Shea value chain as key pro-poor carbon-fixing engine in West Africa

Shea value chain as key pro-poor carbon-fixing engine in West Africa
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 44
Release: 2020-02-07
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 925131893X

As part of its Sustainability Program, the Global Shea Alliance (GSA), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO Regional Office for Africa), conducted this multi-impact appraisal of the shea value chain in 8 West African countries that account for 99% of shea exports. The study uses the EX-ACT Value Chain tool (EX-ACT VC), developed in 2016 by the FAO, to assess the value chain’s contribution to climate mitigation, climate resilience, and socio-economic impact. At present, the shea value chain fixes 1.5 million tons of CO2 every year. Relative to production volumes, every ton of shea kernels produced has a negative carbon footprint of 1.04 tons of CO2. With an expansion strategy supported by donors and private partners to increase shea tree population in agroforestry areas by 7 million additional trees per year, the CO2 fixed could increase up to 9 million tons of CO2e per year, leading to an aggregated carbon fixing impact of 180 million tons of CO2e over 20 years. Through shea parklands expansion and improvement of collector productivity, the gross income per woman collector could increase to US$ 167/ year, while the value added per day of work will reach US$ 2.30. The global value chain will reach a gross production value of about US$ 593 million, representing 6% growth per year between 2019 and 2032 and a value added of US$ 452 million by 2032.

Wildcheck – Assessing the risks and opportunities of trade in wild plant ingredients

Wildcheck – Assessing the risks and opportunities of trade in wild plant ingredients
Author: Schindler, C., Heral, E., Drinkwater, E., Timoshyna, A., Muir, G., Walter, S., Leaman, D.J., Schippmann, U.
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 140
Release: 2022-04-22
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9251359652

Thousands of consumer products around the world contain ingredients obtained from wild plants. Wild harvest accounts for some or all the harvest of the great majority of plant species in trade (between 60-90 percent). Wild-harvested plants often come from the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth and many have been used traditionally or by local communities for generations. While these products have global markets and provide critical sources of income, they can also have deep ties to particular cultures and places. Demand for wild plant ingredients is growing rapidly, having grown by over 75 percent in value over the past two decades. Thousands of harvested species are at risk mainly from a combination of overharvest and habitat loss: of the 21 percent of medicinal and aromatic plant species whose threat status has been assessed, 9 percent are considered threatened with extinction. Despite their ubiquity, importance, and the threats facing them, wild plant ingredients are often obscured from consumers and escape companies’ due diligence due to a lack of awareness and traceability. Best practice standards exist but have yet to capture a significant portion of the market. This report aims to address these challenges by making information on a selection of ‘flagship’ wild plant ingredients, the Wild Dozen, readily available and easy to understand. By offering this information without obligation to a specific prescription for follow-up action (e.g. through certification or policy change), it is hoped that a wide range of users will access the report as a first step towards responsible sourcing. Along with a broader update on the state of wild plants trade, the report provides a ‘profile’ on each of the Wild Dozen species, summarising key facts on production and trade. Each profile contains a traffic-light risk rating on biological and social factors, along with an overview of opportunities for responsible sourcing. The information is aimed at industry, consumers, policy-makers, investors, and practitioners, concluding with a summary of what these various stakeholders can do to contribute to a sectoral shift towards responsible sourcing of wild plant ingredients.

Orphan Crops: Breeding and Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Nutrition

Orphan Crops: Breeding and Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Nutrition
Author: Simon E. Bull
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Total Pages: 341
Release: 2024-01-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 2832543111

Orphan crops play an important role in food and nutrition security especially in growing economies where small-holder farmers produce the majority of food. Despite their importance in global agriculture and their often remarkable nutrient content and adaptation to challenging environmental conditions, orphan crops have received limited attention by the scientific community and industry. However, the diversity of neglected plant species provides a large genetic resource that could significantly contribute to broadening the biodiversity of trait-desired crops for novel value chains, sustainable development and food security. The uptake of new plant breeding techniques, notably genome editing, as well as ‘omic’ tools, are now accelerating translation of basic research and facilitating the exploration of orphan crops. These advancements also give rise to public and politic engagement discussions to maximize socio-economic impact. Given that the greatest need for food and nutritional security is in growing economies, issues of food sovereignty and sustainability of their food systems become front-and-centre. There is now an exceptional opportunity to tackle some of the major current challenges in agriculture, including climate change, sustainable cropping systems, food quality, and nutritional security through broadening research in wild relatives of crops and on orphan species. This Research Topic seeks to showcase research on neglected plants using advanced molecular technologies (e.g. genome sequencing, 'omics', etc) and new plant breeding approaches, methods, and tools. This Research Topic will also discuss the challenges and opportunities arising when modern breeding techniques are applied for translational research.

Yes, Africa Can

Yes, Africa Can
Author: Punam Chuhan-Pole
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 497
Release: 2011-06-24
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821387456

Takes an in-depth look at twenty-six economic and social development successes in Sub-Saharan African countries, and addresses how these countries have overcome major developmental challenges.

Agroforestry Parklands in Sub-Saharan Africa

Agroforestry Parklands in Sub-Saharan Africa
Author: Jean-Marc Boffa
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 256
Release: 1999
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9789251043769

This document attempts to present the current state of knowledge on agroforestry parkland systems. These systems, which for many local populations are very important for food security, income generation and environmental protection, are found primarily in the semi-arid and sub-humid zones of West Africa. The document first provides a thorough description of their distribution and diversity and discusses different ways of classifying them. It also presents data on current trends in parkland development and assesses determining factors. The document then provides an in-depth analysis of biophysical tree-soil-crop interactions and the factors regulating them, and describes various improved parkland management techniques. It goes on to examine the strength and limitations of institutional arrangements as well as the constraints imposed by Sahelian forest policies on the sustainable management of parklands. The production, use and marketing of parkland products is reviewed with an emphasis on their contribution to food security, local and national income as well as social values. Overall costs and benefits of the practice of parkland agroforestry are evaluated. In conclusion, the document identifies crucial research needs and promising avenues for promoting sustainable management of parkland systems.

Agribusiness for Africa's Prosperity

Agribusiness for Africa's Prosperity
Author: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Publisher: UN
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2011
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9789211064469

In recent years, a renewed focus on agriculture has been evident in policy and development agendas for the African continent, yet little knowledge has been generated on the interlinkages of production, agroindustry and markets, as well as the potentials and challenges for developing these. This publication analyzes the challenges, the potential and opportunities of African agribusiness in the current period of dramatic changes in global agro-industrial markets, and builds a case for agribusiness development as a path to Africa's prosperity. Written by international experts, from agribusiness practitioners, to academic experts and UN technical agencies, this volume fills what the United Nations Industrial Development Organization perceived as a significant gap in knowledge concerning these issues.

Politics, Property and Production in the West African Sahel

Politics, Property and Production in the West African Sahel
Author: Tor Arve Benjaminsen
Publisher: Nordic Africa Institute
Total Pages: 342
Release: 2001
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9789171064769

Through a number of case studies from the West African Sahel, this book links and explores natural resources management from the perspectives of politics, property and production.

Biofuels, Land Grabbing and Food Security in Africa

Biofuels, Land Grabbing and Food Security in Africa
Author: Prosper B. Matondi
Publisher: Zed Books Ltd.
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2011-06-09
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1848138814

The issue of biofuels has already been much debated, but the focus to date has largely been on Latin America and deforestation - this highly original work breaks fresh ground in looking at the African perspective. Most African governments see biofuels as having the potential to increase agricultural productivity and export incomes and thus strengthen their national economies, improving energy balances and rural employment. At the same time climate change may be addressed through reduction of green house gas emissions. There are, however, a number of uncertainties mounting that challenge this scenario. Using cutting-edge empirical case studies, this knowledge gap is addressed in a variety of chapters examining the effects of large-scale biofuel production on African agriculture. In particular, 'land grabbing' and food security issues are scrutinised, both of which have become vital topics in regard to the environmental and developmental governance of African countries. A revealing book for anyone wishing to understand the startling impact of biofuels and land grabbing on Africa.

Biochar for Environmental Management

Biochar for Environmental Management
Author: Dr. Johannes Lehmann
Publisher: Earthscan
Total Pages: 449
Release: 2009
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1849770557

"Biochar is the carbon-rich product when biomass (such as wood, manure, or crop residues) is heated in a closed container with little or no available air. It can be used to improve agriculture and the environment in several ways, and its stability in soil and superior nutrient-retention properties make it an ideal soil amendment to increase crop yields. In addition to this, biochar sequestration, in combination with sustainable biomass production, can be carbon-negative and therefore used to actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, with major implications for mitigation of climate change. Biochar production can also be combined with bioenergy production through the use of the gases that are given off in the pyrolysis process.This book is the first to synthesize the expanding research literature on this topic. The book's interdisciplinary approach, which covers engineering, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, economics and policy, is a vital tool at this stage of biochar technology development. This comprehensive overview of current knowledge will be of interest to advanced students, researchers and professionals in a wide range of disciplines"--Provided by publisher.

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
Author: U.S. Global Change Research Program
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 193
Release: 2009-08-24
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0521144078

Summarizes the science of climate change and impacts on the United States, for the public and policymakers.