Title of document: Insect Pest Management Authors/editor: Annie Deutsch and Stacy Swartz Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: EDN Year of publication: 2021 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://edn.link/ipm2 Summary: Insect pests affect all forms of agricultural production, from densely planted field crops to high-value nursery plants to grains in storage. This article explains some principles and practices for conducting in-field observations (sampling) to inform pest management decisions. General principles and practices are discussed for detecting, identifying, and monitoring pest populations, in order to inform next steps.   Read More

Title of document: COVID-19 building back greener and more resilient: Contributions of agroecology to a “new normal” in Asia and the Pacific Authors/editor: FAO Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: FAO Year of publication: 2021 Geographic focus: SEA Main issues/ topics addressed (for example:…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cb3114en Summary: Besides the severe health crisis, the COVID-19 epidemic also caused the global economy to contract at a rate not seen since the Second World War and led to a severe increase of poor and food insecure people as well as a sharp projected decrease of production of agricultural goods in Southeast Asia. The effects of the pandemic on agriculture have been exacerbated by the way in which the current industrial farming system is set up. Integral to Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) common vision for sustainable food and agriculture, agroecology echoes the goals of the 2030 Agenda and can be seen as a key part of the global response to this climate of instability, offering an original approach to meeting significant increases in our food needs of the future while ensuring no one is left behind. As recognized by the World Bank and FAO-led global agriculture assessment (IAASTD 2019), landmark reports from IPBES (2018; 2019), IPCC (2019), and FAO (2019a), agroecology has the capacity to reconcile the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. This paper is a contribution to the regional dialogue on how to respond to the COVID19 crisis. It first highlights some of the impacts of the pandemic on agriculture and food security in the Asia Pacific Region. Then, mobilizing the FAO’s 10 elements of Agroecology framework, it provides selected examples of how agroecological approaches can contribute transforming food systems and developing a greener, more resilient and more inclusive “new normal”   Read More

Title of document: Policy Brief - Issue No. 4: Mechanization Solutions for Improved Livestock Management and Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Diseases Authors/editor: UN-ESCAP CSAM Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: UN-ESCAP CSAM Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: Role of Mechanization in Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Diseases; Recommendations…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://www.un-csam.org/Publication/PB-2020-03-ENG.pdf Summary:   Read More

Title of document: Policy Brief - Issue No. 3: Integrated Management of Straw Residue in the Asia-Pacific Region Authors/editor: UN-ESCAP CSAM Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: UN-ESCAP CSAM Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: Impact of the Pandemic on Agriculture in the Asia-Pacific Region; Role of sustainable agricultural mechanization in supporting recovery and building resilience…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://www.un-csam.org/Publication/PB-2020-03.pdf Summary: Burning of straw residue is a common practice in many countries of the Asia-Pacific region. In recent times, this practice has drawn the attention of policymakers and the public due to its adverse effects on the environment, including air pollution which impacts the life of millions of people across countries and contributes to climate change as well as loss of fertility of agricultural land. Appropriate agricultural machinery can help farmers adopt sustainable and integrated management of straw residue including its use as fertilizer, cattle feed, bioenergy, substrate for growing mushrooms and industry material.   Read More

Title of document: Policy Brief - Issue No. 2: Impact of Covid-19 on Agriculture in the Asia-Pacific Region and Role of Mechanization Authors/editor: UN-ESCAP CSAM Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: UN-ESCAP CSAM Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: Impact of the Pandemic on Agriculture in the Asia-Pacific Region; Role of sustainable agricultural mechanization in supporting recovery and building resilience…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://www.un-csam.org/Publication/PB-2020-02.pdf Summary: The impact of the coronavirus disease pandemic on the agricultural sector has brought unprecedented challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. At this juncture, it is important to undertake a closer analysis of the effect of the pandemic on agriculture in the region, with particular attention to resource-poor smallholder farmers and low-wage migrant agricultural workers. In addition, it is vital to identify solutions that can help member States ‘build back better’ the agricultural sector.   Read More

Title of document: Policy Brief - Issue No. 1: Promoting an Enabling Environment for the Private Sector for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization Authors/editor: UN-ESCAP CSAM Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: UN-ESCAP CSAM Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: Challenges Facing the Private Sector in Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in the Asia-Pacific Region; Policy Recommendations…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://www.un-csam.org/Publication/PB202007.pdf Summary: For the purpose of this policy brief, the ‘private sector’ in relation to agricultural mechanization is understood to comprise of four groups of economic actors: (1) farmers, (2) retailers and wholesalers, (3) manufacturers, and (4) importers. As this brief illustrates, the creation of an enabling environment for the private sector for sustainable agricultural mechanization requires related government entities to implement well-delineated policies, provide effectual incentives, and establish accessible communication channels…   Read More

Title of document: Mechanization of Agriculture: Market Dynamics in China, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Authors/editor: UN-ESCAP CSAM Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: UN-ESCAP CSAM Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: The Role of Mechanization in Agriculture; Country Market Dynamics; Summary of Findings and Conclusions…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://www.un-csam.org/Publication/ReCAMA/RF2020.pdf Summary: Given multiple challenges, such as a growing population, poverty, and the adverse impacts of climate change that the farming community faces, agriculture mechanization plays a significant role in ensuring food security. The food production value chain comprises of a wide range of stakeholders who play different roles and contribute in numerous ways. This study was conducted to understand the market dynamics of agriculture machinery trade in China, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Such an understanding aims to assist various stakeholders, particularly manufacturers, exporters, importers, distributors, retailers, service providers and end-users, in their trade interactions with each other in different markets as well as exploring new opportunities.   Read More

Title of document: Mechanization Solutions for Improved Livestock Management and Prevention & Control of Zoonotic Diseases Authors/editor: UN-ESCAP CSAM Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: UN-ESCAP CSAM Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): http://www.un-csam.org/Publication/2020/zoonoticpre_ENG.pdf Summary: Animal husbandry plays an important role in the agricultural industry. However, since the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic which has become a global crisis affecting human health and economic and social development, increased attention has been devoted to zoonotic diseases and measures for their prevention and control. Due to various factors such as weaknesses in anti-epidemic measures and social and cultural contexts, the Asia-Pacific region has always been an area with a high incidence of zoonotic diseases, causing huge losses to the livestock farming industry, and threatening human health and safety as well as people’s livelihood and food security.   Read More

Title of document: ECHO Development Notes - Issue 149, October 2020 Authors/editor: ECHO Asia Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: ECHO Asia Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: Farmer-Centered Climate Change Mitigation; A Seed Trial Report; Upcoming Event: ECHO International Agriculture Conference - ONLINE EVENT…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): https://assets.echocommunity.org/publication_issue/e414df45-2f56-4112-a601-761992903acd/en/edn-issue-149.pdf Summary: In this issue: Farmer-Centered Climate Change Mitigation: Part 2 of 2 From ECHO's Seed Bank: How Seeds from ECHO Grew in a Dry-Season Garden in Uganda Echoes from our Network: Grafting Tamarillo and OtherSolanaceous Crops for Nematode Resistance Books, Websites, and Other Resources: AT Fair Summary Upcoming Event: ECHO International Agriculture Conference - ONLINE EVENT   Read More

Title of document: Ecological pest control fortifies agricultural growth in Asia–Pacific economies Authors/editor: Kris A. G. Wyckhuys, Yanhui Lu, Wenwu Zhou, Matthew J. W. Cock, Steven E. Naranjo, Atumurirava Fereti, Frances E. Williams & Michael J. Furlong Journal’s name if any: nature ecology & evolution Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: nature ecology & evolution Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Asia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-020-01294-y Summary: The Green Revolution is credited with alleviating famine, mitigating poverty and driving aggregate economic growth since the 1960s. In Asia, high-input technology packages secured a tripling of rice output, with germplasm improvements providing benefits beyond US$4.3 billion yr–1. Here, we unveil the magnitude and macro-economic relevance of parallel nature-based contributions to productivity growth in non-rice crops over the period 1918–2018 (across 23 different Asia–Pacific geopolitical entities). We empirically demonstrate how biological control resolved invasive pest threats in multiple agricultural commodities, ensuring annually accruing (on-farm) benefits of US$14.6–19.5 billion yr–1. Scientifically guided biological control of 43 exotic invertebrate pests permitted 73–100% yield-loss recovery in critical food, feed and fibre crops including banana, breadfruit, cassava and coconut. Biological control thereby promoted rural growth and prosperity even in marginal, poorly endowed, non-rice environments. By placing agro-ecological innovations on equal footing with input-intensive measures, our work provides lessons for future efforts to mitigate invasive species, restore ecological resilience and sustainably raise output of global agrifood systems…   Read More