California!!

With our Californian leg all wrapped up, and our Washington DC Leg complete also, it was time for a Blog catch up.

Looking back at what we saw in California, the issues facing agriculture in the state become very apparent. From environmental, to social and economic.

The environmental issues facing many of the Ag industries have mostly come about in the last few years in regards to regulations, however one of the biggest is Water.

As you could imagine farming in a desert would be hard with out it. However, as the states cities grow and grow the stress on the water allocations for agriculture are pushed further more to the limits.

Innovative and more efficient irrigation practices are being applied, in almost every crop.

One of the social elements that has been emerging in the last decade, is the organic and also the buy local markets.

The organic movement is very strong in California, and it has become a way of life for a large part of the population. From the farmers markets held on weekend’s right accords the state, to the organic dairies that supply organic milk, cheese, and other dairy products right across the nation.

A movement that has also so become a very welcomed part of the Californian fresh food movement is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), from the innovative entrepreneur that have developed huge markets to deliver organic and also local produce and goods all around the state.

The vast networks for logistics, and the way that their supply chains have been developed.

Most of the produce can be from paddock to plate with in a few days, not cool stored for months.

It is a way that food is becoming more personal again, with the slogan used by one business being 'know your farmer'.

Soon to come the Washington DC Blog!!

Also, follow my tweets at @hay_bryce as they are daily!!

Quick China up date!

It has been a hectic last couple of days in China. We have visited some vegetable farms, and had a very interesting meeting with AusTrade!
And today a very good look at the Gaungzhou fresh fruit and veg market, which is open 24/7 and handles over 500 trucks full of fruit and vegetables per day!!
More up dates to come now that I am back online!!

How to feed a growing world!!

How to feed the worlds population in 2050, when it’s estimated that it will reach 9 Billion people?

Some of the answers may lay at the I.R.R.I (International Rice Research Institute) in Los Banos, Philippines.

Were we spent the day looking at different research and development projects.

From land that has been continuously double cropped for 49 years, and in the last decade triple cropped.

To bays that have not had any nitrogen application for 49 years also, but still manage to produce a yield that is sustainable.

Other interesting work being achieved is the breeding of varieties that have traits for the likes of, flooding tolerance, salt tolerance and disease tolerance.

In addition, varieties are being bred to be classed as a C4 crop, rather than C3, this technology could have the ability to increase the yield by 50%.

The I.R.R.I is truly at the coal face of R and D projects on rice.

Taal Volcano, Philippines

First full day here in the Philippines,

We spent the day sight seeing and taking the country in!

We ended up on top of an active volcano called 'Taal Volcano'!!

The hike to the top took around an hour, but it was well worth it, 

Then of course the afternoon rain came in while up there, which made for a slippery hike back down.

First flight of the GFP

2/6/12
It's 6.45am, and we are still in Canberra, however we are about to in bark on an opportunity of a life time.
With the first stop being Manilla, Philippines.
The last 3 days have consisted of team building activities, and also meeting with government agency's.
Yesterday's visit to the NFF, brought with it meetings with DAFF, a U.S. Agricultural Counselor, C.E.O of the council of Rural Research and Development Corporations. And also a visit to Grain Growers, to look at their new website Production Wise.
Can't wait to get to the Airport!

Two-way learning channel!!

What an interesting day, I am currently out in the Western area of Abu Dhabi (Liwa),

And I have been privileged with accompanying the Farmers Services Centre with their daily operations.

The roles of Farmers Service Centre, that I have been witness to have involved, but not limited to, Education, Improving sustainability, Improving farm productivity, Research and Development, and the list goes on.

And today I was able to take part and also contribute to a Forage and Fodder workshop that was in the region.

The workshop was an excellent opportunity that brought me even more up to speed, with the issues that agriculture in the U.A.E faces.

It was also an opportunity for myself to explain how hay (fodder) is produced in the Southern areas of Australia, and the process’ that are involved to export to countries such as the U.A.E.

As Australian hay is widely used in this area. As well as hay from the U.S.A, Canada, Spain and Egypt.

I feel I learnt as much at the workshop, as I gave!

And I would like to thank the Farmers Services Centre for making it possible.

The Nuffield Contemporary Scholar Conference (CSC) wound up last week on the 2^nd of March, the previous week and a half was packed full of inspirational people, that are all leaders of their fields. We were privilege to  have presentations from almost every aspect of agriculture and also industries that work closely with, and/or depend on agriculture.