Archive for February 2022
A New Aquaponics Training Program for Stellenbosch University
Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponic technology to grow both fish and plants together in a closed-loop system. While aquaponics can play a role in increasing food security, it may also be a potential educational tool because of its interdisciplinary nature and required technological skill set. With aquaponics, students could conduct hands-on activities…
Read MoreLivestock farming in urban areas
Livestock farming within urban areas is a highly contentious topic. However, rapid urbanization has increased peri-urban and urban farming in South Africa. This is because many people have moved from rural to urban areas. Not finding official employment results in such people trying some form of farming. Usually this ends up in conflict with municipal…
Read MoreHydroponics – linking food security and finance
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report (2020) highlighted that the world is not on track to meet United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2.1: to “end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture” by. As a result, on a global scale, the number of undernourished people…
Read MoreAgriculture Water Management
By 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion, a 50% increase compared to 2000. Agriculture must provide this increase against the decreasing availability of and competition for land and water from other uses, whether non-food crops, urbanization, or industrial development. Most of the crop land is in fact rainfed and this is where remains the largest…
Read MoreProducing more with less:
How innovation in agriculture is making every drop count The world’s water supply is fast becoming a scarce and precious resource. A recently released FAO report provided details on the deteriorating state of the Earth’s land and water resources, highlighting the challenges that farmers face to sustainably feed a growing world population expected to reach…
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