The ambition of this report is to give guidance to the development of appropriate policies for the organic sector. Its focus is mainly developing countries, but much of it is also applicable for developed countries. The report gives some general background about organic agriculture and the reasons to support the development of organic agriculture. These are among others:
protection of natural resources (e.g. water) and biodiversity;
improved quality of soils and thereby a long-term high produc more...

This review by Geopolicity Inc. provides the theoretical framework for any research on food security and social protection through Employment Generation Schemes. It presents a ‘conceptual geography’ of important works of literature related to the latest evidence and informed by the best international experience. The subject of hunger can be tackled from rights, economic, social, environmental, agricultural and political based perspectives and therefore a combination of different factors are more...

‘Functional or health-enhancing foods are food-type products that influence specific physiological functions in the body, thereby providing benefits to health, well-being or performance, beyond regular nutrition, and are marketed and consumed for this value added property. This review has indicated some critical success factors in the functional foods sector and suggested some of the common challenges faced by the sector in
developing countries.’(pdf:95pages)

FAO India wishes to strengthen its consultant roster with a cadre of young professionals having three to six years of experience after completing a postgraduate qualification.

If you have:

1. A post-graduate qualification in one of the following areas:
a. Agriculture
b. Fisheries and aquaculture
c. Forestry
d. Climate change
e. Natural resource management – particularly water management
f. Value chain development
2. International experience (which can include postgraduate study)
more...

Political will for food security should be given the highest priority, yet in practice only gets modest attention. This paper attempts to address the gaps that exist. Specifically, this paper looks at:

* recent developments in global and national political relations, thinking, and related institutional changes
* the effect of such developments on the incidence of hunger
* the ability and willingness of governments to eradicate hunger
* the efforts to foster greater politica more...

What progress has been made in the southern Africa region in understanding, and appropriately responding to, transitory and chronic food insecurity? Emerging from food security crises from 2001-03, there is a widely shared consensus on the need for new and more appropriate intervention models. This review is an assessment of changes made at sequential levels, changes in understanding of the problem, how this has been incorporated into policy, and how programming has changed to align with the sta more...

What are the differences between the Public Distribution Systems (PDS) of foodgrains in India and China? This paper compares these two systems and how they have helped to improve national food security, food security of the general public, and food security of the poor.

In the 1990s both India and China reformed their PDS, but each following a different path. India has tried to make the PDS increasingly targeted to the poor, while China has tried to reduce food subsidy costs by cancelling the more...

This paper from the Regional Network on HIV/AIDS, Livelihoods and Food Security (RENEWAL) reviews the literature on migration, HIV and urban food security. The paper draws links between these three factors in the context of Southern and Eastern Africa. It outlines an action research agenda to inform policy and programming within these three interconnected sectors.

Recent research shows a change in the relationship between urban and rural households in this area. The direct transfer of food fr more...

This study reviews the practice of Emergency Needs Assessment (ENA) in Ethiopia as it relates to food security, with a view to informing efforts by the World Food Programme (WFP) to improve ENA practice globally. It considers the question of overall rigour in needs estimation, and explores the ability of assessments to analyse the role of markets, non-food response options, chronic and transitory needs and the impact of food aid.

The report finds that all actors - the Government of Ethiopia, more...

The objective of this paper is to highlight the contribution that inland and coastal small-scale fisheries can make to poverty alleviation and food security and to make practical suggestions on ways that this contribution can be maximised.

In particular the paper discusses:

* the concepts of poverty, vulnerability and food security, and how these concepts have evolved in recent years within the field of fisheries
* the actual and potential contribution of small-scale fisheries to more...