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.

Margaret is incredibly passionate about her work, which I believe played an important role in her success. She was raised in Kiambu where her mother was a small-scale dairy farmer who kept cows mainly for subsistence. Margaret studied Agriculture and Crop Protection and worked at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) at the start of her career. When Margaret got married, she and her husband bought a few cows. This re-sparked an interest in dairy that begun when she was young.  She spent her hours before work milking her cows and distributing her milk. Her dedication to her cows was her passion, and she eventually decided to leave her employment and focus on dairy fulltime. Palmhouse Dairies was set up in 1996 in response to the liberalization of the milk sector in Kenya. Prior to the setup period, milk processing was the preserve of the then Giant Kenya Co-operative Creameries (K.C.C) and there were regular milk shortages in the country. The factory was originally set up to process 500 litres of milk per day and has now grown to produce 10,000 litres a day. Growing from a small dairy farm to a dairy processing plant is no easy feat and proof-positive that Margaret is passionate, hardworking and meant to be where she is. 

Palmhouse Dairies has made Githunguri a small dairy-hub of sorts, with multiple processing plants based beside each other. In 2003, in addition to providing Nairobi with delicious dairy products, Margaret and her husband Eric Kimani started the “Palmhouse Foundation”. Initially, they set out to assist needy families and farmers who were supplying milk to Palmhouse Dairies in Githunguri. The support was unstructured and based purely on the desperate cases presented by farmers from the area. Their mission today is “to finance the secondary education of deserving students and mentor them through life”. The foundation started by selecting and supporting 6 students and has grown to over 700 students in 2018. Over 90% of these students secure university/college entry. 

After meeting Margaret and her husband, I left Kenya humbled and inspired. It was a reminder that there is always more you can do for those with fewer resources. I encourage all of you to learn more about their foundation here.

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.

On January 18, 2017, the world will celebrate pulses…again! Formerly known as Pulse Feast, Global Pulse Day will be celebrated every year to promote the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses. 

Celebrate with us by joining our Thunderclap to promote the benefits of pulses for people and the planet on Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr. Sign up here: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/50361-global-pulse-day?locale=en 

Eat pulses that day and tell the world about it! You can register your lunch, dinner, party with pulses with us so they are part of the celebrations on January 18! Events will take place globally and be shared through social media. Learn more, and register your event here: http://pulses.org/global-pulse-day  

Last year we saw over 140 events world-wide celebrating pulses. In 36 countries, events ranged from a university meal in Chennai joined with a lecture on pulses, and children in Malawi were fed protein supplements made with pulses. A skating party with a Dutch Olympic medal winner in Amsterdam, as well as a roundtable discussion with IFPRI in New Delhi at the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS). As they were chiming in the International Year at the Gate Restaurant in London, those across the Atlantic geared up for new dishes in Brazil, Three Kings celebrations in Mexico City, lunch for one hundred in Pullman, and an event in Toronto that had pulses trending on twitter.

We are so excited about this year’s social media event, that we have developed a series of downloadable resources for your use. These include:

• Multiple Twitter promotional photos
• Advertisements
• Blog template
• Flyers translated in English, Arabic, Spanish, French, Turkish, and Portuguese
• Social Media Plan

Download these items here. 

For more updates on #GlobalPulseDay, and for inspiration on different pulse dishes to serve at your event, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Show the world that we #LovePulses on January 18! 

Happy Global Pulse Day

 

The 43rd plenary session of the UN Committee of World Food Security took place October 17 to 21, 2016 to discuss the issues and solutions on global food security and nutrition. This year’s session saw 56 side-events. The Private Sector Mechanism hosted 4 and a book launch, all discussing various issues and topics to advance the private sector’s engagement in reducing food insecurity, and achieving the sustainable development goals. These side-events included: 

I was given the opportunity to attend the International Food Technology conference in Chicago, IL, USA last week. The events drew a crowd of 23,000 food scientists, technologists, agriculturalists and foodies.

I was there to support Pulse Canada, the American Pulse Association, USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, and the Global Pulse Confederation put on the LovePulses Product Showcase. Winners from the National Competitions, and winners from the Virtual Competition presented their products to a crowd of over 100. Offering samples and cooking demonstrations, the winning teams captivated the audience for their hour long session at the Cooking Up Science booth. It was so great to see these students taking advantage of the opportunity to present their hard work to relevant industry members.

The teams who presented their products include:

• Charlotte Reynolds, for her Blooming Food Lupin Crisps from the UK
• Phindile Jane Tsela, for her Bean Jam from Swaziland
• Tushar Kaushik, Shardul Dabir, Yash Naresh Gajwani, NIFTEM, for their FMP Chips (Flax, Millets and Pulse Chips) from India
• Chandre Van De Merwe, Austen Neil, Nicolle Mah for their BiotaGelata from Canada
• Steven Ross, Yuda Ou, Audrey Boeken, for their Southwestern Vegan Black Eyed Pea and Chickpea Enchilada with Salsa Verde and Rocky Mountain Succotash from the USA
• Hannah Dressen, Shakira Abu Samah, Payton Irlbeck, Joe Quinlan, for their Southwest Street Tacos, from the USA
• Charlize Snyman and Naomi Cutler for their Coconut Chickpea Cookie from Australia

Learn more about the teams, watch their YouTube videos, and read their blogs here.

All of the student’s samples were eaten and mentioned many times while exploring the convention afterwards. In addition to the presentation, the students were given the opportunity to connect with media outlets to share their stories with the world. So far, the live articles can be found on the Huffington Post here:

• Charlotte Reynolds, for her Lupin Crisps
• Tushar Krausik, for FMP Chips
• Phindile Tsela, for her Bean Jam
• Steven Ross, of Southwestern Vegan Black Eyed Pea and Chickpea Enchilada with Salsa Verde and Rocky Mountain Succotash
• Nicole Mhah, for BiotaGelata

More teams are in contact with their local media outlets, with pieces going live both online and through radio outlets! Follow @LovePulses for additional event coverage.

The whole presentation was filmed, and will be made available on the IFT website soon.

Read the press release on iyp2016.org.

This past month has been one of the most fascinating months on the job for me. I was able to be a part of a global campaign which gathered lots of recognition on the web. Pulse Feast was an event that consumed our time for close to a year, planning and organizing, and it finally took place on January 6, 2016. I spent close to 48 hours with other emerging team members, chained to our computers, ensuring the event goes on without a hitch… and wow was it ever exciting.

Normally, a 48 hour work day with 3 hour sleep breaks here and there is something not enjoyable, and something I waved goodbye to in University. However, the 48 hours were filled with major highs, having images sent to us from around the world with people celebrating and embracing the International Year of Pulses.

We had planned ahead, outlining the many events that were sent our way so we would be prepared and ready once the thousands of images were flooding in our direction. But, as most global social media campaigns, there were many surprises. These included consumers seeing the hashtag #PulseFeast and holding their own private celebrations. These “surprise” events took place in Africa, South Africa, Asia, North America, and South America. We were also fortunate to have images sent our way of children being fed pulse nutrients in Malaysia. The notion of #PulseFeast being a celebration to raise awareness of the benefits of pulses and how delicious and versatile they are, was achieved.  We were trending globally on Twitter, with our hashtags showing up on the “trending now” column for hours at a time in Canada and Australia.

This is only the beginning for the celebration of pulses. We encourage everyone to continue celebrating the International Year of Pulses. By using the hashtag #LovePulses, your images, tweets, and videos will be shared on our social media hub. Join the conversation, share your pulse experiences, let’s celebrate!

Read the report:

Myself and the rest of the Emerging team is in Rome preparing for CFS42, which takes place next week at the FAO. With over 120 Private Sector representatives registered, the week will be filled with presentations and a series of interesting Side Events all focusing on food security.

This is my first time in Rome, so as one could imagine – I’m very excited to be here. It’s only a bonus that I get to attend such a substantial meeting on World Food Security in the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The International Agri-food Network (IAFN) will be live-tweeting the event! Be sure to follow @AgriFoodNet and @UN_CFS on Twitter, and use the hashtags #B4FoodSecurity and #CFS42 to join the conversation. A list of active Twitter accounts for the delegates involved can be found here.

Follow along, and enjoy the excitement!

On Wednesday, September 16^th, I was given the opportunity to go to Ag in the Classroom (AITC-M) “Amazing Ag Adventure” tour at Kelburn Farms in Manitoba. Let me begin by saying that it was an amazing experience. I’m always so thankful to be working in this industry after attending its many events. The people who work with Ag in the Classroom are upbeat, engaged, funny and so inspiring. The goal of the evening was to show how the program runs for children, in order to help them learn farming practices and how their food is grown.

The evening started at 5:00 pm, when myself and many other industry members met at Kelburn Farms located in the Red River Valley of Manitoba. We were then driven to Glenlea farm to explore the Brian D. Campbell Farm & Food Discovery Centre. Here, leaders explain the happenings behind breeding, birthing and feeding pigs; how biosecurity works and why it’s important; what are the many different nutrients which are good for the plants and crops; and finally, what foods are most grown in Manitoba, and why they are good for our health. These are lessons which benefit children by teaching them why farming and farmers are important.

The Glenlea Research farm has barns which contain mini chicken coups, dairy cows, cattle and pigs. Having real-life farmers volunteer to bring their animals to help describe their farm processes is such a valuable experience for young students. This way they’re able to see the animals up close, see how they are cared for, and learn how they are used in our food. We are told by many volunteers that a large number of the students who come through the farm have never stepped foot in a barn before, or have never seen a live cow. Bringing their food to life helps them learn to be grateful to our farmers, as well as inspires them to join the industry.

“We are so proud of this AITC-M flag ship event! What a way to learn about agriculture; Hands on, curriculum linked and interactive surrounded by authentic farm settings. This is Ag education at its very best!” says Johanne Ross, Executive Director of AITC-M. And proud she should be – Ag in the Classroom has gained much appreciation over the years with their many volunteers, programs and events. It’s a nation-wide program, with AITC organizations in each province.
If you are a teacher, or if you know a teacher, I encourage you to check out the many programs featured on their website. AITC-M is a non-profit organization supported by sponsors and members who share the same dream of inspiring young students with agriculture. Children are the future of farming, which is why ag-education is so important!

A month ago, I was fortunate to drive from the Canadian Special Crops Association (CSCA) conference in Calgary all the way back to Winnipeg with oat farmer and member of the Prairie Oats Growers Association (POGA), Bob Anderson. This was an exciting venture for me as I haven’t driven across Canada in many years, and I was able to do it with a proficient farmer and agricultural leader ready to answer all of my mundane questions about fields, weeds, and farm history. Newly in the agricultural industry, I’m keen to learn about the many different aspects which go into farming. This was my chance to learn the gritty details.

Bob Anderson, Robynne’s father, is a long-time oat grower from Dugald, Manitoba, and the President of the Manitoba Oats Growers Association (MOGA). He was recently interviewed by the Western Producer regarding the formative years of POGA, which were “un-rich at the beginning”, but the organization has now grown to be prairie wide and is known for their effectiveness in discussing industry issues.  Their national presence has been a great asset resulting in a credible voice to lobby government, build relationships within the industry, and attain research money.

POGA is important because it provides a valuable voice to farmers throughout the country and it engages with all sectors of the industry.  Compromise is an important aspect of this organization, as each member does their part for the betterment of the whole industry. Farmers and industry both have to be in agreement with each other in order for it work. It’s a family working through the kinks as they are presented, which is why it’s important to listen to the voices of each member big or small.

With that, picture me – a young woman fresh in the industry – driving along the TransCanada highway with an experienced farmer, asking questions as simple as, “What is this crop?” and “What do you mean milkweed isn’t a dairy product?” It was my small questioning voice being answered by Bob’s big knowledgeable voice.

By the time we reached Regina, I felt like I had studied through 4 years of an Ag degree at the University of Manitoba.  The trip was incredible, a two day drive with a layover in Swift Current. I learnt about leafy spurge, how to identify crops, the process of seeding to harvesting, as well as fun trivia about the damaging effects of salinity in farmers’ fields. We had driven along the highway, and taken detours through the Qu’Appelle Valley. Bob taught me about the agricultural history of the Valley, and I explained the story behind naming a place the French term “Who calls”.

The diversity in agricultural land between provinces is incredible. It was still early in the season, so I was able to witness crops in the beginning of their growth cycle. This not only made it more difficult to differentiate them for me, but it also made it a fun and factual highway trivia game. Now, sitting in my Winnipeg home office, I can’t help but encourage others to take advantage of driving across Canada, and I can’t wait for the day I end up at a conference out East with Bob and he needs company on his drive back to Manitoba.  My first question for that drive is “why did the potato cross the road?”

Smallholder farmers are a key driver in resolving the climate change challenge. Not only can they feed the growing population of our planet, but farmers can help in restoring the degraded ecosystems and reduce agricultures carbon footprint.  Organizations like the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have conducted research with the Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture Food Security of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and have found that there may not be as big a job as initially thought in reducing emissions. It may be as simple as adaptation within farming.

With investment put in the right place, IFAD hopes to reduce CO2e emissions by 80 million tons by the year 2020 through its Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme. With 13 IFAD-supported adaptation projects in play, CO2e emissions could be reduced by a whopping 30 million tons, that’s 38% of IFADs target. Launched in 2012, the Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme has become one of the largest global financing sources dedicated to supporting the adaptation of poor smallholder farmers to climate change.

The practice of climate smart agriculture can play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bring new opportunities. Currently, IFAD’s investments focus on rural poverty reduction, climate change adaptation and food security. Practices within IFAD’s climate change adaptation address farmers’ immediate needs, like dealing with unpredictable rains, and gradual shifts in crop suitability.

Climate change is a growing issue that will not be resolved while waiting for a magical remedy appear. IFAD has proposed a solution to help fight the growing battle. With the right investments and improvements in farming practices, smallholder farmers can reduce the effects of climate change with hard work and the ability to adapt their practices.  Hard work and the willingness to learn can pay off, and result in a more efficient and more eco-friendly farming world.

Read more about the program on the UN website.