/2007:: 
01/05/2007:: 
02/05/2007:: 
03/05/2007:: 
04/05/2007:: 
05/05/2007:: 
06/05/2007:: 
07/05/2007:: 
08/05/2007:: 
09/05/2007:: 
10/05/2007:: 
11/05/2007:: 
12/05/2007:: 
13/05/2007:: 
14/05/2007:: 
15/05/2007:: 
16/05/2007:: 
17/05/2007:: 
18/05/2007:: 
19/05/2007:: 
20/05/2007:: 
21/05/2007:: 
22/05/2007:: 
23/05/2007:: 
24/05/2007:: 
25/05/2007:: 
26/05/2007:: 
27/05/2007:: 
28/05/2007:: 
29/05/2007:: 
30/05/2007:: 
31/05/2007:: 
01/06/2007:: 
02/06/2007:: 
03/06/2007:: 
04/06/2007:: 
05/06/2007:: 
06/06/2007:: 
07/06/2007:: 
08/06/2007:: 
09/06/2007:: 
10/06/2007:: 
11/06/2007:: 
12/06/2007:: 
13/06/2007:: 
14/06/2007:: 
15/06/2007:: 
16/06/2007:: 
17/06/2007:: 
18/06/2007:: 
19/06/2007:: 
20/06/2007:: 
21/06/2007:: 
22/06/2007:: 
23/06/2007:: 
24/06/2007:: 
25/06/2007:: 
26/06/2007:: 
27/06/2007:: 
28/06/2007:: 
29/06/2007:: 
30/06/2007:: 
01/07/2007:: 
02/07/2007:: 
03/07/2007:: 
04/07/2007:: 
05/07/2007:: 
06/07/2007:: 
07/07/2007:: 
08/07/2007:: 
09/07/2007:: 
10/07/2007:: 
11/07/2007:: 
12/07/2007:: 
13/07/2007:: 
14/07/2007:: 
15/07/2007:: 
16/07/2007:: 
17/07/2007:: 
18/07/2007:: 
19/07/2007:: 
20/07/2007:: 
21/07/2007:: 
22/07/2007:: 
23/07/2007:: 
24/07/2007:: 
25/07/2007:: 
26/07/2007:: 
27/07/2007:: 
28/07/2007:: 
29/07/2007:: 
30/07/2007:: 
31/07/2007:: 
01/08/2007:: 
02/08/2007:: 
03/08/2007:: 
04/08/2007:: 
05/08/2007:: 
06/08/2007:: 
07/08/2007:: 
08/08/2007:: 
09/08/2007:: 
10/08/2007:: 
11/08/2007:: 
12/08/2007:: 
13/08/2007:: 
14/08/2007:: 
15/08/2007:: 
16/08/2007:: 
17/08/2007:: 
18/08/2007:: 
19/08/2007:: 
20/08/2007:: 
21/08/2007:: 
22/08/2007:: 
23/08/2007:: 
24/08/2007:: 
25/08/2007:: 
26/08/2007:: 
27/08/2007:: 
28/08/2007:: 
29/08/2007:: 
30/08/2007:: 
31/08/2007:: 
01/09/2007:: 
02/09/2007:: 
03/09/2007:: 
04/09/2007:: 
05/09/2007:: 
06/09/2007:: 
07/09/2007:: 
08/09/2007:: 
09/09/2007:: 
10/09/2007:: 
11/09/2007:: 
12/09/2007:: 
13/09/2007:: 
14/09/2007:: 
15/09/2007:: 
16/09/2007:: 
17/09/2007:: 
18/09/2007:: 
19/09/2007:: 
20/09/2007:: 
21/09/2007:: 
22/09/2007:: 
23/09/2007:: 
24/09/2007:: 
25/09/2007:: 
26/09/2007:: 
27/09/2007:: 
28/09/2007:: 
29/09/2007:: 
30/09/2007:: 
01/10/2007:: 
02/10/2007:: 
03/10/2007:: 
04/10/2007:: 
05/10/2007:: 
06/10/2007:: 
07/10/2007:: 
08/10/2007:: 
09/10/2007:: 
10/10/2007:: 
11/10/2007:: 
12/10/2007:: 
13/10/2007:: 
14/10/2007:: 
15/10/2007:: 
16/10/2007:: 
17/10/2007:: 
18/10/2007:: 
19/10/2007:: 
20/10/2007:: 
21/10/2007:: 
22/10/2007:: 
23/10/2007:: 
24/10/2007:: 
25/10/2007:: 
26/10/2007:: 
27/10/2007:: 
28/10/2007:: 
29/10/2007:: 
30/10/2007:: 
31/10/2007:: 
01/11/2007:: 
02/11/2007:: 
03/11/2007:: 
04/11/2007:: 
05/11/2007:: 
06/11/2007:: 
07/11/2007:: 
08/11/2007:: 
09/11/2007:: 
10/11/2007:: 
11/11/2007:: 
12/11/2007:: 
13/11/2007:: 
14/11/2007:: 
15/11/2007:: 
16/11/2007:: 
17/11/2007:: 
18/11/2007:: 
19/11/2007:: 
20/11/2007:: 
21/11/2007:: 
22/11/2007:: 
23/11/2007:: 
24/11/2007:: 
25/11/2007:: 
26/11/2007:: 
27/11/2007:: 
28/11/2007:: 
29/11/2007:: 
30/11/2007:: 
01/12/2007:: 
02/12/2007:: 
03/12/2007:: 
04/12/2007:: 
05/12/2007:: 
06/12/2007:: 
07/12/2007:: 
08/12/2007:: 
09/12/2007:: 
10/12/2007:: 
11/12/2007:: 
12/12/2007:: 
13/12/2007:: 
14/12/2007:: 
15/12/2007:: 
16/12/2007:: 
17/12/2007:: 
18/12/2007:: 
19/12/2007:: 
20/12/2007:: 
21/12/2007:: 
22/12/2007:: 
23/12/2007:: 
24/12/2007:: 
25/12/2007:: 
26/12/2007:: 
27/12/2007:: 
28/12/2007:: 
29/12/2007:: 
30/12/2007:: 
31/12/2007:: 
01/01/2008:: 
02/01/2008:: 
03/01/2008:: 
04/01/2008:: 
05/01/2008:: 
06/01/2008:: 
07/01/2008:: 
08/01/2008:: 
09/01/2008:: 
10/01/2008:: 
11/01/2008:: 
12/01/2008:: 
13/01/2008:: 
14/01/2008:: 
15/01/2008:: 
16/01/2008:: 
17/01/2008:: 
18/01/2008:: 
19/01/2008:: 
20/01/2008:: 
21/01/2008:: 
22/01/2008:: 
23/01/2008:: 
24/01/2008:: 
25/01/2008:: 
26/01/2008:: 
27/01/2008:: 
28/01/2008:: 
29/01/2008:: 
30/01/2008:: 
31/01/2008:: 
01/02/2008:: 
02/02/2008:: 
03/02/2008:: 
04/02/2008:: 
05/02/2008:: 
06/02/2008:: 
07/02/2008:: 
08/02/2008:: 
09/02/2008:: 
10/02/2008:: 
11/02/2008:: 
12/02/2008:: 
13/02/2008:: 
14/02/2008:: 
15/02/2008:: 
16/02/2008:: 
17/02/2008:: 
18/02/2008:: 
19/02/2008:: 
20/02/2008:: 
21/02/2008:: 
22/02/2008:: 
23/02/2008:: 
24/02/2008:: 
25/02/2008:: 
26/02/2008:: 
27/02/2008:: 
28/02/2008:: 
29/02/2008:: 
01/03/2008:: 
02/03/2008:: 
03/03/2008:: 
04/03/2008:: 
05/03/2008:: 
06/03/2008:: 
07/03/2008:: 
08/03/2008:: 
09/03/2008:: 
10/03/2008:: 
06/04/2008:: 
07/05/2008:: 
09/05/2008:: 
20/05/2008:: 
24/05/2008:: 
27/05/2008:: 
28/05/2008:: 
29/05/2008:: 
30/05/2008:: 
02/06/2008:: 
03/06/2008:: 
05/06/2008:: 
06/06/2008:: 
09/06/2008:: 
10/06/2008:: 
11/06/2008:: 
12/06/2008:: 
15/06/2008:: 
16/06/2008:: 
17/06/2008:: 
18/06/2008:: 
19/06/2008:: 
20/06/2008:: 
24/06/2008:: 
02/07/2008:: 
03/07/2008:: 
04/07/2008:: 
07/07/2008:: 
08/07/2008:: 
09/07/2008:: 
12/07/2008:: 
15/07/2008:: 
16/07/2008:: 
17/07/2008:: 
18/07/2008:: 
19/07/2008:: 
21/07/2008:: 
23/07/2008:: 
24/07/2008:: 
25/07/2008:: 
26/07/2008:: 
27/07/2008:: 
29/07/2008:: 
30/07/2008:: 
01/08/2008:: 
Friday, August 01, 2008
High food prices bringing fertile farmland back online - at last
The Russian example is just one amongst many. Decades of catastrophically low food prices and a general disinterest in agriculture amongst investors have led to the abandonment of hundreds of millions of hectares of good farmland around the world. Around 1 billion more hectares of low value, marginal land lie dormant, waiting for farmers to take it back into production.
Richard Willows, a former commodities trader, and Colin Hinchley, a farmer in his own right, came to Russia and bought up land in the Penza region that no-one was farming. They set up Heartlands Farm and did something very simple: they applied modern farming techniques with hi-tech equipment. As was to be expected, the results have been astounding. The farm achieved twice the yield of that of the Russian farms in the region. This year they expect yields three times as high as the average - around six tonnes per hectare. Check the video, here.
The socio-economic situation in this region - known to be home to some of the world's most productive soils - is dramatic: entire villages have been abandoned, people have migrated en masse to the cities, investments in farming have dried up entirely. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the dismantlement of collective farms, individual farmers were exposed to the dynamics of the world market. And what they saw - extremely low food prices - prompted them to give up the profession. The result is tens of millions of hectares of prime land that are just waiting to be cultivated.
The Russian example can be replicated all over the world - but especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, the enormous agricultural potential of which has not even begun to be touched. In Africa too, villages are being abandoned on a massive scale. This has put the farming sector under pressure. But the high food prices could be curbing this trend, because even small farmers can profit today. This is so because with relatively simple inputs - quality seed, fertilizer, basic knowledge and equipment -, average crop yields on the continent can be tripled to quintupled with ease, even by the continent's millions of smallholders, 95% of who use no modern inputs whatsoever (previous post).
We can only hope that food prices retain their current highs, because this is the only way for investors to become interested in agriculture once again. The unpleasant decades of dirt-cheap food are over. This problematic past kept the world's poorest - 75% of whom are farmers - in obscene poverty. Today, there is hope for them to keep farming and make a decent living.
One more word about Russia: the country is beginning to understand its potential as a green giant. President Putin recently called on the country's farmers to look into biofuels in order to revive the farming sector. Russia's Ministry of Agriculture for its part announced that the vast country would begin to produce 1 billion tons of biomass for exports, grown on a 'small' area of abandoned farm land in the immense temperate steppes of South-Central Russia. This is the equivalent of around 400 million tons of oil, or 2.8 billion barrels per year/7.7 million barrels per day. The land is immediately available, and does not refer to the much larger (future) biomass resource available in the country.
Picture: traditional Russian farmers dominate the landscape in Penza, but modern agriculture can triple yields.
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: food :: agriculture :: Russia ::
Article continues
posted by Biopact team at 11:14 PM 0 comments links to this post