Much of the human population still goes hungry, yet both public and private investment in agricultural development have reached historic lows. To raise awareness and to direct available funds effectively, Worldwatch Institute’s Nourishing the Planet project is working to assess global agricultural innovation, from farming methods and technologies to agricultural policy. Its findings are detailed on its blog, a comprehensive tour of solutions to hunger and poverty in rural communities worldwide. The blog is updated daily and a different solution is highlighted each week, accompanied by thoughts about the infrastructure and investment it needs to grow.
Solutions showcased on the blog include a workshop in Maputo, Mozambique in which 50 local farmers gathered to share experiences and learn about agricultural techniques practiced in different communities. Farmers spoke to the group about how to raise farmed fish, how to make nontoxic, natural pesticides to protect crops, and how to prevent crop disease. The blog also features a program in Rwanda, the Farmers of the Future Initiative, to incorporate agricultural training and school gardens in primary school curricula. This work is especially important for young girls, as it provides a pathway to independence as well as to food and financial security.
The Nourishing the Planet project contributed to the Worldwatch Institute’s recently released State of the World 2011 report on “Innovations that Nourish the Planet,” which offers a comprehensive assessment of global agriculture.