The world came together on June 1 to celebrate the goodness of milk and all the people involved in the process of bringing it to us from farm to table. In 2001, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) designated June 1 as World Milk Day to raise awareness on how the dairy sector is contributing to the world’s economic development, livelihoods, nutrition and environmental sustainability. This year the focus was on sustainability, highlighting farmers and dairy organisations who are embracing technology to help create a low-carbon future for the industry.

Happy World Milk Day! Every year on June 1, the world celebrates the importance, benefits and contribution of dairy to our everyday lives. In 2001, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) set aside June 1 as World Milk Day, a day to raise awareness on how the dairy sector is contributing to the world’s economic development, livelihoods, nutrition and environmental sustainability. 

How can we communicate complex messages to people who lack the technical or scientific knowledge, or in some cases are illiterate? A group of researchers have found a way to take information to the unreached at the click of a button.

Eat your greens! You’ve probably heard this phrase throughout your childhood. Of course, this phrase was used to refer to vegetables of all kinds and not just the green ones. There is another healthy food staple that needs even more praise and encouragement: pulses. 

Each year, Avena Canadiense, on behalf of the Prairie Oat Growers Association, hosts an online oat-based recipe contest for consumers based in Mexico. Followers of the Avena Canadiense Facebook page are asked to submit their recipes to the website for a chance to win cash prizes, have their recipes featured on the website, and their recipe published in the annual recipe book.

With COVID-19 requiring us to stay home, cooking new and exciting healthy recipes has never been more topical! It is very easy to participate and does not require expert cooking skill-levels. All you are required to do is create a unique recipe using oats, take a photo of it, and submit it to the website!

Manitoba is an agricultural hub in Canada, with over 14,700 farms and 17.6 million acres in operation according to the 2016 Census of Agriculture. As such, farming is an essential way of life for many Manitobans. Farmers in Manitoba have special legislative protection intended to prevent creditors from seizing and selling farmland without giving the farmer a reasonable opportunity to repay their debt.  A Family Farm Protection Act was first created in 1986 to help make small farms more economically viable and promote healthy local rural economies. This act helps level the playing field and eliminates special treatment of large-scale farm operations. If a creditor fails to follow the proper procedures, any action taken by the creditor to enforce its security will be considered void. A Family Farm Protection Act outlines the steps creditors must take in order to enforce security against farmers.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a group of 34 member countries that discuss and develop economic and social policy. Recently, OECD released a global report, The Heavy Burden of Obesity – The Economics of Prevention, on the impact and burden of obesity on public health and economics of each OECD country. 

The High Level Dinner (HLD) provides a forum for senior leadership from the private sector and civil society to interact with Ambassadors, leaders and Permanent Representatives to the Rome-based agencies to discuss current opportunities and challenges in the context of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS). This year, the conversation focused on “Multistakeholder Partnerships to Finance and Improve Food Security and Nutrition in the framework of the 2030 Agenda”. A successful sustainable development agenda requires partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society. These inclusive partnerships built upon principles and values, a shared vision, and shared goals that place people and the planet at the centre, are needed at the global, regional, national and local level.

The Emerging team met in Kenya last month for our semi-annual team meeting. With the picturesque setting of Mount Kenya, 19 team members got together to discuss our many projects. We use this time to get input from different team members on certain issues they may not work closely on year-round. This adds new perspectives and value to our clients. 

After three days of meetings, a smaller group from the team took two days to tour multiple smallholder dairy farms in Kiambu and Kerugoya, rural areas just outside of Nairobi. These tours gave us an idea of the various challenges’ farmers face in Kenya, including access to resources (Kenya is in the midst of a drought) and waste management. 

In addition to farm tours, we were given a tour of Palmhouse Dairies, a dairy processing plant based in Githunguri. Owned and operated by Margaret Munene, Palmhouse Dairies creates milk and yoghurt products distributed in Nairobi.

We are looking for a dynamic and motivated protocol officer to be based in Rome.

This role aims at coordinating delegations of representatives who come to attend events that are implemented vis-à-vis United Nations Rome-Based Agencies.