FARMING MATTERS - 28.1
Friends or foes? Our love/hate relationship with insectsInsects pollinate crops and work as natural predators in the field. Yet insects often have a negative reputation in agriculture, and billions of dollars are spent every year fighting them.
The use of pesticides, a loss of habitats, the cultivation of exogenous species, all provide potential threats for insect populations: their effect is seen in, for example, the decline of bee populations. What are the implications of this for family farmers? Can they contribute to efforts restore insect populations?
Issue 28.1 looks at these issues, focusing on the many ways in which small-scale farmers benefit from insects, and on the steps they take in order to increase these benefits.
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Agrobiodiversity @knowledged Farming practices which use and enhance biodiversity are common, yet agriculture can also be the greatest threat to biodiversity. Hivos and Oxfam Novib have started a programme that aims to develop the concepts and ideas concerning agricultural biodiversity, small-scale farming, rural livelihoods and climate change. This is the first of a series of articles presenting the results. Read more |
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Managing for higher yields Farmers in Florida have broadened their IPM efforts by not only focusing on those species we recognise as pests, nor only on the (reduced) use of pesticides. Those who have expanded their “management” activities, and are attracting beneficial insects to assist them with the pollination of their crops, can, as a result, benefit enormously. Read more |
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“We need to convince civil society…” Later this year the world’s gaze will return to Brazil for the Rio+20 Conference. Will the event have any positive results? Jean Marc von der Weid is somewhat sceptical. While not believing that there will be positive outcomes from the official meeting, he does believe in the political impacts of civil society mobilisation on international public opinion, and on the positive effects this can have in the medium to long term. Read more |
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Insect conservation in the U.K. Relatively few insect species cause damage to crops, whereas many more are beneficial predating or parasitising crop pests, pollinating crops, breaking down organic matter (so helping nutrient recycling) and acting as prey for other wildlife, especially birds. With so many potential benefits, how can we enhance their presence? Farmers and researchers in central England have identified four essential requirements. Read more |
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AND MORE Theme overview: Insects, farmers and farm management Opinion: John Wightman looks at our slow reaction to today’s disappearance of bees Learning about … All you need to know about bees Knowledge management within IFAD: Training the trainers Special section: A farmer-driven programme to reinforce advocacy capacity Opinion: The world’s different food movements need to work together, argues Eric Holt-Gimenez |
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Call for articles: Farmers and their organisations The UN has declared 2012 the International Year of Co-operatives – a common type of farmers’ organisation. Farming Matters will also pay special attention to farmers’ organisations in the September issue. In what different ways do farmers organise? What problems exist in farmers’ organisations and how are these dealt with? Deadline: 1 June 2012 Find out more. |
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