Fresh from the oven, The Economist article on the end of cheap food

Cheap no moreDec 6th 2007 From The Economist print editionGerrit BuntrockRising incomes in Asia and ethanol subsidies in America have put an end to a long era of falling food pricesONE of the odder features of last weekend's vote in Venezuela was that staple foods were in short supply. Something similar happened in Russia before its parliamentary election. Governments in both oil-rich countries

Nothing But Nets

Hi there,Malaria prevention remains a very important component on the fight against poverty. The disease is the leading killer of children, having a huge impact in the development process of countries, specially those in subsaharan Africa. As my girlfriend helps CDC in a workshop on how to conduct mosquito nets survey in Togo and I get ready to take the stomach-upsetting malaria pills for my next

EVENTS: Transforming the Rural Nonfarm Economy: Opportunities and Threats in the Developing World

For those in the Washington Area, here is a very intersting event:IFPRI, the Sustainable Rural and Urban Development Unit of the World Bank’s Development Research Department, and the World Bank’s InfoShop invite you to a panel discussion onTransforming the Rural Nonfarm Economy: Opportunities and Threats in the Developing WorldWithPaul Dorosh, World BankSteven Haggblade, Michigan State

Corn

Hi there,When I don't have anything relevant to say (at least for now), I post pictures, and today I'm doing just that.Corn, the best friend of many people around the world, has been under though criticizing lately. With the release of the new documentary King Corn and pointed denunciation from the environmental community about corn-based ethanol, farmers are left questioning what is it that they

Ag-Biotech Updates

Control of Coleopteran Insect Pests through RNA Interference Source:Nature BiotechnologyAuthor:James A. BaumChinese researchers say they may have found a way to overcome the resistance of cotton bollworms (Helicoverpa armigera) to the inhibitory chemical gossypol, which is produced naturally by cotton plants. The researchers identified the cotton bollworm gene, called CYP6AE14, that confers

More on Subsidies; articles from American Newspapers

As the Senate continues its debate on the Farm bill, it seems that very little will change from the current US farm policies. Here is the latest from US newspapers:New York Times In Farm Belt, Ethanol Plants Hit Resistance;Washington Post Senate's Farm Bill Includes $10 Billion in New Aid;Washington Times: An unworthy farm billNovember 13, 2007In Farm Belt, Ethanol Plants Hit ResistanceBy MONICA

International Experience and Your Career

International Experience and Your Career:Networking PanelWednesday November 14, 2007 5:30 to 7:30 pmLocation: University Career Center, 3100 HornbakeLibraryAbout the event:This event will begin with a panel discussion.During the panel employers from variousorganizations will discuss their internationalexperiences as well as how students can market theirinternational experience. Employers will

FT: Rising food prices to hit consumption

Intersting article about the impact of high commodity prices.As always, click on read more to see the whole articleRising food prices to hit consumptionByJavier Blas, Commodities Correspondent, in London Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007Published: November 7 2007 11:00 | Last updated: November 7 2007 11:00Poor developing countries will be forced to cut food consumption and risk an

Farm Bill: Contrasting view: "Finally, an Editorial for Farmers"

In my effort to show the two sides of the Farm Bill debate, here an oped by Congressman Collin Peterson (D) represents Minnesota’s seventh Congressional district and is the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. Although the underlying factors behind the subsides -the huge economic and political clout of the agribusiness sector in the US- and its impact on world prices are not addressed,

More on Subsidies; articles from American Newspapers

Hi Folks,I’ve put together some good articles that have come out during the past week about the Farm Bill debate and its implication in world poverty. Click on read more to get them all.Any comments????NYTimes Weed It and Reap By MICHAEL POLLANWashington Post Cotton and Conscience By Michael GersonMiami Herald A chance to end farm subsidies

Taking Action for the World’s Poor and Hungry People

Here is another intersting seminar on the 2020 series at IFPRI. Hope to see you there.IFPRI cordially invites you to a 2020 Vision Policy SeminarTaking Action for the World’s Poor and Hungry People Monday, November 19, 200711:00 am – 12:30 pmLunch to FollowThe Melrose HotelPotomac Rooms I & II2430 Pennsylvania Ave., NWWashington, DC 20037Please feel free to share this invitation with your

World Development Report 2008; Agriculture for Development

Finally, after decades of diminishing budgets towards agriculture and rural development, Ag Dev is back on the donors' agenda with the seminar publication of World Bank's WDR Agriculture for Development. Last time a WDR had Agriculture as a main topic was back in 1982!. It's hard to tell if the rhetoric will translate into concrete action and funds from the donor community. Yet, one can perceive

West Africa, in Pictures

Hi Folks,Here are some picture of my trip to Togo, Ghana, and Benin. If you would like to see them all follow this linkA typical Tropical fruit stand.Yams, the only ingredient to make FUFU, the staple foodTraditional Grain StoragePounding the seeds of African palm to obtain oil.A welcoming Yam

My neighbor’s Plot

Summer is finally here and the garden is blooming. The tomatoes can't be happier with the temperature nearing the hundreds and my butterfly bush is about to flower. It feels great to be able to escape from the urban setting and get some dirt under your nails and look at the zucchinis grow by the inches everyday. Sundays remind me the Mingas of our ancestors as everybody is working in their plots,

Food Cirsis in Lesotho

The picture that lies behind the title of this blog was taken a couple year ago while touring the mountains of the kingdom of Lesotho. Despite its breathtaking beauty, this picture encompasses the hardship on which the people of Lesotho- the Basotho- have to live in. If you look closely into the photo, you’ll see small patches of grass, surrounded by growing gullies, worrying signs of erosion.

Animal Traction. Pasto, Nariño (Colombia)

My Grandmother and Her sister in the Mountains of Pasto, Nariño (Colombia) Originally uploaded by rafamerchan.My sister brought some old pictures from her last trip to Colombia and my parents have asked me to scanned them all!!!. Well it's been fun. Behind every picture there is a anecdote, or a long story (depending whether is my dad or Mon telling it) and now I can named a couple of my past

EVENT: Young Professionals' Platform for Agricultural Research & Development

Very relevant seminar. Finally the IFPRI is thinking about the next generation of professionals.Spread the word****BROWN BAG SEMINAR****Young Professionals' Platform for Agricultural Research & DevelopmentChallenges Facing "Young Professionals" in Agricultural Research & DevelopmentPerspectives from "Young Professionals"by Balasubramanian Ramani, YPARD Coordinator Monday, 26 March 200712:00 -- 2:

Trends on Food Security and the work of Gordon Conway

Hola readers,The debate on food security seems to be shifting from undernutrition to malnutrition or, in other words, from quantity to quality. The developing world, urbanizing at a rapid stage, is experiencing a move from diseases resulting from lack of food to diseases resulting from a poor diet balance. As food in the cities tend to be more accessible, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are

About AGDES and Myself

AGDES BLOG is a platform to provide resources to those interested in agriculture and its role in international development. The blog provides a comprehensive list of educational programs on International Development as well as a series of link for those searching international career opportunities and advice. All these as I discuss my take on the latest issues on Agriculture and Rural

Blog's New Calendar

HelloThis is just a sample of the calendar now available for the blog. Here it be posting events related to agricultural and international development, politics of Latin America, and career advancing issues. Most of the events posted will take place in the Metropolitan Area of Washington DC, yet I'll make some exception. To see the large version of the Calendar just follow this link CALENDAR, or