The Food Crisis Bites Back
As depicted by agribusinesses like Monsanto, Cargill, and BP the food crisis is a problem of supply and demand, and can be resolved by increased/efficient agricultural production. Groups like Via Campesino say this is short-sighted and corrosive to local farmers and food sovereignty. They want to see more equitable long-term solutions such as fair trade and sustainable agriculture.
"School Lunch" at Kitchen Table Talks: A New Conversation Series About the American Food System
"The best things in life are free" - Well almost when it comes to growing our own food
Michelle Obama is taking a personal interest in improving the quality of food we eat. In a March 10, 2009 New York Times story, Michelle Obama is seen serving food at a food kitchen. As she served up risotto and steamed broccoli she said “You know, we want to make sure our guests here and across the nation are eating nutritious items.”
A tragic omission in Obama’s economic stimulus package: Small Farm Revitalization
April 17, 2009
By Miguel A Altieri
University of California, Berkeley
African Americans working to build ties with Africa's farm organizations
Food First Friendship tour by African Americans to build partnerships with African Farmers working on African Agroecological Alternatives.
“Sankofa”
An African—African-American partnership to solve the global food crisis
In conjunction with its African Agroecological Alternatives project, Food First is launching a new "African American - Africa "Sankofa" Initiative to join our African partners in the struggle against the worsening global food crisis.
Agriculture 2.--The first sustainable agriculture investment conference
Details at http://newseedadvisors.com
Agroecological Alternatives to the New Green Revolution for Africa
Outcome of a joint meeting on climate change, hunger, rural development and agroecological alternatives to the Green Revolution
held in Mali, Africa November 26th – December 2nd 2007
Food First collaborated with other organizations to bring more than 150 participants from 25 African countries and 10 non-African countries. Attendees including farmers, pastoralists, environmentalists, women, youth and development organizations, gathered at the Nyéléni Center in Selingue, Mali from November 26th to December 2nd. Field trips to area farms helped to inform the discussion on:
- Climate change and agriculture, fisheries and pastoralism in Africa
- The fight against hunger
- Development aid for agriculture and rural development in Africa
- African Agroecological Alternatives to the Green Revolution.
Documents from the meetings are available at www.moreandbetter.org
Alternative Nobel Prize Goes to Cuban Group Promoting the Organic Revolution
STOCKHOLM and OAKLAND -- The Grupo de Agricultura Organica (GAO), the Cuban
organic farming association, which has been at the forefront of the
country's transition from industrial to organic agriculture, was named as
winner of a major international prize--the Right Livelihood
Award--commonly known as the 'Alternative Nobel Prize.'
California's first lady, Maria Shriver follows Michelle Obama's lead in planting a garden
Since the early days of her husband's tenure as California's governor, Maria has been chairperson for California's growing network of school gardens, which now number more than 6,000. Like these school gardens, a garden at the state capitol in Sacramento provides an opportunity to educate children about where their food comes from. With childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes on the rise among children, it's heartening to know that more and more people are stepping in to show the way toward healthier foods that will lead to healthier lives.