The European Commission has announced that € 10 million will be deployed by the European Commission's International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO) fund to combat locust invasions in Africa and elsewhere. Another million euros has been allocated to European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). Last week, strong winds brought swarms of locusts to both sides of the Persian Gulf in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
Scientists at Abertay University and the James Hutton Institute in Scotland have created gin using peas. According to the researchers, Nàdar (nature in Gaelic) gin has a smaller environmental footprint than conventional gins, in fact it is negative, meaning that it avoids more carbon dioxide emissions than it creates. Apparently this is mainly due to the fact that peas are nitrogen fixers and don't therefore need large amounts of fertilizers.
China, which was the first country to face the SARS-CoV 2 epidemic, is also beginning to deal with its impact in the agricultural sector. The food security of entire regions of the country is at risk.
Many farmers are experiencing serious difficulties due to the lack of manpower and the interruption of the transport chain resulting from the SARS-CoV2 epidemic. Beijing-based consultancy BRIC Agri-Info Group estimates that over 3 million tons of agricultural products, mainly perishable vegetables, have remained unsold throughout mainland China.
The African Green Resources (AGR) in Zambia has launched an 81 million dollar funding program whereby the company and its partners will provide technology tools to farmers in exchange for grain. AGR plans to invest 150 million dollars in the country in projects such as a 50 megawatt solar farm and an irrigation dam, amongst others.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Agriculture, which will allow pesticides awaiting approval to automatically receive licenses, allowing new products to reach the market more quickly. According to Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Diaz, the licensing process for new products was too slow.