High-resolution rice maps can help boost production 
6 May, 2019 
Mapping and monitoring of paddy cultivation areas can help make effective strategies for the spread of new technologies, sustainable crop management and diversification options among rice-growing farmers. Scientists from China have now developed high-resolution maps with crucial information, by using cloud-free Synthetic Aperture Radar images from Sentinel-1 satellite, the Random Forest classifier, and the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform.  
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/high-resolution-rice-maps-can-help-boost-production-64358 

Targeting agricultural pests without pesticides 
5 May, 2019 
Gene splicing may have an answer for farmers who want to increase their yields without increasing their use of pesticides. Dr. Konstantin Blyuss, a mathematician at the University of Sussex, has developed a chemical-free way to precisely target a parasitic worm that destroys wheat crops. This method of pest control works with the plant’s own genes to kill nematodes without harming any other insects, birds or mammals. 
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/05/05/targeting-agricultural-pests-without-pesticides/ 

Digital farming “critical” for sustainable agriculture 
1 May, 2019 
Together with IBM Services, the agronomic company Yara International will create digital platforms using artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics in order to provide sustainable agricultural solutions for farmers. The ultimate aim of this is to reduce deforestation. 
https://www.foodbev.com/news/digital-farming-critical-for-sustainable-agriculture/ 

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[[ CLIMATE CHANGE ]] 







Humans are speeding extinction and altering the natural world at an ‘unprecedented’ pace 
6 May, 2019 
Humans are transforming Earth’s natural landscapes so dramatically that as many as one million plants and animal species are now at risk of extinction, posing a dire threat to ecosystems that people all over the world depend on for their survival, a sweeping new United Nations assessment has concluded. The 1,500-page report, compiled by hundreds of international experts and based on thousands of scientific studies is set to be published this year. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/climate/biodiversity-extinction-united-nations.html 

Bengal tigers may not survive climate change 
6 May, 2019 
Climate change and rising sea levels eventually may wipe out one of the world’s last and largest tiger strongholds, scientists warned in a new study. The cats are among nearly 500,000 land species whose survival is now in question because of threats to their natural habitats, according to a report on by the United Nations. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/science/tigers-climate-change-sundarbans.html 

World’s largest ice shelf melting 10 times faster than expected as waters heat up 
29 April, 2019 
The world’s largest ice shelf is melting 10 times faster than expected due to solar heating of the surrounding Antarctic Ocean, scientists have warned. A study by an international team of scientists, carried out over four years, collected data on how the northwest portion of the ice shelf interacts with the ocean beneath it. It found the ice is melting much more rapidly than previously thought, due to inflowing warm water. 
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/ross-ice-shelf-antarctica-melting-climate-change-global-warming-sea-level-temperature-a8891506.html 

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[[ DROUGHTS ]] 

Millions hungry as drought grips Somalia 
6 May, 2019 
Drought has left nearly two million Somalis in desperate need of food, a humanitarian agency warned, as poor rainfall pushes communities to the brink across East Africa. Hundreds of thousands of children were already suffering malnutrition in Somalia and millions had abandoned their homes in search of food in the arid, conflict-torn nation. 
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/millions-hungry-as-drought-grips-somalia-charity-119050600938_1.html 

Caribbean countries warned to closely monitor water resources as drought continues 
6 May, 2019 
The Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology urged Caribbean countries to “closely monitor water resources and try to conserve as much as possible, at least until June/July” as the drought situation in the region worsens. 
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20190506/caribbean-countries-warned-closely-monitor-water-resources-drought-continues 

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[[ FLOODS ]] 






Uttarakhand could see catastrophic floods if global warming targets are not met 
1 May, 2019 
The odds of a 2013-like deluge in Uttarakhand will be over four times higher every year if the world is allowed to warm 2°C over pre-industrial levels this century, a study has warned. The study adds to a growing pool of scientific evidence that rising temperatures, due to increasing greenhouse gas (such as carbon dioxide and methane) emissions, are making extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts and floods more likely and more intense all around the world. 
https://theprint.in/india/uttarakhand-could-see-catastrophic-floods-if-global-warming-targets-are-not-met/229310/ 

Flash flooding, hail strike Houston area 
10 May, 2019 
The storm started Thursday evening as a sheet of hail-packing rain before flooding streets, highways and homes throughout Houston and leaking through the Minute Maid Park roof and onto spectators. A whirlwind of chaos unfolded with Centerpoint reporting several thousand power outages and authorities responding to a number of high water incidents as the worst of the thunderstorm slammed the region. 
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/article/Houston-weather-thunderstorms-rush-hour-13832601.php 

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[[ FOOD SECURITY ]] 







20% of world's top grocery stores will use blockchain for food safety by 2025 
6 May, 2019 
Two of the top 10 grocers in the world by revenue will start using blockchain by 2025, a study has found, because the technology helps improve food safety for some of the biggest retailers.  
https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/20-of-world-s-top-grocery-stores-will-use-blockchain-for-food-safety-by-2025-1.857887 

WHO to help countries estimate foodborne diseases 
1 May, 2019 
The World Health Organization’s leaders say it will help countries estimate their respective foodborne disease burdens. The WHO published global burden of foodborne disease estimates in 2015. The figures showed that almost one in 10 people fall ill every year and 420,000 die from unsafe food. Children younger than 5 years old carried one-third of the disease burden. 
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2019/05/who-to-help-countries-estimate-foodborne-diseases/ 

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[[ IRRIGATION ]] 





Indo-Israeli joint venture opens drip, sprinkler irrigation plant 
1 May, 2019 
A manufacturing facility for drip and sprinkler irrigation products in Hyderabad city established by a joint venture of India’s Skipper Ltd and Israel’s Metzer was recently inaugurated. The plant is intended to manufacture and supply full range drip and sprinkler irrigation systems to Indian farmers in various States and in open markets. The facility would also serve markets in the SAARC countries. 
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/indo-israeli-joint-venture-opens-drip-sprinkler-irrigation-plant/article26996751.ece 

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[[ WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ]] 






Yuba Water Agency, DWR launch research to enhance reservoir operations 
1 May, 2019 
Yuba Water Agency launched an initiative with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography to improve storm and runoff forecasting, and significantly reduce flood risk through enhanced operations of New Bullards Bar and Oroville dams. 
https://www.waterworld.com/municipal/drinking-water/potable-water-quality/article/16255088/yuba-water-agency-dwr-launch-research-to-enhance-reservoir-operations 

On verge of acute water crisis, Bengaluru may turn uninhabitable in next few years, warn experts 
6 May, 2019 
Currently at the peak of summer, Bengaluru city in India is facing an acute water shortage and among the worst hit are newly-developed areas and IT corridors. According to a study by Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the city will become inhabitable in the next few years if its population continues to grow at this alarming rate.  
https://www.news18.com/news/india/on-verge-of-acute-water-crisis-bengaluru-may-turn-uninhabitable-in-next-few-years-warn-experts-2130111.html 

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2019 Floodplain Management Australia National Conference, 14-17 May 2019, Canberra, Australia 
Website:  https://floodplainconference.com/ 

ISMAR 10: International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge, 20-24 May 2019, Madrid, Spain 
Website:  http://ismar10.net 

Workshop on Latest Trends in Inspection & Investigations of Dams, 30-31 May 2019, New Delhi, India 
Website:  https://damsafety.co/ 

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/ 

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

MinWat 2020: 3rd International Multidisciplinary Conference on Mineral Waters: Genesis, Exploitation, Protection, and Valorisation, 31 March-3
April 2020, Caserta, Italy 
Website:  https://iah.org/events/minwat-2020 

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

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