‘Trees of life’ are vital food source

The “famine food” of trees can keep drought-hit communities alive when all other food crops fail, says Miranda Spitteler. In this week’s Green Room, she argues that policy makers need to recognise the important role trees play in providing emergency food aid.

Read more: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8181510.stm

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Promoting value chains of neglected and underutilized species for pro-poor growth and biodiversity conservation

This publication has been commissioned by the Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (GFU), created to ease and increase information and knowledge exchange in the field of neglected and underutilized species (NUS).

GFU’s mission is to promote and facilitate the sustainable deployment of underutilized plant species to increase food security and alleviate poverty among the rural and urban poor. Its objective is to support and strengthen organizations and networks working on different aspects of underutilized species through:

• providing improved access to information and financial resources;
• increasing public awareness on the role of underutilized species for improving livelihoods; and
• giving advice to policy-makers on how to create an enabling policy environment for the deployment of underutilized species.

By doing so, GFU aims to attract an increasing number of assistance agencies, research institutions, extension services, policy- and decision-makers to include neglected and underutilized species in their development programmes.

Download document here. Further information about GFU’s marketing studies is available from here.

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The International Foundation for Science – Call for Grant applications

The International Foundation for Science (IFS) is looking for young scientists in developing countries for IFS Research Grants to do research on the sustainable management, use, or conservation of biological or water resources. This broad statement covers natural science and social science research on agriculture, soils, animal production, food science, forestry, agroforestry, aquatic resources, natural products, water resources, etc. Applications are accepted all year and are to be made on an IFS Application Form.

Closing Date: Until filled

The full guidelines, eligibility criteria, and instructions to apply are available here:  www.ifs.se/Programme/granting_programme.asp

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