Southern Voice’s Post

👋 Meet team #4 of our Global South Perspectives Journal: Verónica Belén Benitez Mendieta, Jorge Garicoche and Diego Legal-Cañisá from Investigación para el Desarrollo (Paraguay). Their research will focus on #Paraguay's dependence on the #agricultural sector, and the latter on #climate in a context of increasing temperature changes. It will explore the direct impact this has on the country's financial sector, due to an increasing risk of default and a decreasing value of assets because of production damage. The primary research question investigates the effects of climate factors on the Paraguayan financial system. Curious? Watch Verónica share more in this video: https://lnkd.in/dgidZK36 #GlobalSouth #Africa #Asia #LatinAmerica #food #finance #climatechange #environment #production #financialsystem

In this video clip, Dr. Million Belay, co-founder and general Coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), delves into the organization’s mission to champion agroecology and empower African communities. He underscores the importance of self-sufficiency, highlighting the “My Food is African” campaign and the recent AFSA Youth Wing event, where young African leaders gathered to address critical issues. Key Takeaways: 🌍 AFSA positions itself as a powerful voice for Africa, advocating agroecology as a solution to the challenges posed by neocolonialism and corporate interests. 🌱 Agroecology, an agricultural approach that honors nature, traditional knowledge, and farmers' rights, is at the heart of AFSA’s mission. ✊ The “My Food is African” campaign fosters food sovereignty by encouraging Africans to celebrate and consume their diverse, native foods. 🎉 The AFSA Youth Wing event convened young African leaders to explore solutions related to conflict, agroecological entrepreneurship, biodiversity, and technology. 💪 Dr. Million Belay highlights the vital role of African youth in activism and advancing solutions to the continent’s challenges. See video here: https://lnkd.in/dPPxe9uN

What a great post by my friend Christopher Burke who has worked extensively on social, political and economic development issues, focused on the environment, agriculture, land governance, communications and peace-building in Asia and Africa. This topic of #LandGovernance, #ClimateFinance and #PhysicalPlanning not only in #Africa but globally is so important. #ClimateJustice is another key consideration when engaging in #CarbonCapture projects. Does #REDD+, #Verra, #GoldStandard, etc. and do the stakeholders implementing these projects do enough to ensure the highest impact?

#USChina Agricultural Cooperation In a recent episode of the Need to Know podcast, host John Milewski and Dr. Karen Mancl, a professor and water quality specialist at Ohio State University, discuss the intricate dynamics of agricultural cooperation between the United States and China. Here are the key points covered: 1. **History of Cooperation**: Dr. Mancl explores the historical context of agricultural cooperation between the US and China, highlighting how these two nations have found common ground in agriculture despite competition in other areas. 2. **Impact on Trade**: The discussion emphasizes the significant role agricultural collaboration plays in shaping trade relations between the US and China, influencing economic ties. 3. **Scientific Exchanges**: Dr. Mancl underscores the importance of scientific exchanges, which facilitate knowledge sharing, innovation, and sustainable agricultural practices. 4. **Climate Change Solutions**: The episode also addresses the potential for joint efforts in agriculture to tackle environmental challenges, particularly climate change. This episode provides valuable insights into how the US and China navigate both cooperation and competition in agriculture. ### Specific Areas of Agricultural Cooperation 1. **Climate-Smart Agriculture**: Both countries are working together on climate-smart agriculture, focusing on sustainable practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.    2. **Soil Health and Food Waste**: Collaborative efforts are being made to improve soil health and reduce food waste, which are critical for sustainable agriculture. 3. **Technological Innovation**: There is a strong emphasis on developing new agricultural technologies and equipment to enhance productivity and sustainability. ### Impact on Food Security US-China agricultural cooperation significantly impacts global food security. By sharing knowledge and technologies, both countries can improve agricultural productivity and resilience, addressing food insecurity and malnutrition worldwide. This collaboration also helps stabilize global food systems, ensuring a steady supply of food even in the face of climate challenges. ### Challenges to US-China Agricultural Cooperation 1. **Political Tensions**: Ongoing political issues and trade frictions can hinder agricultural cooperation. For instance, past trade wars have negatively impacted agricultural trade between the two nations. 2. **Intellectual Property Concerns**: Disputes over intellectual property rights can create barriers to collaboration, particularly in the development and sharing of new technologies. 3. **Regulatory Differences**: Variations in agricultural regulations and standards between the US and China can complicate joint efforts and trade.

#AgricultureMdpi – Editor's Choice Article 🔺 Assessing the Agricultural Sector’s Resilience to the 2008 Economic Crisis: The Case of Greece by Labros Sdrolias et al. 🔎 Click to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gQgANSBZ #ruraleconomy #regionaleconomy #economiccrisis #Theilindexdecomposition #shift_shareanalysis

Fungi do it too: Mycorrhizal fungi coordinate resource distribution among plants in a way that is strikingly similar to how rotating labor traditions, as described by commitment pooling protocols, manage resources within a community. Both systems optimize resource use, ensure balanced exchanges, and maintain sustainability through curated networks and regulated capacities. #mycofi #cofi https://lnkd.in/dX3dhSSt

Improving soil health is crucial for sustainable agriculture, but it comes with several challenges: 1. **Soil Erosion**: Wind and water erosion can strip away the topsoil, which is rich in nutrients and organic matter. This makes it difficult to maintain soil fertility and structure. 2. **Nutrient Imbalance**: Overuse or misuse of fertilizers can lead to nutrient imbalances, which can harm plant growth and soil microorganisms. Balancing nutrient levels is essential for healthy soil. 3. **Soil Compaction**: Heavy machinery and frequent tillage can compact the soil, reducing its ability to retain water and air. This can hinder root growth and decrease crop yields. 4. **Soil Acidification and Salinization**: Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and poor irrigation practices can lead to soil acidification and salinization, which negatively affect soil health and crop productivity. 5. **Loss of Soil Organic Matter**: Organic matter is vital for soil health as it improves soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability. Practices like monocropping and overgrazing can deplete soil organic matter. 6. **Soil Pollution**: Contamination from pesticides, heavy metals, and other pollutants can degrade soil quality and harm beneficial soil organisms. 7. **Climate Change**: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can affect soil moisture levels and increase the risk of erosion and nutrient loss. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of sustainable practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and the use of organic amendments to enhance soil health and resilience. : [Penn State Extension on Managing Soil Health](https://lnkd.in/eH6S47KH) : [Purdue University on Soil Health Strategies](https://lnkd.in/esS9rmsk) : [Springer on Effective Soil Management](https://lnkd.in/ePcD_9j8) : [MDPI on Soil Improvement and Crop Productivity](https://lnkd.in/eh4tRv9F) : [Social Dhara on Soil Health Management](https://lnkd.in/egGGgPTS) : [CSIS Analysis on Climate-Smart Agriculture](https://lnkd.in/efaZSr7B) : [Georgetown University on US-China Agricultural Collaboration](https://lnkd.in/eiNQctX2) : [China Daily on US-China Agricultural Ties](https://lnkd.in/e3ri-kft) https://lnkd.in/e6eebrMu #podcasts

Justice for Ogonis is Justice for the Niger Delta region

🇧🇪 🌾 Did you know that #LEADER contributes to the creation of rural development in #Belgium? Discover how Wallonia and Flanders are benefitting from the programme 👨🌾 To find out more in this article 👉 https://bit.ly/43v4ZOD

Come check out Dr. Alisher Mirzabaev, from IRRI's Tranformative Policies and Investments Unit as he discuss the economics of land and soils and their implications for sustainable agricultural policies. More information on the link below. #IRRI #Policies