No industry will be impacted by climate change worse than agriculture 
08 August 2019 
As the IPCC’s report released recently highlighted, no other industry is so directly impacted by climate change than agriculture. Significant shifts in temperature, weather patterns, water accessibility, and pest populations put stress on agriculture production. 
https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/457567-no-industry-will-be-impacted-by-climate-change-worse-than 

 

Australia urgently needs real sustainable agriculture policy 
12 August 2019 
Australia has made a global commitment to “sustainable agriculture”, an endeavour seen as increasingly crucial to ending world poverty, halting biodiversity loss, and combating climate change. A recent report from the UN found land use – including food production – is responsible for around one-third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. 
https://theconversation.com/australia-urgently-needs-real-sustainable-agriculture-policy-120597

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[[ CLIMATE CHANGE ]] 





 

How Africa can win the climate change challenge 
15 August 2019 
The Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 13, provide key guidelines on tackling and adapting to the climate crisis. It took activists and proponents of climate action time and effort to convince the global community during the SDG negotiations to accept climate change as a stand-alone goal. For more than 20 years of negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the subject remained in the domain of science and environment, despite the fact that climate change has far-reaching effects on livelihoods and economies worldwide. 
https://apolitical.co/solution_article/how-africa-can-win-the-climate-change-challenge/ 
 

Climate change ‘disrupts’ local plant diversity, study reveals 
15 August 2019 
Faster rates of climate change could be increasing the diversity of plant species in many places, according to research from the University of York. Researchers have discovered that the numbers of plant species recorded by botanists have increased in locations where the climate has changed most rapidly, and especially in relatively cold parts of the world. 
https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2019/research/climate-change-disrupts-local-plant-diversity/

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[[ DROUGHTS ]] 



 

Hunger driving migration in drought-hit Central America – U.N. 
16 August 2019 
Poor harvests and prolonged drought are driving rural families in parts of Central America from their homes to seek better opportunities in their own or neighboring countries and in the United States, the United Nations said on Wednesday. 
https://www.macaubusiness.com/hunger-driving-migration-in-drought-hit-central-america-u-n/ 

 

Sydney's water supply falling at record 
16 August 2019 
Sydney is running down its water supply at the fastest rate on record, with dams expected to fall below half maximum capacity due to the worst drought on record, the government said on Friday. 
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/08/16/asia-pacific/sydneys-water-supply-falling-record-pace-due-drought/#.XVezJUfhWHs

   


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[[ FLOODS ]] 





 

‘Wading through waist-deep flood waters to reach communities in India’ 
15 August 2019 
Extremely heavy rains in mid-July have caused severe flooding in the Indian states of Assam and Bihar. The floods affected more than 14 million people, displaced over a million and destroyed a vast amount of farmland. Whole houses were submerged and entire villages cut off. Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) volunteers have supported communities in both states since the flooding began, warning people about the incoming floods, moving families to safety and providing first aid. 
https://climatecentre.org/news/1184/a-wading-through-waist-deep-flood-waters-to-reach-communities-in-indiaa 
 

Rain-triggered floods affect lower Myanmar 
07 August 2019 
Rain-triggered floods have displaced people from low-lying areas in Ngaputaw, Myaungmya, Belin, Myawady and Hpa-An Townships, according to sources. The water level of Belin River in Mon State reached 1,029 cm, exceeding its danger mark of 1,022 cm. 
https://dissidentvoice.org/2019/08/the-corporate-capture-of-agriculture/ 
 

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[[ FOOD SECURITY ]] 
 




 

Nanotechnology can make food safer. So why is it being seen with suspicion? 
18 August 2019 
The relatively new technology could help overcome poor yields and malnutrition but concerns about its safety to humans and the environment also remain. Proponents of nanotechnology say it will revolutionise farming and global food systems, with applications being explored that could cut waste, make food safer and help create super crops that escape the controversial label of genetically modified organisms. 
https://scroll.in/article/933329/nanotechnology-can-make-food-safer-so-why-is-it-being-seen-with-suspicion 

 

UK faces food, fuel and drugs shortages in no-deal Brexit, say reports 
18 August 2019 
The prime minister is coming under pressure from politicians across the political spectrum to prevent a disorderly departure, with opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn vowing this week to bring down Johnson's government in early September to delay Brexit. 
https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/uk-faces-food-fuel-and-drugs-shortages-in-no-deal-brexit-citing-official-documents/1678458/ 
 

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[[ IRRIGATION ]] 






Gap growing between irrigated, rain-fed crop yields 
18 August 2019 
A 65-year comparative analysis between U.S. yields of irrigated and rain-fed crops has sounded a message to farmers, land managers and policymakers: Mind the gap. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Suat Irmak and MeetpalKukalanalyzed the annual yields of nine crops—corn, soybean, spring wheat, winter wheat, sorghum, cotton, barley, oats and alfalfa—on a county-by-county basis from 1950 to 2015. 
https://www.hpj.com/crop__general/gap-growing-between-irrigated-rain-fed-crop-yields/article_01941614-2871-57dc-924b-aeb15381eba9.html 

 

Roots taps into growing meat replacement industry 
19 August 2019 
Roots Sustainable Agricultural Technologies Limited (ASX:ROO) has initiated a planting program specifically aimed at examining the effects of its RZTO and IBC technologies on several protein-laden crops to increase the content of leghemoglobin. The crops will be planted at Roots’ research and development hub in central Israel where the protein content of the beans and peas will be measured in a two-part program. 
https://finfeed.com/small-caps/technology/roots-taps-growing-meat-replacement-industry/ 

 

Full water savings for stormwater harvesting scheme 
12 August 2019 
Maintaining numerous world-class sporting fields and extensive surrounding reserves requires significant amounts of water for irrigation, which can be costly, environmentally damaging and difficult to sustain in times of drought. Blacktown City Council overcame these issues with the innovative Angus Creek stormwater harvesting and reuse scheme. 
https://utilitymagazine.com.au/full-water-savings-for-stormwater-harvesting-scheme/ 

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[[ WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ]] 

Scientists assess reliability of multiple precipitable water vapor datasets in Central Asia 
16 August 2019 
Careful evaluation and selection of datasets for scientific research are essential, particularly for poorly observed regions such as Central Asia. The ERA5, the new generation reanalysis of European Centre for Medium?Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), is the most reliable in revealing the spatiotemporal characteristics of precipitable water vapor (PWV) in Central Asia, compared with other reanalysis datasets, according to a recent study published in Earth and Space Science. 
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/ioap-sar081619.php 
 

Working with farmers, Dr. Dirt helped address water resource challenges 
16 August 2019 
Much of Madison's career was spent assessing the effect of agriculture on the surface and groundwater resources of Wisconsin while working with farm families to help address environmental challenges. His work had big impacts on farm practices, natural resources policy and conservation professionals as he sought to protect the environment, assure farm profitability and sustain natural and human resources. 
https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2019/08/16/working-farmers-dr-dirt-addressed-water-resource-challenges/2028211001/ 

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3rd World Irrigation Forum (WIF3) and 70th International Executive Council Meeting, 1-7 September 2019, Bali, Indonesia 
Theme: Development for water, food and nutrition security in a competitive environment 
Website: https://icid2019.com/ 
 

International conference on Agriculture and Food Sustainability September 02-03, 2019 Rome, Italy 
Theme: Together Towards Tomorrow on Food Sustainability 
Website: https://foodmeet.foodtechconferences.com/ 

Water and Society 2019: 5th International Conference on Water and Society, 2 - 4 October 2019, Valencia, Spain. For more details, please visit: https://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2019/water-and-society-2019 

3rd Annual Congress on Soil, Plant and Water Sciences, 11-12 November 2019, Madrid, Spain on the Theme: Invention of new significant tool for sustainable growth in soil, plant and natural resources on earth. Contact: Mr. Jack Watson, Program Manager. Email: socialscience@brainstromingmeetings.com, Website: https://soilscience.insightconferences.com/ 

Association Fran'aise pour l'Etude des Irrigations et du Drainage (AFEID), is organizing a two-day Conference on “Water Savings in Irrigation” from 13-14 November 2019 at Montpellier, France. 
The objectives of the Conference are : (a) Exchange around the levers of water saving and efficiency improvements in irrigation; (b) Share the quantitative feedback on water savings achieved by a change of equipment or the adoption of piloting tools in the different EU countries; (c) Share the methodologies used in the various European countries for the ex-ante evaluation of potential water savings; present the French methodology established at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture; and (d) present technical innovations to save water in irrigation. 
For further information on program, registration, submission of abstract etc., please visit conference website: https://watersaving.sciencesconf.org 

11th Agrovision (National Expo, Conferences & Workshops) 22-25 November, 2019 Reshimbhag Ground, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. Agrovision is a combination of Free Workshops, Exhibition and Conference which provides an excellent platform for the farmers and the agriculture industry to explore various opportunities. This is a B2B and B2C platform where organizations display latest technologies, products, services to farmers and various channel partners. The 4-day knowledge imparting movement is well attended by farmers, agri entrepreneurs from all parts of India. All the efforts of these years have resulted in building Agrovision as the India’s Largest Agri Summit. For exhibition or any other related queries please contact: anil.sharma@mmactiv.com, agrovisionnagpur@gmail.com, Website: http://www.agrovisionindia.in/ 
 

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

5th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage (ARCID), 16-19 March 2020, Water Museum, Marrakech, Morocco 
Theme: Sustainable Management of irrigation for improved resilience of agriculture in Africa 
Website: http://5arcid.ma/ 

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 
 

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 
 

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IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land 
08 August 2019 
Land is already under growing human pressure and climate change is adding to these pressures. At the same time, keeping global warming to well below 2ºC can be achieved only by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors including land and food, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in its latest report on Thursday. 
Link: https://www.ipcc.ch/2019/08/08/land-is-a-critical-resource_srccl/