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2020-01-30
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation;
While the world has made huge economic gains over the past 50 years, this progress has been highly uneven. This is particularly acute in the agriculture sector, with many of the 500 million smallholder farmers around the world living on meager incomes and facing high levels of economic insecurity.Despite some recent innovations and advances in including smallholders as market players, there have been few cases where truly widespread, market-level, transformative change towards inclusion has been achieved.In this report, we explore the role of different kinds of capital in bending the arc of agricultural market development towards inclusive growth. We pay particular attention to how impact-focused players deploying capital that is flexible in terms of risk-return expectations can best deploy it in order to catalyze large-scale transformations towards inclusion.
2020-03-20
Tiny Beam Fund;
Keywords: GHG emissions. Industrial-scale food animal production. Extensive animal agriculture systems. Highlights of this report or guidance memo: *Scientific literature on greenhouse gas emissions of various forms of animal agriculture systems are synthesized. *Explains the complexities of models used to generate estimates of GHGs in these scientific literature, and the reasons why they are not very robust and they contain errors that often go unreported. *Points out that high-quality measurements that do exist consistently demonstrate that industrial animal agriculture's emissions are actually higher than typically estimated. Therefore the claim held by many experts and policy-makers that intensifying animal agriculture significantly limits global GHG emissions is unjustified. *Cautions about not jumping to the conclusion that extensive, pastoral systems is the perfect answer.
2020-04-10
Tiny Beam Fund;
HIGHLIGHTS: *This report or Guidance Memo is aimed at supporting cage-free egg production operations in China. It provides information regarding international best practices in relation to farm productivity and animal welfare in the context of the Chinese egg industry. *Collaborating and in consultation with local Chinese producers and animal welfare experts, and based on her surveys of cage-free farms in China, the author of this Guidance Memo offers practical information for key housing and management issues, including: Disease management; egg production; the provision of an appropriate environment; maintaining normal hen behaviors and avoiding mortality; humane killing on farm. *There is an emphasis on the importance in understanding, training and investment in key management aspects, particularly the prevention and control of severe feather pecking and infectious diseases in order to maintain a healthy flock and operate a successful and profitable production business. *This report shows compellingly that improving cage-free layer hen welfare in China is quite feasible and such improvement is hugely beneficial for producers and layer hens. Higher welfare cage-free systems are indeed increasing in China even though the vast majority of eggs in China are still produced in facilities with cages. *A Chinese translation of this Guidance Memo is available in late 2020.
2020-04-20
Tiny Beam Fund;
KEYWORDS: Chickens and eggs. Industrial production. Consumption. Guatemala. HIGHLIGHTS: *This report or Guidance Memo explains the major role played by: (1) a few powerful home-grown businesses and brands, (2) cross-border and international trade and policies, in flooding Guatemala with industrially-produced chickens in the last half century. *It brings to the fore public health, food justice, and other significant issues that should be emphasized in campaigns to defeat "industrial chicken" there. *The Guidance Memo also exposes assertions and myths that help to hold in place chickens' current popularity with consumers (e.g. the claim that producing chickens industrially is important to the country's economy, but the fact is that economic benefits accrue mainly to the country's most powerful families like the Gutiérrez-Bosches who own Pollo Campero and Pollo Rey). *Provides practical strategies and actions that one can take to turn things round (e.g. challenge industry claims through magazine articles and social media, valorize indigenous culinary knowledge and promote consumption of nutrient-rich native legumes, form alliance across permaculture and other food movements).
2020-04-20
Tiny Beam Fund;
HIGHLIGHTS: *Using information gathered from visits to field sites and interviews with farmers in 2019, the authors of this report or Guidance Memo document the challenges faced by socially and economically-marginalized women in the Northern Mountainous Region (NMR) of Vietnam who raise local or heritage pigs on small-scales to supplement their family income. *These women have been greatly affected by recent growth in industrial-scale pork production in Vietnam. *Moreover, the African Swine Fever crisis in northern Vietnam in mid/late 2019 threatens to put an end to raising local/heritage breeds on small scales in NMR. *But there is clear evidence that smaller-scale pork production in NMR is viable and is good socially, economically, environmentally, and for animal welfare. *A number of concrete, practical ways to support small-scale producers are suggested, from providing training in pig breeding to simple steps like teaching the small producers to use Facebook to attract customers.
2020-04-20
Tiny Beam Fund;
HIGHLIGHTS: *Shines a bright light on several fundamental cultural drivers of meat consumption in Argentina: 1) Powerful belief system in favor of eating meat. 2) Deep stigmatization of veganism. 3) Pervasive narratives and behavior justifying meat-eating that most people consider as "common sense" and which are sustained by institutions (e.g. healthcare, legal, education systems). *Suggests a range of practical measures to tackle challenges faced by those seeking to reduce and end consumption of animal-based food in that country (e.g. influence school curricula and train teachers, professionalize the vegan activist community).
2020-04-20
Tiny Beam Fund;
Para discutir el tema de la reducción del consumo de carne, primero debemos revisar la forma en que las personas conciben a los animales. Almirón y Tafalla (2019) afirman que la única manera de contribuir al medio ambiente es a través de la ética y la consideración hacia los demás animales. Lo examiné en mi tesis doctoral y lo actualicé con las situaciones y problemas por los que atraviesa Argentina en la actualidad.El consumo de carne responde principalmente a las representaciones sociales existentes (y circulantes) de los animales que la gente considera comestibles. ¿Qué son las representaciones sociales (RS)? Las RS son un conocimiento espontáneo e ingenuo, comúnmente llamado sentido común (a diferencia del conocimiento científico). Este conocimiento se forma a partir de nuestras experiencias y de la información que recibimos y transmitimos a través de las tradiciones, la educación y la comunicación social. Se trata, pues, de un conocimiento socialmente elaborado ycompartido (Jodelet, citado por Araya Umaña, 2002). Entendemos las cosas a través del filtro de estas representaciones sociales. Por eso es tan importante entender las representaciones que circulan sobre el consumo de carne y las dietas vegetarianas porque eso nos permitirá saber dónde intervenir para transformar esas representaciones.Existen cuatro elementos clave en las representaciones sociales del consumo de carne en Argentina.1. Un sistema de creencias que apoya el consumo de carne.2. Una profunda estigmatización del veganismo.3. Los Macro-relatos sobre la carne y los productos lácteos.4. Las características de una forma particular de pensar y hacer activismo en el colectivo vegano.
2020-08-12
Tiny Beam Fund;
HIGHLIGHTS:*By analyzing content related to meat, vegetarian, and vegan food in blogs and magazines in Kenya, this report uncovers cultural themes, attitudes, and beliefs about food in today's Kenyan popular media (e.g. lifestyle and nation are strong themes).*The report is aimed at helping those who want to support local Kenyan food systems, to stave off the "Westernized" diet and/or nutrition transition, to reduce animal-based food consumption in Kenya. In particular, it helps them to grasp the huge importance of understanding local food cultures and dietary practices, and to use culturally appropriate food messages in their outreach work.*To promote desired food habits in Kenya, the report suggests establishing annual vegetarian and/or vegan food festivals, encouraging individuals with culinary talent via awards, and supporting "restaurant weeks" in urban centers where participating restaurants provide special menus that offer discounts or new recipes.
2020-08-24
Tiny Beam Fund;
*This report gives an overview and assessment of developments in large-scale cattle and pig productions in Armenia as seen in 2020, why they are happening, and where they are heading, especially with regard to these production systems' impact on the environment, animal wellbeing, and human health.*The report also highlights possible linkages and partnerships among large-scale cattle and pig production systems, small-scale cattle and pig farmers, the Armenian government, and consumer groups.*Of particular note are the following types of information: Actual on-the-ground production processes and detail data (e.g. market price of the cheese produced); overall economic status of production in three main animal production regions/marzes; a case study of the environmental impacts of large-scale cattle and pig production systems in the three regions using LCA/lifecycle assessment; current government policies and incentives that influence cattle and pig production systems (e.g. subsidized water and electricity, coronavirus-related programs).
2020-10-01
Global Alliance For The Future of Food;
This Guide to Government Action is part of a suite of materials that presents how narratives, policies, and practices across the food-health nexus can be transformed to promote human, ecological, and animal health and well-being. It is the result of a stakeholder-led engagement process that gathered insights and feedback from a diverse array of individuals and organizations within and across many contexts, scales, cultures, and geographies. This document is supported by Systemic Solutions for Healthy Food Systems: Approaches to Policy & Practice — a diverse catalogue of global case studies that can be used to further inform the recommendations set out in this guide. Users are also encouraged to read Food Systems Transformation — Promoting Human, Ecological, & Animal Health & Well-being: A Shared Vision & Narrative, which articulates a new vision and narrative for food systems that promote health.
2020-07-01
African Women's Development Fund;
Available statistics indicates that, women form about 35.1% of the agricultural work force in Ghana, and account for 70% of production of subsistence crops. Also, about 90% of the labour force in the marketing of farm produce are women, yet they have limited access to and control over land and other resources necessary for economic development. Thus, the unequal access of women to productive resources such as land has largely led to a worsening poverty situation among many women resulting in increasing illiteracy rate, less access to health and education services with its associated unpaid care work. This Article examines the issue of women land rights in Ghana, focusing on legal literacy as integral to women ability to access land. The first part of this Article operationalizes basic fundamental concepts germane to the discussions. The second part mirrors down on a general overview of land tenure, contextualizing legal frameworks on land rights in Ghana. It then turns to explore the conundrum of socio-cultural issues affecting women land rights in the country. The Article then moves further to lay out the WiLDAF innovative approach in promoting women legal literacy on land rights and finally narrows in on lessons and best practices for future legal literacy and women's land rights in Ghana. Key concepts are operationalized to situate the discussion.
2020-12-28
Imbuto Foundation;
Through its work and advocacy, the Foundation has, over the years, emerged as a trusted and committed partner of choice for the nation's development, reputed for its ability to deliver impact efficiently and effectively. The Foundation has grown to manage over 20 projects in the area of health, education and youth empowerment, since its inception in 2001.To expand on this past experience and maximise its impact, Imbuto Foundation continues to direct its interventions within the framework of its Strategic Operation Plan 2018–2024. The Foundation has transitioned to developing the capacity of implementing partners and to fostering greater collaboration in the ecosystem within which it operates.More specifically, the Foundation is:Supporting and implementing targeted, people and community-centred projects.Increasing emphasis on generating and documenting lessons learnt from its experience in implementing projects.Facilitating and catalysing effective collaboration to strengthen ecosystems in its areas of intervention.
