| IAAE Elections: Vote for Joshua Ariga to IAAE Board of Directors |
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Voting Continues
Between Monday, June 24, 2024, and Sunday, July 14, 2024, all eligible IAAE members will be able to vote electronically for the members of the new IAAE Board of Directors who will take office for three years at the close of the upcoming ICAE 2024 in New Delhi, India. The Nominations Committee, chaired by Past-President Nick Vink, has nominated several candidates for these positions. Dr. Joshua Ariga, the current AAAE President, is among the eight (8) nominees for Members-at-Large. Only three (3) will be elected to this position. If you are a member of IAAE, in good standing, and have registered for the ICAE 2024 conference, you are eligible to vote. To cast your vote for Joshua, click here.
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| 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE 2024) |
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Don't be left out! Secure your spot now 22 Days to go!
The 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) will be held in India from August 2 to 7. The event will bring together experts, scholars, practitioners and early-career researchers from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in agricultural economics. The conference's theme, "Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems," emphasizes the need for innovative approaches to enhance food security, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and address the socioeconomic issues affecting rural communities. Through a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and research presentations, attendees will explore strategies to foster resilient and equitable food systems crucial for achieving global sustainable development goals. The ICAE 2024 aims to inspire collaborative efforts and policy solutions that will shape the future of agriculture in an increasingly interconnected and environmentally conscious world. Read more
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| New open-textbook for Food Economics: Agriculture, Nutrition and Health |
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The ANH Academy is delighted to introduce a new introductory textbook on Food Economics: Agriculture, Nutrition and Health. The first half shows how market mechanisms help explain events in the food system, introducing students to the principles of economics using everyday examples, with only basic geometry to draw analytical diagrams. The second half describes the evolution of agriculture and food systems in the U.S. and worldwide, with charts and tables linked to authoritative data sources. The book is open for access here and teaching material will soon be on the textbook-support site here: https://sites.tufts.edu/foodecon. AAAE members who would like to stay updated about that can sign up for our instructors’ e-list about the book here |
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| Transforming agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa: a new dawn for millet production |
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As the world grapples with climate change, resilient crops such as millets play an increasingly important role. Their ability to thrive in low soil fertility and limited moisture levels makes them ideal for Africa’s changing climate. However, despite their potential, it remains largely untapped. In an initiative to address the untapped potential and the growing challenges associated with the cultivation of pearl and finger millets in Africa, a high-profile discussion convened experts from various fields. This session, part of a workshop titled “Bottlenecks to Expansion of Pearl and Finger Millets in Africa,” organized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with the Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research (ISRA) and CIMMYT, aimed to identify and prioritize key bottlenecks in crop improvement. Read More
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| The destiny of the planet lies in African agriculture – why aren’t we investing in it? |
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Every year, 30 per cent of the planet suffers from hunger, with this figure rising to 60 per cent in Africa. Yet, with its vast natural resources, Africa has the potential to not only feed its growing population – expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050 – but also to significantly contribute to global food security. African agriculture also plays a crucial role in combating climate change. Improved agricultural practices could sequester up to 23 per cent of global carbon emissions by 2050, according to the IPCC. Increasing agricultural productivity on already cultivated land is the only way to stop deforestation, which accounts for 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and is linked to 80 per cent of the expansion of cultivated land. Read more
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| An opportunity for young talents for Doctorial research in sustainable Development |
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| ‘Precision farming’ drones take off in South Africa |
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Farmers and operations in South Africa’s agricultural sector are increasingly turning to drones to assist with “precision farming, a technique involving the analysis and consideration of several factors to determine the correct inputs for maximum outcome. According to Kopano Tholo, a drone expert at ITOO Special Risks, farmers around the world are under pressure to boost the efficiency of resource management in the face of tough economic conditions. At the same time, the “farm-to-plate” phenomenon has seen a greater push for better traceability of food products as consumers are concerned about the sources of the foods and how they were produced. Read more
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| USAID and OCP Forge Partnership to Revolutionize Agriculture |
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In a landmark move for African agricultural advancement, USAID and OCP Group, the world leader in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilizers, have partnered to tackle critical barriers hindering Africa’s agricultural potential. During a visit to University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Ms. Samantha Power – USAID Administrator – signed a collaborative agreement to pursue two sustainable and innovative initiatives designed to enhance agricultural efficiency and productivity across the continent.Read more
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| Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit: A Catalyst for Change in African Agriculture |
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The African continent loses a staggering US$4 billion worth of soil nutrients annually due to erosion. This loss affects over 485 million people and threatens food security. To address this major challenge and obstacle to feed its growing population, the African Union (AU) convened the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) summit in May, in Nairobi Kenya. With the theme of “Listen to the land,” the summit brought together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss and chart a course for improved soil health and agricultural productivity across Africa. The urgency of the situation is undeniable. With an estimated 75-80 per cent of Africa’s cultivated land degraded, the continent loses 30-60 kg of vital nutrients per hectare annually. Impacting roughly 65 per cent of Africa’s population, soil degradation is a severe threat to food and nutrition security, rural livelihoods and environmental sustainability. Read more
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| How AI in Agriculture Drives Sustainable Food Production |
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So, how is AI used in agriculture? While running AI models on computers in labs might be relatively straightforward, the real challenge is deploying them across an entire farm or country. AgTech faces several challenges, including an unwillingness to embrace new technologies, insufficient infrastructure, and privacy and security issues. Nevertheless, the AI in agriculture and farming market is set to grow from $1.7 billion in 2023 to $4.7 billion by 2028, indicating that technological development and steady integration are believed to be the future of productivity, sustainability, and profitability. Read More
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Becoming an AAAE member: The African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) is a nonprofit association serving the professional interests of those working in agricultural and broadly related fields of development economics. Becoming a member of AAAE brings together people who work in the same industry and/or share common interests and goals. Please subscribe today and become a member to help in advocating for our shared purpose. |
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African Association of Agricultural Economists c/o University of Nairobi, C.A.V.S, Upper Kabete Campus Loresho Ridge Road, Nairobi, Kenya |
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