We need to cultivate young farmers

Farmers are the backbone of resilient local and regional food systems, yet many are aging or retiring. The Farm LASTS Project at the University of Vermont estimates that 70 percent of farmland in the United States will change hands over the next two decades. The age of the average U.S. farmer is 58.3 years old, and rural populations are declining as a percentage of the national population, according to U.S. Census Data.

To create a sustainable food system, we need to cultivate young farmers. Supporting beginning farmers needs to be a collaborative effort—one that connects young people with both financial and technical resources and provides the knowledge necessary to develop a successful business. New farmers also need sustainable funding and mutual partnerships with investors, which are increasingly found outside of traditional investment models. And MAURITIUS  is no exception to this strategy if we want to be food secure, less reliant of food imports. The following websites gives a glimpse of the various initiatives that are being taken in the US to bring in the youth in agriculture.

21 Climate Change Fighthers Organisations

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Recent reports from both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have confirmed 2014 as the hottest year on record. Average global temperatures and sea levels are on the rise, and precipitation in crucial agricultural zones is diminishing. The world can no longer ignore these indicators—and, particularly, the connections between climate change and global food security.

The twenty-first Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place in Paris November 30 to December 11, 2015. One of the largest climate conferences ever organized, the session will bring together more than 40,000 participants, including delegates representing each country, as well as observers and civil society members. This crucial conference aims to create a new international agreement on climate with the goal of keeping global warming below 2°C.

Fortunately, many innovative organizations are already on the front lines of this challenge, developing bold new ways to spread knowledge and sow the seeds of change for future generations. From providing hands-on educational outreach to influencing policy with innovative research, each of these groups has a unique approach to connecting and engaging individuals. A dynamic and powerful idea unites these organizations: small change in everyday habits, mixed with effective information gathering and sharing, can lead to big change in the long run.

To show support and solidarity for those working to find ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change, Food Tank is highlighting 21 organizations devoted to bringing about global change. 

350.org

350 is a global network including campaigns and organizing in 188 countries including Ghana, Peru, Brazil, Kenya, India, and more. Their work focuses on reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 400 parts per million (ppm) to below 350 ppm. 

11th Hour Project

This organization connects Americans with information on responsible practices pertaining to water, energy, and food. Leveraging the resources and experience of the Schmidt Family Foundation, the 11th Hour Project pushes for a new kind of understanding in a community attuned to human impact on the natural world.

Ag Innovations Network

This organization addresses the crucial agricultural and climate-related issues in California’s farming communities. Relying on the power of democracy for collective change, the Ag Innovations Network encourages stakeholders to connect through shared interests with an eye to managing collective resources, like soil and water, more effectively.

Center for a Livable Future

A research program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, this group focuses on the interconnectivity of public health, the environment, food production, and diet. Concentrating on environmental sustainability in food production and the importance of systems-level change, the Center for a Livable Future is on the cutting edge of climate change and food systems research.

Center for Food SafetyThe Center for Food Safety (CFS) developed the Cool Foods Campaign to show food can be part of climate solutions. The campaign emphasizes eating fresh, unprocessed foods; buying local and seasonal products; choosing organic fare; eliminating industrial meat and dairy consumption; and reducing food waste. The Center also supports rebuilding soil to help producers mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)

A collaborative research program from CGIAR and Future Earth, led by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), CCAFS focuses on the interactions between agriculture and climate change. From efforts to reduce rural poverty with innovative planting techniques to promoting responsible use of community resources, CCAFS leverages a myriad of research approaches and partnerships to address climate change and agricultural issues.