International bodies like WHO, FAO join hands at CITES COP19 to curb zoonotic diseases

Zoonoses defined as infectious diseases spread between animals and humans by food, water, fomites or vectors

Family farms are vital to world food security, says FAO report

UN organisation urges public sector to develop family farming as a sustainable source of the world’s food needs

India among top 10 countries gaining forest area in the world: FAO

Half of people employed in forestry in the world are in India  

Everything about desert locusts — and how to control them amid COVID-19 crisis

From Yemen to Indo-Pakistan border, how the swarms made way into India — and how the situation should be monitored 

INDIA

Conflict and food insecurity: Iraq only one among many

Globally, 33 countries, including 26 in Africa, are in need of external assistance due to a combination of conflict, crop failures and high …

Fatal disconnect

COVID-19 pandemic, repeated weather shocks drove 122 million more to hunger since 2019: UN 

If trends remain as they were, the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending hunger by 2030 will not be reached

UNITED NATIONS

Is India headed towards a locust plague

Exceptional summer breeding may prompt swarms to remain in the country through end of year, move east & south

In Short

Insect attacks affected 142 mn ha forest between 2003 and 2012: Report

The State of the World’s Forests report warned climate change will exacerbate wildfires and pest attacks in the future

India gains support for its stand against WTO at food security meet in Rome

India presents its case on potential damage posed by WTO’s trade facilitation agreement; civil society groups support India

COVID-19: The pandemic of inequality

Nobody is sure when this defining point of the pandemic would be declared over

Pollinator Week: Why we need to protect the bees and the butterflies

Around 40% of invertebrate pollinator species — particularly bees and butterflies — face extinction across the world, warns FAO

‘Disasters like Ebola threaten Africa’s progress towards MDGs’

Report launched at the ninth African Economic Conference says the continent made headway in human development but its continuation is threatened …

COVID-19: Food waste during pandemic can worsen climate emergency

The median amount of food waste per capita in large developed economies is significantly higher than in large developing economies

UN heritage status for Odisha's Koraput farming system

Indigenous knowledge and farming practices of the region's tribal people recognised for promoting food security and conserving biodiversity

To bring back bees, European commission to impose temporary ban on neonicotinoid pesticide use in farms

Move to be reviewed after two years

Bhopal to Germany

Airlifting Union Carbide waste requires amending Indian law, violates Basel Convention

COVID-19: Around 45 mln pushed into global food insecurity, says FAO report

Around 33 million reside in South and South east Asia, remainder in sub-Saharan Africa