Morocco in the Spotlight as Agriculture ‘Inspiration’ at Africa Agri Forum
22 November 2019
Morocco’s continentally hailed agriculture continues to inspire many across the African continent, with several African countries pledging to export “Moroccan expertise” to enhance national output.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/11/287409/morocco-spotlight-agriculture-africa-agri-forum/
 

Using controlled environment food production to solve food shortages
21 November 2019
Before land and labor shortages prompted by the Industrial Revolution forced food production to move away from cities, agriculture was central to urban environments and their planning.
https://phys.org/news/2019-11-environment-food-production-shortages.html

[Top] 

CLIMATE CHANGE 








Climate Change Threatens 60 Percent of Toxic Superfund Sites, including 5 in Jacksonville
23 November 2019
Sixty percent of the nation’s heavily polluted Superfund sites—nearly 950 of them—are at risk from the impacts of climate change, including hurricane storm surges and flooding that could spread their toxic legacies into waterways, communities and farmland, a new federal report warns.
https://www.wusf.org/climate-change-threatens-60-percent-of-toxic-superfund-sites-including-5-in-jacksonville/
 

Some Pacific Island Nations Are Turning to China. Climate Change Is A Factor
23 November 2019
Some leaders of nations are turning for help to China, and climate change has been a factor. Beijing has vowed to stay in the Paris Climate Agreement.
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/23/775986892/some-pacific-island-nations-are-turning-to-china-climate-change-is-a-factor
 

Why religious narratives are crucial to tackling climate change?
23 November 2019
Environmental changes like global warming are menacing the entire ecosystem. DW's Eco Islam conference emphasized the need for using eco-friendly religious messages to make an impact.
https://www.dw.com/en/why-religious-narratives-are-crucial-to-tackling-climate-change/a-51384374

[Top] 

DROUGHTS 





Camel Leasing: Impacting Somali lives
22 November 2019
During the severe drought in 2016/17, USAID/Somalia’s Growth, Enterprise, Employment, and Livelihoods program (GEEL) facilitated some of the first documented instances of camel leasing between commercial milk processors and camel pastoralists. GEEL – which means “camel” in Somali – is designed to help Somalia’s economy heal from the long-term scars of war and mitigate the effects of recurrent crises such as drought.
https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/camel-leasing-impacting-somali-lives
 

Droughts in the Anthropocene – impacts and solutions
21 November 2019
A new drought-monitoring tool was presented, together with 15 case studies from around the world showcasing the social, environmental and cultural impacts of droughts and water scarcity, by UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) on 18 November 2019.
https://en.unesco.org/news/droughts-anthropocene-impacts-and-solutions
 

Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam to face severe drought
21 November 2019
A severe drought is expected to hit Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam from now until January, threatening agricultural production in these countries. According to experts, the drought is expected to occur in the four lower Mekong River Basin countries as the river reaches its lowest levels in about 60 years.
https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2019/11/540864/cambodia-laos-thailand-and-vietnam-face-severe-drought

[Top] 

 FLOODS






Towns devastated by the flood to be deluged again as Met Office issues weather warnings
24 November 2019
Flood-stricken towns in South Yorkshire will face a fresh deluge this week, as forecasters warned heavy rain meant households should take “precautions”.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/11/24/towns-devastated-flood-deluged-met-office-issues-weather-warnings/
 

Parts of Italy flooded again
24 November 2019
Rome Parts of Italy were once again affected by severe weather on Saturday, with the north-western city of Genoa especially hard hit. The Genoa fire service reported more than 100 operations due to stuck cars, landslides, water damage and falling trees.
https://vision.org.au/radio/news/parts-of-italy-flooded-again/
 

Flood science helping communities prepare for the worst
22 November 2019
Flood forecasting reports produced by Reading scientists were used to provide early warnings in east Africa in March and April 2019 after Cyclone Idai caused widespread flooding. This is one example of collaborative work being carried out with partners such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Reading researchers are also working with farmer and landowners to find natural solutions to help prevent flooding.
https://www.reading.ac.uk/news-and-events/releases/PR831203.aspx

[Top]

FOOD SECURITY 
 






UVM Extension helps Nepali farmers
23 November 2019
Dr. Ann Hazelrigg, University of Vermont Extension plant pathologist, recently returned from Nepal, where she worked with farmers to help them manage clubroot, a destructive disease of brassicas, a plant genus that includes cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables.
https://www.rutlandherald.com/features/weekend_magazine/uvm-extension-helps-nepali-farmers/article_b8ba2913-bf88-5420-a052-eb3a8fc2e031.html
 

FAO Representative in Iraq meets with Iraqi National Food Security Committee
20 November 2019
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative to the Republic of Iraq, Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, met with Dr. Hussein Ali Saud, Ministry of Agriculture Adviser for Animal Resources in addition to the members of the Iraqi National Food Security Committee at the Ministry of Agriculture.
https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/fao-representative-iraq-meets-iraqi-national-food-security-committee
 

Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update
31 October 2019
From August to October 2019, one-third of people in Afghanistan were facing severe acute food insecurity, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Alert. While there was some improvement (33 per cent in 2019 compared to 44 per cent in 2018) in the acute food insecurity situation compared to last year, the situation remained very severe with 12.6 million people in crisis (IPC Phase 3) or emergency (IPC Phase 4) situation according to Flowminder population data.
https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-monthly-humanitarian-update-october-2019 

[Top]

IRRIGATION







Long-term fix found for Wyoming, Nebraska irrigation tunnel
23 November 2019
Local officials say they’ve found a long-term fix for a tunnel failure that left a large area of Wyoming and Nebraska farmland without irrigation water. Goshen Irrigation District officials say crews will stabilize the irrigation tunnel with ribbing supports and grouting. Additional grouting will then harden and stabilize the outside of the tunnel.
https://nebraska.tv/news/local/long-term-fix-found-for-wyoming-nebraska-irrigation-tunnel
 

Hypnotic footage shows perfectly formed ‘ice pops’ shooting out of an irrigation hose in India
23 November 2019
Hypnotic footage shows perfectly formed ‘ice pops‘ shooting out of an irrigation hose when farmer tries to water his fields as cold spell grips northern India
This is the incredible moment cylinders of perfectly formed ‘ice pops‘ came out of a farmer‘s water pipe in India
https://stockdailydish.com/hypnotic-footage-shows-perfectly-formed-ice-pops-shooting-out-of-an-irrigation-hose-in-india/
 

108 check dams to come up in Kothagudem
20 November 2019
The district administration has planned to construct as many as 108 check dams across the district with the objective of improving irrigation facility and to boost ground water levels.

https://telanganatoday.com/108-check-dams-to-come-up-in-kothagudem

[Top]

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 





 

Irrigation project kicks off in Tunisia
21 November 2019
In Tunisia, the World Bank is co-financing the Irrigated Agriculture Intensification Project to improve the country’s management of limited water resources
http://www.fruitnet.com/eurofruit/article/180298/irrigation-project-kicks-off-in-tunisia
 

15 Additional Nations From Africa, The Middle-East, Asia, Latin America Show Interest In Joining UNECE Water Convention
20 November 2019
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has announced that an additional 15 countries have expressed interest in joining the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (the UNECE Water Convention).
https://www.ooskanews.com/story/2019/11/15-additional-nations-africa-middle-east-asia-latin-america-show-interest-joining

[Top]

The International Conference on Food, Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA),
1-3 December 2019, Cairo, Egypt; Ms. Sara Youssef Conference Coordinator fnssa@food-conference.org,
Website: https://www.food-conference.org/events/food-nutrition-security-and-sustainable-agriculture-1st#objectiveoftheconferencehttps://www.food-conference.org/events/food-nutrition-security-and-sustainable-agriculture-1st#objectiveoftheconference

Water Pollution 2020: 15th International Conference on Monitoring, Modelling and Management of Water Pollution, 13-15 May 2020, Valencia, Spain. For more details, please visit: https://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2020-conferences/water-pollution-2020; Email: wit@wessex.ac.uk

24th ICID International Congress & 71st IEC Meeting, 22-28 September 2020, Sydney, Australia
Website: http://www.icid2020.com.au

MinWat 2020: 3rd International Multidisciplinary Conference on Mineral Waters: Genesis, Exploitation, Protection and Valorisation, 31 March-3 April 2020, Caserta, Italy. For more details, please visit: https://iah.org/events/minwat-2020; Email: segratario@iahitaly.it

6th IWA International Symposium on Water, Wastewater and Environment in Ancient Civilizations: Traditions and Cultures
28-30 April 2020
the 6th IWA International Symposium which will be Co-organized by the Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey and the Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece. It will take place at the Bogazici University (28 & 29 April) and in the Conference Hall of the Theological School of Halki in the island of Heybeliada, Istanbul, Turkey (30 April).
https://iwa-network.org/events/iwa-regional-symposium-on-water-wastewater-and-environment-traditions-and-cultures/
 

24th ICID International Congress & 71st IEC Meeting, 22-28 September 2020, Sydney, Australia. For more info contact: Mr. Bryan Ward, Chief Executive Officer, Irrigation’s Australia Limited (IAL) (Incorporating IACID); Email: bryan.ward@irrigation.org.au, info@irrigation.org.au; Website: http://www.icid2020.com.au

 [Top]

Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals in Developing Countries by Chris Dickens, Sibusiso Nhlengethwa and Brown Ndhlovu
Published by International Water Management Institute
The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development promises to achieve change in almost every aspect of life on Earth. Encompassing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, the Agenda marks the first time in history when all nations have agreed on how to chart their future. The SDGs are not just a global reporting exercise, however, but rather involve a global program that embraces country-led efforts. Guided by the ideas contained in the 2030 Agenda, each nation must seek to become more prosperous and sustainable, while contributing to the global effort at the same time. If all the countries achieve this, we will have a sustainable planet and a secure future for all. This document offers guidance on how developing countries can adapt the SDGs to their own contexts and priorities. It indicates important areas for developing countries to consider when creating their own program to achieve the SDGs, and provides examples of success to demonstrate concrete possibilities for progress.