By Geoffrey York Mao, Chad— From Saturday’s Globe and Mail Five-year-old Fatime moves in slow motion, barely able to lift her skeletal arms and legs. Flies land on her face, and she is too weak to brush them away. She struggles to drink a cup of therapeutic milk, the only food she can swallow. Her […]
UN project helps West African farmers cut pesticide use, boost incomes
20/12/2010 by
20 December 2010 – A project executed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in West Africa has succeeded in slashing the use of toxic pesticides, increasing yields and incomes, and diversifying farming systems. Around 100,000 farmers in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal are participating in the community-driven training programme, which promotes […]
Asian Development Bank grants $69m for forest protection project
20/12/2010 by
MANILA — The Asian Development Bank last week approved loans and grants worth US$69 million to Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam for a community-based initiative to protect more than 1.9 million ha of threatened forests where 170,000 mostly poor people live. The 32-year loan of $30 million to Viet Nam and grants of $19 million […]
Germany calls for an EU database of organic producers
20/12/2010 by
Following scandals over falsely labeled organic meat, Germany wants the EU to set up a database of certified organic produce suppliers. Those in favor say such a system will provide greater transparency for consumers. In an effort to curb fraudulent abuse of organic labels, the German government is calling on the European Commission to set […]