On Saturday, May 20, activists took to the streets, all over the world, for the sixth annual March Against Monsanto protests. News reports like those from Switzerland, Bangladesh, Toronto and, here in the U.S., Denver and Miami painted a picture…
Category: Food & nutrition
8 years after Aila, an intractable crisis of freshwater
Satkhira – Eight years have passed since the deadly Cyclone Aila struck the south-west of Bangladesh on May 25, 2009. But many of the scars it left behind still remain, which means the ‘ghost of Aila’ still haunts the people…
Africa – more than just conflicts, corruption, disasters
By IPS World Desk Rome, May 25 (IPS) – Natural and man-made disasters, armed conflicts, widespread corruption and deep social inequalities have been so far a dramatic source for most news coverage when it comes to Africa, the world’s second-largest…
400 Dhaka RMG workers fall sick due to hot spell
Dhaka, May 25 – At least 400 employees of several garment factories fell sick due to scorching heat at Konabari and Kashimpur in the Gazipur city on Thursday.
Growing ME urbanisation worsens water scarcity, food imports
By Baher Kamal Rome, May 24 (IPS) – Conflict and insecurity remain the key barriers to development progress in the Middle East and North Africa. In Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen, about half the population—around 40 million people—require humanitarian assistance.…
No formalin in mangoes, says expert
Dhaka – There is no use or existence of formalin in mangoes in the country but a section of dishonest traders is using calcium carbide for their quick ripening, claims an expert. “Formalin is harmful to health but formalin is…
Dhaka’s self-imposed ban to better vegetable exports
GreenWatch News Desk with Junayed Shishir & AKM Moinuddin, UNB Staff Writers Dhaka, May 23 – Bangladesh has introduced a self-imposed on vegetable export to the European Union market encouraging local growers to improve quality of their produce by following…
Monitor safe food supply during Ramadan: Workshop
Dhaka – Speakers at a workshop on Sundayday urged the government to strengthen the monitoring system including mobile court to ensure safe food ahead of holy Ramzan.
Bangladesh farmers say ‘no’ to Bt Brinjal
Dhaka – Over 500 Farmers from 18 villages in Delduar Upazilla in Tangail and Atghoria Upazilla in Pabna in two separate events held today (20 May, 2017) at 10 am. In Tangail it was held in Silimpur Bazar, Pathrail Union,…
A glass of beetroot juice could lower BP, heart attack risk
A glass of beetroot juice — a source of dietary nitrate — could dramatically lower as well as reduce heart attack risk, a study has revealed. Dietary nitrate is a compound that dilates blood vessels to decrease blood pressure, a…
Fire razes kitchen markets ahead of Ramadan
Dhaka, May 20 – Amid government’s assurance to keep the Ramadan market stable, retailers have apparently started selling vegetables at higher prices through a newer trick putting consumers in trouble. Now one can hardly buy one kg vegetable at a…
The great British bee count: foe, UK
TV presenters *Michaela Strachan* and *Ellie Harrison* are urging people to take part in Friends of the Earth’s Great British Bee Count, which begins today (Friday, 19 May 2017) and runs until 30 June. The Bee Count is also being…
G77 in key role drafting Treaty on Marine Resources
An IPS Correspondent
New book highlights worldwide benefits of agroecology
Danielle Nierenberg The Institute for Food and Development Policy, a nonprofit known as Food First, released a new book entitled Fertile Ground: Scaling Agroecology from the Ground Up, edited by Groundswell International Executive Director and co-founder Steve Brescia.
Genetically engineered disappointments
By Jomo Kwame Sundaram and Tan Zhai Gen Kuala Lumpur, May 16 (IPS) – Advocates of genetically engineered (GE) crops have long claimed that genetic engineering is necessary to raise crop yields and reduce human exposure to agrochemicals. Genetic engineering…
OMS sales of essential goods for Ramadan starts
The Tradinf Corporation of Bangladesh has started selling major essential commodities at subsidised rates from May 15 to keep their prices and supply line stable before and during the holy month of Ramadan.
Bangladesh co introduces natural sugar substitute
Dhaka – In an effort to minimize regular consumption of synthetic and various types of artificial sweeteners a Bangladeshi company has come up with first natural sugar substitute in the country named ‘CHINI GO’ for the health conscious consumers.
BAU Research System honors best 5 researchers
Dhaka – Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURES) honor 5 top esearchers on Saturday at Syed Nazrul Islam Conference hall of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh.
Agriculture, agribusiness to bring industrialisation in Africa
By Akinwumi Adesina Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, May 12 (IPS) – No region of the world has ever moved to industrialised economy status without a transformation of the agricultural sector. Agriculture, which contributes 16.2% of the GDP of Africa, and gives…
Palestinians call for Pizza Hut Israeli ad ‘mocking hunger strikers’
Pizza Hut apologises for ‘completely inappropriate’ post Samuel Osborne Palestinians and activists are calling for a boycott of Pizza Hutt after it ran an advert mocking the leader of a mass hunger strike taking place in Israeli prisons.
Who are the best ‘Eaters’ – how to use eggplants as toothbrush
by Baher Kamal Rome, May 11 (IPS) – The news is this: Japan is a global model for healthy diets and it currently has the lowest rate of obesity among developed countries–below four per cent. This is on the one…
Dates from Saudi Arabia for BD’s school children
Dhaka – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is providing dates to thousands of school children in Bangladesh through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). A gift from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KS Relief), the dates…
Seek alternative financing for agri development: Specialists
Dhaka -Specialists urged alternative financing for agriculture development in a workshop organized by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and USAID’s Agriculture Value Chains (AVC) Project at the DCCI. UNB news agency reported
Int’l conference on nutrition held at IU
Kushtia, Bangladesh – May 7 – An international conference on nutrition was held at Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia on Saturday.
Bangladesh Animal Production society int’l confce at BAU
Dhaka – Bangladesh Society for Animal Production Education and Research (BSAPER) international conference was held at Syed Nazrul Islam Bhavan of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh on Saturday.
Amari Dhakla to celebrate Mother’s Day
Dhaka, April 2017 – Mother’s Day is around the corner again, and what better way to celebrate the most wonderful woman in your life than taking them out to a delicious treat. From decadent special buffet and A’ la carte…
Vitrified embryo’s lambs born in BD: Target top quality breed
Mymensingh, Bangladesh May 5- The researchers of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have succeed in establishing vitrified embryo’s lamb born in Bangladesh. Researchers at the university said, it is first in BD in forming a suitable technique for vitrification of ovum,…
Dhaka’s rice outpur shortfall 1.5m tonnes due to flash floods
Dhaka – The government is apprehending at least 15 lakh tonnes of rice production shortfall due to damage of Boro crops caused by floods in haor region other areas of the country this year. Meanwhile, the government has included 50,000…
20 leaders under 40 impacting our food system
Danielle Nierenberg At Food Tank, we are constantly amazed by the variety of ideas, initiatives, businesses, and research put forth by talented individuals making waves in the food and agriculture sectors. They come from varying backgrounds, regions, and perspectives, and…
Food support to Bangladesh’s flash-flood-hit people urgent
Dhaka – Speakers at a view exchange meeting on Sunday emphasised the need for taking coordinated efforts to ensure reaching of food and assistance to all the flood affected people in haor (depression) area until the next harvest. Speaking at…