Good Reads Announcing a New Publication by the National Academies Press: Science Breakthroughs to Advance Food and Agricultural Research by 2030. This promises to be an interesting read. http://nap.edu/25059. Announcing the 2018 Feed the Future Progress Snapshot: A Decade of Progress! USAID’s Acting Deputy Administrator David Moore launched the snapshot in July 2018 at a Capitol Hill event honoring the anniversary of the Global Food Security Act. A decade after the food price spikes of 2007 and 2008, Feed the Future reflects on the progress that has been made and what Feed the Future has learned about what it will take to sustainably reduce global hunger, poverty and malnutrition in the decade ahead. Some highlights include: Today, in areas where Feed the Future works, a projected:

• 23.4 million more people are living above the poverty line • 3.4 million more children are living free of stunting • 5.2 million more families are not hungry

Check out the digital version to learn more. You can also check out this digital media toolkit to see more of what USAID is saying about the report https://spark.adobe.com/page/Ox3dQgev1EwNM/

International Opportunities for Horticulturists

CGIAR has a position available with IITA in Benin. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the position of Program Officer in TAAT Clearinghouse. IITA is one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) is a program initiated by the African Development Bank (AfDB) as part of its Feed Africa Initiative. The main objective of the program is to improve the business of agriculture across Africa by raising agricultural productivity, mitigating risks and promoting diversification and processing in 18 agricultural value chains within 8 Priority Intervention Areas. The objective of the CH will be to take proven agricultural technologies to scale in a commercially sustainable fashion through the establishment of a

mechanism to facilitate partnerships and provide access to expertise required to design, implement, and monitor progress of crop, livestock, and aquaculture campaigns. For more information and to apply, visit http://jobs.iita.org/eRecruit/Home/GetDocument/2483. The closing date for applications is August 3, 2018. (If you visit http://www.iita.org/about/jobs/ you can see a complete list of IITA vacancies including an associate scientist molecular breeder of yams position in Nigeria open until August 31, 2018.) DAI is recruiting independent consultants for a number of different projects worldwide. DAI is an international development company. For more than 45 years, they have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI recognises that their success is dependent on the effectiveness of their project teams. They also realise that as a freelance consultant you can choose to work independently, with their competitors, or for DAI.

• DAI pays their consultants a competitive fee rate and ensures they are paid within a maximum of thirty days of receipt of approved invoice

• DAI is committed to the highest level of service to their clients and their team members

• They ensure that their teams are fully supported in the field

Keep your details current, thereby enabling DAI to identify and contact you when they have an assignment corresponding to your background and experience. To find out more about this opportunity, visit https://chm.tbe.taleo.net/chm04/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=DAINC&cws=1&rid=2490.

CNFA is currently seeking a Farm and Postharvest Production Consultant to support proposal development on the upcoming USAID/Senegal Agricultural Value Chain Services for the rice, maize, millet/sorghum and horticulture value chains. A key objective of the future project will be to increase the targeted value chains’ productivity and quality management system by reducing production costs and postharvest losses and supporting the adoption of higher quality standards. The position will be based in Senegal and fluency in both English and French is required. For more information about this position, or to apply, please visit

https://www.cnfa.org/job/farm-and-post-harvest-production-consultant-senegal/

CNFA is also recruiting a Short Term Technical Assistance PERSUAP Expert for Cote d’Ivoire. The objective of this assignment is to revise and update the West Africa Regional Programmatic Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safe Use and Action Plan (P-PERSUAP) Covering Nine Target Countries with USAID West Africa Programs prepared in 2014 for the USAID West Africa Mission. The goal of this PERSUAP is to bring Maximizing Opportunities for Cacao Activity (MOCA) into compliance with USG’s environmental regulations (22 CFR 216) on pesticide use. The PERSUAP developed under this scope of work is expected to be applicable to other crops and USG projects that may be involved with pesticide recommendations, distribution or sale. The PERSUAP will identify available pesticides and their applicability to the current cacao regimes in Cote d’Ivoire, as well as provide recommendations and information about their handling, use and disposal. Under this Scope of Work the consultant will complete a PERSUAP that is compliant with USAID’s Pest Management Guidelines and that provides a detailed plan

for safe and responsible project implementation. For much more information, or to apply for this consultant opportunity, please visit https://www.cnfa.org/job/stta-persuap-expert/

CNFA is always accepting applications of individuals experienced in horticulture production, who are interested in serving as Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers in the future. If you see a specific volunteer assignment that you are interested in, please apply directly to that solicitation. If there are not any assignments that fit your skillset within horticultural production, please submit your information through this general application. The John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program is authorized by the U.S. Farm Bill and managed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). (The Farm Bill with funding for 2019-2023 is currently being finalized by the US Congress this summer.) F2F works to generate rapid, sustained economic growth in the agricultural sector through short-term technical assistance provided by U.S. volunteers and supported by highly trained local staff. A secondary goal of F2F is to increase the American public’s understanding of international development issues and programs, and international understanding of the United States and U.S. development programs. CNFA has been implementing F2F in the Southern Africa region, working in Malawi, Mozambique, and Angola. New assignments will be available with the start of the new Farm Bill funding cycle in October, 2018. Visit https://www.cnfa.org/job/horticultural-production-general-application/ to learn more about these opportunities.

International Twitter Feed John Griffis

WBG Agriculture @WBG_Agriculture tweeted Modern horticulture methods opens doors for farmers in #Afghanistan

Afghanistan: New Farming Methods Increase Prosperity and Hope in Khost Province. With a $190 million grant from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), the National Horticulture and Livestock Project is working toward the overarching goal of increased productivity and overall production of horticultural products. In southeastern Khost Province, the National Horticulture and Livestock Project activities have taught local farmers the best practices in farming, encouraging and motivating them to use a modern orchard system. WBG Agriculture @WBG_Agriculture also tweeted Nearly 30% of the world’s agricultural land is currently occupied to produce food that is ultimately never consumed: http://wrld.bg/AGfP30ksYtm

Rajeev Varshney @rajvarshney (ICRISAT) tweeted Saving the seed: A bank that secures the future of agriculture. @sghstory of @MongabayIndia writes about the @ICRISAT's @RPGeneticGains Genebank in this latest post. @CGIAR @CropTrust @icarindia @ICARDA @arvindpadhee @jai_amma @WendyUmberger https://india.mongabay.com/2018/07/12/saving-the-seed-a-bank-that-secures-the-future-of-agriculture/

Stashed away in earthquake proof and environment-controlled vaults in south India, are thousands of stockpiles of seeds of crops important to semi-arid tropics covering Asia, much of southern and eastern Africa, and a few locations in Latin America. This fortified archive at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) headquarters at Patancheru near Hyderabad in Telangana, is home to one of the largest plant genebanks in the world – a safehouse with rows of neatly labelled cans and foil packs. The genebank hosts 126,830 accessions (samples of a particular plant population stored as seeds) collected and assembled from 144 countries.

FAO e-Agriculture @FAOeagriculture tweeted Ugandan scientists to digitise agriculture chain with new apps

Dh45https://goo.gl/gM Ag4#ICT D4#ICT #agritech @The_EastAfrican @FAOUganda @GrameenFdn @ITU

CIP - Potato Center @Cipotato tweeted #Potato farmers across #Africa can increase annual production of 10.8 million metric tons by 140% with access to high quality seed, fertilizers, pesticides and improved practices. Read more: http://ow.ly/pEBH30kULLq @cgiarclimate @cgiarclimate_EA @RTB_CGIAR @harahagazwe

RootsTubersBananas @RTB_CGIAR tweeted Seed #yam supply is a critical challenge among yam producers due to low multiplication ratio. Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponic technology can complement other alternative technologies to boost pre-basic & basic seed yam production: http://bit.ly/2L7YICy w/ @IITA_CGIAR

ILSI Research Fdn @ILSIRF tweeted Happening! Our symposium on Protected Production of Fruits & Vegetables for Nutrition Security unites speakers from @HortInnovLab @WBG_Agriculture @IFPRI @ICARDA @UArkansas to discuss #ProtectedAtriculture. Watch the webcast at http://ilsirf.org/event/symposium2018/ … #ProtectedAg2018

Fruits and vegetables play an essential role in nutritious diets and are key to addressing health and nutritional challenges. Increasing productivity to meet growing demand is challenged by the impacts of climate change and competition for essential natural resources. Ensuring the sustainability of the fruit and vegetable supply cannot be achieved without implementation of climate smart adaptation and mitigation interventions. (ILSI is the International Life Sciences Institute). Alliance for Science @ScienceAlly tweeted To truly cut nitrogen pollution in ag, we need to move beyond the conventional vs #Organic debate and create incentives for producers to adopt best practices and research to bring the costs down, reports @TheBTI. https://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/issues/the-future-of-food/cutting-nitrogen-pollution …

The Right Question: How to Use Less Fertilizer and Minimize Losses. The Crop Trust @CropTrust tweeted Latest from http://genebanks.org : @IITA_CGIAR & @KEPHIS_KE are eliminating viruses from #cassava germplasm so it can safely be transported from East Africa to its #genebank in Nigeria, where it'll be conserved & made available to breeders & farmers. http://goo.gl/qBtxAU

Cassava is the most important food staple in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s been described as a ‘classic food security crop’ because it offers a modest, but secure, harvest even in times of erratic rainfall when other crops fail, and it can grow on infertile soils. It also has substantial income generation potential. IITA Rwanda @IITARWANDA tweeted Rwandan farmers are facing challenges with Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (#BXW): @IITA_CGIAR @RwandaAgriBoard @BioversityInt @iamoLeibniz are developing #ICT4BXW tools to combat BXW under a @giz_gmbh project.

CIP - Potato Center @Cipotato also tweeted Farmers can now extend their shelf life of their sweetpotato harvests from a few weeks to several months thanks to sand storage https://cipotato.org/blog/storing-sweetpotato-sand-improve-diets-incomes-west-africa/ … @USAID #FoodSecurity

The International Potato Center (CIP) has demonstrated the ability of beta-carotene-rich, orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) varieties to reduce vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and improve food security, but smallholders in Africa have a hard time preserving those nutritious roots, especially in drought-prone areas, where they become scarce soon after the harvest. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), sweetpotato roots generally only keep for a few weeks, and OFSP roots are perceived to have especially short shelf lives. This short shelf life reduces the health benefits of OFSP, since it means fresh roots are only available to eat for two or three months of a year. (Click the link above to learn about the research!) Farmer-to-Farmer @farmertofarmer tweeted Have expertise in horticulture or rural enterprise development? Then apply to be a F2F #volunteer with @PartnersAmerica in #Guatemala! https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6425336887237439488 …

Go here http://www.partners.net/volunteer-farmer-farmer for more information or to apply for this opportunity. Farmer-to-Farmer @farmertofarmer also tweeted @PartnersAmerica F2F #volunteer and documentary videographer, Blake Scott, traveled to #Nicaragua to tell the stories of #indigenous women #coffee farms and #beekeepers! Read his story and watch his video here: http://farmer-to-farmer.org/volunteer/stories/blake-scott …

As a documentary videographer, I have been tasked by F2F to tell Elvera’s story as she works to better her family’s lives through the exportation of high quality, woman-grown, organic coffee. (Elvera and her two daughters, are indigenous coffee farmers and owners of a small plot of land filled with organically grown coffee plants.) Through the FECCEG’s (Federación Comercializadora de Café Especial de Guatemala) concerted effort to extend local markets, these small micro-producers finally have a voice in such a competitive international market. Throughout the two-week assignment here in Guatemala I traveled to multiple coffee-producing farms, beekeeper’s hives, goat raising communities and also documented the coffee production process from start to finish. Be sure and follow the link both to learn more and to see the video! FAO Knowledge @FAOKnowledge .tweeted Aquaponics can produce food all year round! With this system you also need less water to produce the food http://bit.ly/2LVqwYx #ZeroHunger #FutureofFood

WorldVegetableCenter @go_vegetables tweeted #Pesticide misuse still a major concern in SE Asia? How to grow #vegetables safely? Two-week training for professionals in ag research, development, extension 19-30 Nov 2018, Thailand. @ASEANUP @MARDItweet @UN4Coops @farmingfirst @Grow_Asia @amchamvietnam https://ivtc.avrdc.org

CGIAR @CGIAR tweeted Transforming Africa’s #agriculture value chains through mechanization. Read the report here: https://on.cgiar.org/2uDqIV8 #SDGs @CRPGLDC @ICRISAT @CIMMYT @ICARDA

Bioversity @BioversityInt tweeted

New study uncovers an important measure of a healthy diet that connects

#agrobodiversity with diet quality. Introducing dietary species richness.

#Nutrition @A4NH_CGIAR @BioversityInt via @BioversityInt

http://bit.ly/2s8y5CR

Bioversity @BioversityInt also tweeted With seasonal availability calendars for fruits and vegetables developed with communities in #Guatemala, #India and #Mali, @BioversityInt scientists are assessing local #agrobiodiversity’s potential to fill #nutrition gaps and improve #diets year round - http://bit.ly/2KE0P11

DAI @DAIGlobal tweeted “The oil and gas giant has–through its ‘Kosmos Innovation Centre’ initiative–given a new lease of life to agriculture.” From @bftghana on the @KosmosEnergy Innovation Center in #Ghana http://bit.ly/2KPqhgM Learn more about the Center in this video: http://bit.ly/2lXedzi

ASHS member Steven Newman @newman7118 tweets Skyscrapers full of lettuce promise an eco-friendly alternative to outdoor farming. There's just one problem. https://www.motherjones.com/food/2018/07/vertical-farming-drought-california-plenty-energy/ … via @MotherJones

CGIAR @CGIAR also tweeted Did you know, potato is the third most important crop in the world after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption? #potatofactcheck #foodsecurity. A reminder from @Cipotato & @RTB_CGIAR about the importance of this crop! https://on.cgiar.org/2IRCakF