-
GM Giants VS Seed Saviors: Food security, contested commercial interests and a host of hot button issues are germinating
Genetically modified seeds have been hailed as the key to ending global hunger, reducing pesticide use and transforming underproductive agriculture. But in the developing world, where those benefits are critically needed, smallholder farmers are also losing their livelihoods to huge industrial farms that outcompete them in the global marketplace. Who wins?
- Categories
- Agriculture
-
Twitter Top 10: 4-12-15
New resources. New partnerships. Even a cool new toilet. This week’s Twitter Top 10 is full of fascinating ideas and useful info, and you can help us get a head start on next week’s list. If you see anything interesting in the Twitterverse, you’re welcome to tweet it to our editors.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health Care
-
The Value of ‘Waste’: Waste Capital Partners Sees Value in Impact Bonds, Franchising
Parag Gupta, CEO of Waste Capital Partners, has a vivid example of how much solid waste is produced each week across urban India: twice the weight of the Empire State Building. Only about half of that garbage is actually collected by municipalities for processing. The for-profit and nonprofit organization hopes to expand with impact bonds and franchises to help both farmers and trash pickers.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Education, Social Enterprise
-
Heifer Awarded $750,000 From Starbucks Foundation to Support Coffee Farmers in Tanzania
Heifer International was awarded a Starbucks Foundation grant of $750,000 to help fund the Mbozi Farmer Livelihood Improvement Project in Tanzania, which will help improve livelihoods and quality of life for smallholder coffee growing communities in the East African country.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- impact investing
-
Activists Protest Gates Foundation Plan for African Farmers
Activists in Seattle and London held demonstrations on Monday to protest efforts by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and others to privatize seeds as part of a push to industrialize farming in Africa.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- philanthropy
-
Traditional Divisions Between NGOs, Charities, and Businesses Are Blurring With New Collaborative Projects on Water
The problem of global water access is as intransigent as they come. Some 768 million people – more than the population of Europe – still lack access to clean water. Likewise, this year’s Millennium Development Goal target of halving the number of people without sanitation will be missed by 8% – that’s half a billion people.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Health Care
- Tags
- philanthropy
-
Can Social Enterprise Help 700 Million Who Lack Access to Clean Water?
The problem of global water access is as intransigent as they come. Some 768 million people – more than the population of Europe – still lack access to clean water. Likewise, this year’s Millennium Development Goal target of halving the number of people without sanitation will be missed by 8% – that’s half a billion people.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Health Care
-
Micronutrients with Macro Impact: The first fortified flour launches in Ethiopia, a boon for the country’s health and its economy
This week, Ethiopia is celebrating a significant milestone: One of the country’s largest flour mills, ASTCO, is launching the nation’s first mass-market fortified flour. ASTCO is one of more than 150 companies that have participated in training sessions with Partners in Food Solutions. The organization’s CEO explains why he’s excited about the possibilities.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Health Care
- Tags
- nutrition
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.