6 trends shaping the future of farming and ranching
19 Feb, 2019
Farmers and ranchers have long been known for adapting and innovating, but new research challenges whether they are looking deep enough over the horizon to really win in the future. There are six forces of change in the industry that are pretty compelling.
https://www.hpj.com/opinion/trends-shaping-the-future-of-farming-and-ranching/article_f1bfb846-3093-11e9-8998-032a0a97067d.html

TSCOE paves way for vertical farming: India
10 Feb, 2019
The ubiquitous PVC pipes are all set to revolutionise vertical farming in Telangana State. Telangana State Centre of Excellence for Horticulture (TSCOE) at Jeedimetla in Hyderabad developed an indigenous way of vertical farming using PVC pipes that are not only cheaper than many methods adopted by most developed nations but also requires less space and resources. 
https://telanganatoday.com/tscoe-paves-way-for-vertical-farming

FAO Resource Centre inaugurated at Sindh Agriculture University
18 Feb, 2019
With an aim to engage and support Pakistani youth associated with agriculture, the FAO Resource Centre was inaugurated at Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam. As a result of collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this center will promote the use of latest technology through development of strong relationship with farmer groups, researchers and academia.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/433622-fao-resource-centre-inaugurated-at-sindh-agriculture-university

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[[ CLIMATE CHANGE ]]







Researchers plan to enlist ocean viruses in climate change fight
18  Feb , 2019
The trillions of marine viruses that inhabit the world’s oceans could be mobilised in the fight against climate change. New studies suggest that manipulating the viruses that infect most of the bacteria in the oceans enables the microbes to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which could be employed to tackle global warming.
https://www.ft.com/content/4397152a-3309-11e9-bd3a-8b2a211d90d5

Global climate change targets unlikely to be met, research suggests
18 Feb, 2019
Global targets to limit climate change are unlikely to be met due to delays in changing the way people use land, according to new research. The study, involving researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the University of Edinburgh, suggests that efforts to make land management less damaging to the climate need to be stepped up dramatically if high levels of climate change are to be avoided.
https://home.bt.com/news/latest-news/global-climate-change-targets-unlikely-to-be-met-research-suggests-11364337480187

Climate change reshaping how heat moves around globe
29 Jan, 2019
The Earth's atmosphere and oceans play important roles in moving heat from one part of the world to another, and new research is illuminating how those patterns are changing in the face of climate change. 
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190128125334.htm

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[[ DROUGHTS ]]

Australia's drought leading to 'suffering' of children, UN warns
19 Feb, 2019
A prolonged drought in Australia is having a devastating impact on children and forcing them to "grow up" prematurely, a UN report warns. Large parts of eastern Australia have endured severe drought for months, crippling farming communities. Children in these areas are resilient but endure a growing psychological toll, said the UN's children's agency.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-47286856

How drought threatens Britain’s beech trees
18 Feb, 2018
As climate change bites and droughts become more frequent, research suggests it is the beech rather than oaks we should fear for in the future. Scientists studying the tree rings of both species have compared the growth rates for each year with the droughts during the 20th century. They discovered the periods when oak trees grew faster than beech have been increasing, particularly since 1970, and were linked to the changes in temperature and rainfall.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/feb/18/weatherwatch-drought-threatens-britain-beech-trees

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[[ FLOODS ]]






Death toll from Pakistan flash floods, rains rises to 26
22 Feb, 2019
Torrential rains lashed have several cities in Pakistan, triggering flash floods and leaving at least 26 dead, many swept away by the waters or killed when their roofs collapsed. Flash floods submerged villages near the southwestern town of Lasbella, in Baluchistan province, killing three people there and affecting 200 families.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/twelve-dead-in-pakistani-flash-floods/news-story/01236395e0ab6fcf4e0a065ae633c5bd

Sudden rain causes flash floods in Penang
20 Feb, 2019
Flash floods have once again hit Penang in Kampung Jalan Masjid in Jelutong after a sudden downpour. Among the other roads hit by flash floods are Terengganu Road, Jalan P Ramlee, Jalan Masjid Negeri, Jalan Yeap Chor Yee, Jalan Sungai Pinang and Jalan Perak.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/02/20/sudden-rain-causes-flash-floods-in-penang/

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[[ FOOD SECURITY ]]







In 2019 FAO aims to provide 32 mln people with livelihoods support to keep them on their feet
11 Feb, 2019
As global hunger numbers have continued to rise driven by the proliferation of conflicts and climate-related shocks, FAO is seeking $940 million to save the lives and livelihoods of some of the world's most food-insecure populations. In 2019, FAO is hoping to reach over 32 million people who rely on agriculture for their survival and livelihoods through a range of interventions aimed at boosting local food production and enhancing nutrition while strengthening the communities' resilience to crises.
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/2019-fao-aims-provide-32-million-people-livelihoods-support-keep-them-their-feet

Singapore works to enhance food security
13 Feb, 2019
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is set to be formed on 1 April under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. It will be the sole agency to consolidate the regulatory oversight of food safety and security, climate change response and food contamination. In addition, the SFA will support the country’s agricultural sector in scientific and technological research and application to find new development opportunities.
http://sggpnews.org.vn/international/singapore-works-to-enhance-food-security-80247.html

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[[ IRRIGATION ]]






Autonomous drone technology improves irrigation practices
19 Feb, 2019
Monash University engineers are working with Australian farmers to help them improve irrigation practices, reduce water use and maximise crop harvest by using autonomous drone technology. As severe drought continues to devastate farmland and impact food supply across Australia, a Monash University research team, led by Professor Jeff Walker, has spent the past two years developing a drone-based autonomous soil moisture mapping system for irrigated paddocks.
http://www.manmonthly.com.au/news/autonomous-drone-technology-improves-irrigation-practices/

Safer drip irrigation technique developed to protect crops 
12 Feb, 2019
As health and environmental concerns grow due to the use of chemicals to protect and preserve crops from pests, a state-of-the-art drip technology has been developed as a safer solution. Bayer, Netafim and BGN Technologies, the technology transfer company of Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), announced the culmination of a three-year research collaboration, which will combine leading soil research, digital prediction tools and state-of-the art drip technology developed by Netafim to establish the best practices for using drip irrigation as a delivery system for Bayer Velum Prime in Israel.
https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Safer-drip-irrigation-technique-developed-to-protect-crops-from-pests-580450

[Top]    

[[ WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ]]






IIT Mandi team uses diesel soot to mop up oil, chemicals from water: India
6 Feb, 2019
Researchers at IIT Mandi have created recyclable sponges incorporated with soot emitted by diesel engines that can mop up oil and other organic pollutants from water. The team incorporated diesel soot, which contains carbon known to absorb organic pollutants in water, into polymer sponges.
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/iit-mandi-team-uses-diesel-soot-to-mop-up-oil-chemicals-from-water-119020600867_1.html

New water projects planned in Xinjiang: China
19 Feb, 2019
The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will speed up the construction of major water conservation projects in the vast area to increase and better allocate water resources and provide a boost to economic development. The region plans to launch three major water conservation projects along seasonal rivers in southern Xinjiang this year to increase and better regulate water supply for industrial and agricultural use and help reduce flood risks.
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2019-02/19/content_74480097.htm

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{ FORTHCOMING EVENTS }

4th Water Sensitive Cities Conference 2019: Delivering the transition to water sensitive cities- approaches, activities and achievements, 26-28 March 2019, Brisbane
Website: https://watersensitivecities.org.au/content/wsc-conference-2019/

Water for Food Global Conference 2019, 29-30 April 2019, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA 
Theme: Water for a Hungry World: Innovation in Water and Food Security
Website: https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/explore-our-conferences

2019 Floodplain Management Australia National Conference, 14-17 May 2019, Canberra, Australia
Website: https://floodplainconference.com/

ISMAR 10: International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge, 20-24 May 2019, Madrid, Spain
Website: http://ismar10.net

3rd World Irrigation Forum (WIF3) and 70th International Executive Council Meeting, 1-7 September 2019, Bali, Indonesia  
Theme: Development for water, food and nutrition security in a competitive environment
Website: https://icid2019.com/

5th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage (ARCID), 16-19 March 2020, Marrakech, Morocco  
Theme: Sustainable Management of irrigation for improved resilience of agriculture in Africa
Website: http://5arcid.ma/

MinWat 2020: 3rd International Multidisciplinary Conference on Mineral Waters: Genesis, Exploitation, Protection, and Valorisation, 31 March-3
April 2020, Caserta, Italy
Website: https://iah.org/events/minwat-2020

24th ICID International Congress & 71st IEC Meeting, 22-24 September 2020, Sydney, Australia
Website: http://www.icid2020.com.au

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 LATEST PUBLICATION(s)
                               

Beyond Crop per Drop: Assessing Agricultural Water Productivity and Efficiency in a Maturing Water Economy | Published: 2018-06-26; Author(s) Scheierling, Susanne M. and Tréguer, David O.

With growing water scarcity in many parts of the world and projections that indicate the need to increase agricultural production and, concurrently, agricultural water use, it is increasingly advocated to focus efforts on improving agricultural water productivity and efficiency—and thus achieve more crop per drop. Many international organizations concerned with water management are also promoting these efforts, and significant public and private investments are being made in both developed and developing countries. Yet some serious problems are associated with this approach. The report aims to shed further light on these issues: first, by clarifying some of the underlying concepts in the discussion of agricultural water productivity and efficiency; second, by reviewing and analyzing the available methods for assessing water productivity and efficiency, including single-factor productivity measures, total factor productivity indices, frontier methods, and deductive methods; and, third, by discussing their application a relevance in different contexts. The book has been released as an Open Access and can be downloaded @ https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/29922