Latest news with #sustainableAgriculture
Zawya
04-07-2025
- General
- Zawya
Eritrea: Tour of Farmers to Organic Farming Extension
About 60 exemplary farmers and heads of agricultural offices, along with experts from Segeneity sub-zone, conducted a tour to the organic farming extension in Akria, Central Region, on 2 July. The program was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture. The Public Relations Office of the Ministry stated that the objective of the program was to facilitate experience-sharing among exemplary farmers on integrated organic farming, as well as the use of organic fertilizers and pesticides. Participants expressed appreciation for the Ministry of Agriculture's role in enhancing their capacity and experience. They also pledged to share the knowledge they gained with fellow farmers in their respective areas and called for the continuation of such programs. Mr. Michael Medhanie, Manager of Orgamic Farming, noted that the farmers gained valuable insights into organic farming methods and encouraged them to apply these practices and share their experiences with others. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tunisia urges reform of global financing conditions at Seville conference
Seville – 'We call for a revision of global financing conditions that ensures alignment with national priorities and enables access to stable, long-term funding to support key sectors such as sustainable and resilient agriculture, water security, healthcare, and the digital and energy transitions,' said Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri, in her address on Tuesday at the 4th United Nations International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held in Seville, Spain, from June 30 to July 1, 2025. Zenzri emphasised the need to redefine the role of international financial institutions. 'We must move away from a system in which certain policies are imposed on countries and toward one rooted in genuine partnerships that support national development programs,' she said. She reiterated Tunisia's firm belief that equitable access to financing is a legitimate right for countries of the Global South, highlighting Tunisia's adoption of an ambitious national strategy to expand financing sources. In this context, she proposed a new global financing approach—one that includes greater flexibility in the allocation of international funding, clear and objective eligibility criteria tailored to the realities of developing countries, relaxed lending conditions, and the creation of a unified platform under United Nations oversight to coordinate financial and technical assistance across sectors. The Prime Minister also called for the establishment of a new financial pact for Africa—one that would enable countries across the continent to secure direct and adequate financing for their development programs. She stressed that African nations are disproportionately affected by climate-related challenges—largely driven by industrialized nations—which in turn threaten the continent's economic, financial, and social stability. Zenzri further addressed the challenges developing countries face in mobilizing financing for reform. 'Access to funding remains limited due to the rising cost of capital,' she said. 'For Tunisia, as for many others, the burden of debt servicing weighs heavily on the national budget, restricting our ability to invest in essential sectors such as education, health, environmental protection, and infrastructure.' On the issue of recovering stolen assets, the Prime Minister called for the adoption of a robust and binding international framework to expedite the return of misappropriated funds. 'These are not merely financial sums frozen in bank accounts—they are resources vital to securing the future of coming generations,' she said. Tunisia views this issue as a sovereign right of its people—one it cannot forgo. Yet, she noted, the complexity of international legal procedures has so far hindered tangible progress in this domain. © Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers use high-tech drones with exceptional vision to revolutionize how farmers grow food: 'Farmers are looking for ways to assess their crops'
A new drone-powered innovation is helping farmers grow hemp more efficiently, potentially transforming sustainable agriculture. Researchers at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have developed a method to monitor hemp crops from the air using drones equipped with cameras and supported by artificial intelligence. The breakthrough, published in an American Society for Horticultural Science journal, provides farmers with a new tool to optimize fertilizer use, saving money and reducing harmful nitrogen overfertilization that can damage local ecosystems and food supplies through nutrient toxicity, disease susceptibility, and environmental pollution. "Farmers are looking for ways to assess their crops throughout the year to make informed fertilizer decisions," said Zack Brym, UF/IFAS agronomy professor and lead researcher on the study. In Florida, where nutrients quickly move through shallow soils, over-fertilization is both costly and environmentally risky, leading to wasted resources and polluted waterways. To address this issue, Brym's team spent three years growing a hemp variety called "Wife" while applying various nitrogen levels. Using drones, they captured high-resolution images of the crop canopy a month before harvest, measuring plant size and health with near-infrared reflectance. The data revealed that moderate nitrogen rates (100-150 pounds per acre) produced the healthiest plants and the best flower yields. The final step involved AI technology, which processed the reflectance images to map plant growth and nitrogen response more precisely. While automation wasn't flawless and required manual error correction, it demonstrated the potential of combining drones and AI to guide sustainable farming decisions. "This shows that drone-based aerial imaging can effectively monitor crop growth and health in field-grown flower hemp and inform nutrient management decisions for growers," said Tamara Serrano, a co-author and former graduate student on the project. The benefits extend beyond hemp and its sustainable products, which have been utilized for centuries. Technologies like this could transform how all kinds of crops are grown, reducing fertilizer overuse, curbing pollution, and boosting crop yields. Smarter farming leads to healthier ecosystems, cleaner water, and more resilient food systems for both people and the planet. However, it's important to note that while AI plays a beneficial role here, it generally contributes to a large environmental impact due to reliance on traditional energy infrastructures. Still, this study illustrates how pairing high-tech tools with practical farming approaches can pave the way toward greener, sustainable agriculture. Recent developments like vertical farming, Jaspe straining, and cover crops are simple solutions that enhance farming efficiency and environmental friendliness — hopefully improving the quality of the food on your plate and the materials in your belongings in the near future. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Zawya
05-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tunisia: FM holds talks with Danish counterpart and Parliament Speaker to strengthen bilateral cooperation
Tunis - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, met on Wednesday with his Danish counterpart, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, during a visit to Copenhagen. During the meeting, they emphasised the long-standing relations between Tunisia and Denmark, and Tunisia's desire to strengthen prospects for joint cooperation in various fields. According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers agreed to set up a committee to address economic issues and discuss areas in which Denmark excels, such as renewable energy, sustainable agricultural production, and the health and pharmaceutical industries. The Foreign Minister praised the continuous development of Tunisian–Danish relations, noting Denmark's decision to open an embassy in Tunisia in August next year. Nafti added that this decision "represents a strong expression of Denmark's confidence in Tunisia's position in its regional environment, and its commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and expanding its horizons." He also praised the constructive political dialogue between Tunisia and Denmark, which will assume the presidency of the European Union in the second half of this year. He emphasised the convergence of views between the two countries on a number of regional and international issues of common interest. In this context, he reiterated Tunisia's firm position on the ongoing violations committed by the occupation forces against the Palestinian people, describing these practices as amounting to "genocide." He reiterated Tunisia's call for the Palestinian people to regain their legitimate right to establish a free and independent state in their territories, with Al-Quds as its capital. For his part, Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed his deep satisfaction with the level of bilateral relations since their establishment in 1959, which are based on mutual respect and shared interests. He stated that the opening of a Danish embassy in Tunisia demonstrates Denmark's commitment to enhancing cooperation and fostering a stronger partnership between the two countries. Minister Rasmussen affirmed that Denmark considers Tunisia an important partner in Africa and the Arab region, and is looking forward to strengthening cooperation in many areas, particularly in the fields of education, vocational training, and the transition to renewable energy sources. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti met with Danish Parliament Speaker Søren Gade. The two ministers reviewed Tunisia's development efforts and opportunities for bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. They also discussed the latest regional and international developments and their implications for stability. During the meeting, the minister expressed Tunisia's gratitude for its historical ties with Denmark and its commitment to enhancing all aspects of bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the two friendly nations. He emphasised the importance of strengthening parliamentary relations to reflect the depth and longevity of bilateral ties. On this occasion, Nafti highlighted Tunisia's approach to consolidating democratic practices and its commitment to the necessary reforms relating to good governance, the fight against corruption, and the establishment of values of social justice and economic recovery under the leadership of President Kais Saied. He also emphasised the important role that the Danish Parliament can play in supporting Tunisia, alongside its European partners, in recovering stolen assets belonging to the Tunisian people. The minister assured the Speaker of the Danish Parliament that Tunisia attaches great importance to security and stability in the region and beyond, and noted that the initiative revived by Tunisia in cooperation with Egypt and Algeria to focus on security and stability in Libya by establishing Libyan institutions capable of uniting Libyans is the best proof of this. He added that Tunisia seeks to make the Mediterranean a secure and stable region. For his part, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament praised the strength of relations between the two countries, affirming his country's interest in strengthening cooperation with Tunisia given its pivotal location in the Mediterranean and on the African continent. He expressed his country's readiness to bolster parliamentary cooperation at the bilateral level and within the European Parliament.
The Independent
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Cutting nature-friendly farming budget would be ‘devastating', Government warned
Cutting the budget for nature-friendly farming would be 'devastating' for wildlife and rural communities, the Government has been warned. Environmentalists warned that cutting the spend on the post-Brexit farming schemes, which pay farmers and landowners to deliver public goods such as hedgerows, wildflower habitat and clean water, would 'remove all hope' of the Government meeting targets to reverse nature's declines. And farmers, who have already been hit by changes to inheritance tax and the abrupt closure of this year's sustainable farming incentive (SFI), the biggest strand of the environmental land management scheme (Elms), said cuts would be 'disastrous'. The warnings come in the face of reports that the Environment Department (Defra's) nature-friendly farming budget, which has replaced EU agricultural subsidies based mostly on the amount of land farmed, will be cut in the forthcoming spending review. The Government announced a 'record' £5 billion spending over two years on sustainable farming, but the long term future of the funding looks threatened by looming departmental cuts, while there are concerns cash could be targeted at small farms or in certain areas rather than across the countryside. Environmentalists warned that the nature-friendly farming budget was the UK's biggest spend on nature and, with 70% of land used for farming, key to meeting the Government's manifesto pledge to achieve targets to halt declines in nature by 2030. Barnaby Coupe, senior land use policy manager at The Wildlife Trusts, says: ' Rumours of further cuts to the farming budget are deeply concerning and, if true, would cripple funding for restoring nature and remove all hope of reaching the Government's targets for wildlife recovery.' He warned the £2.5 billion a year in the current farming budget 'already falls short' of what was needed, adding: 'Whittling this down further will see progress stall and reverse.' 'If the cuts go ahead, the Government's promise to bring back wildlife will be in tatters – and farmers will be left unsupported to adapt to extreme climate change and exposed to the whims of market forces demanding unsustainable and intensified food production.' Richard Benwell, chief of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: 'Cutting the nature-friendly farming budget would be devastating for nature, farmers and rural communities.' He said that a transition to nature-friendly farming could help reverse declines in rivers, woodland, wildflowers and wildlife, at the same time as reducing air, soil and water pollution, and supporting a thriving profitable farming sector and rural communities. 'But without a decent budget to pay farmers for the environmental benefits they provide, the future of entire ecosystems will be in doubt.' Martin Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), said: 'These cuts would be disastrous if implemented, with the negative impact felt far beyond farming and reaching the wider public. 'Investing in nature-friendly farming helps protect communities from the devastation of flooding. 'It reduces the impact of climate change by protecting and restoring carbon-storing habitats such as peatland. 'It also supports the delivery of affordable, renewable energy.' He said that if the Government was serious about sustainable growth and long-term food production, it needed to invest in England's landscapes, adding: 'Farmers are ready to play their part, but they are being let down by ministers turning off the funding tap. 'The simplest, most cost-effective solution to the problems we face is to invest now. 'If we fail to act, and wait until the impacts of climate change worsen, the cost will be far higher,' he warned. National Farmers' Union president Tom Bradshaw said: 'Alongside numerous rural, environmental and nature groups, including the RSPB and National Trust, we have repeatedly called for government to honour its commitments, with budget and partnership, to protect nature and restore habitats through agriculture. 'But without funding, this will be government giving up on its own environmental targets – targets which it relied on farmers to deliver.' He warned that farmers would be left 'prioritising economic returns and balancing tough choices between farming the land as hard as they can just to make a living and continuing to focus on environmental works they have been proud to deliver'. And he said farms of all sizes had a key role in helping deliver for food, nature and climate. Defra said it would not comment on speculation.
