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UN food agency calls for research on tropical root crop
Rome (AFP) July 25, 2008 The UN food agency on Friday called for more research into the tropical root crop cassava as a way of helping poor countries threatened by soaring food and oil prices. Cassava "has enormous potential," the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a statement that cited the conclusions of a meeting of experts in the Belgian city of Ghent. "At present average cassava yields are barely 20 percent of those obtained under optimum conditions." The scientists called for increased funding for research and development to boost farmers' yields and explore other uses such as the production of biofuels. Cassava, a staple for nearly one billion people in 105 countries where it provides up to a third of daily calories, is widely grown in tropical Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is also the cheapest source of starch and used in more than 300 industrial products. "One promising application is fermentation of the starch to produce ethanol used in biofuel," it said. FAO warned, however, that policies that encourage a shift to biofuel production should "carefully consider its effects on food production and food security." Initially hailed as a weapon in the fight against global warming, the tide of public opinion and policy has recently begun to turn against biofuels. They are now cited by UN agencies, the World Bank and non-government organisations as contributing to higher food prices as farmers rush to cultivate the more profitable crops used for biofuels rather than food. jflm/fmi/har/rom Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology
Reclaimed Wastewater Benefits Florida's Citrus Orchards
Immokalee FL (SPX) Jul 24, 2008The Sunshine State has seen rapid growth in population during the last 50 years. The 1997 U.S. Census showed that the population of Florida increased more than five-and-a-half times from 1950 to 2000. Naturally, along with population increases, Florida is experiencing an increase in the amount of municipal waste. |
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