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UN Water Mandate Receives Key Endorsement

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Olam International, a leading global processor of food ingredients with agricultural projects in Africa, has publicly endorsed the c-e-o water mandate of the u-n global compact. The mandate is a public-private initiative that helps companies develop and implement sustainable water policies and practices. The announcement came as the world observed World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.

Olam International said the supply, quality and reliability of water resources are under pressure and the need to adapt to the impact of climate change is increasing.

The signing of the mandate underscores the companys commitment to vigorously and publicly address global water issues regarding agriculture and food supply.

If you reflect that water when you look at it as a hundred per cent value, 97-percent of water would be regarded as salty ocean water, two per cent is actually frozen, so were left with a one per cent marker of water basically for consumption and use in agriculture, explained Chris Brett, Olams head of sustainability, who added, and we split that one per cent, we get to point seven per cent for agriculture, just point three per cent is fresh water for basically human consumption.

Given this he stressed that water is a key issue for them when they see the way people are going to compete for water in the future. As a result the company made a public commitment to use water in more resourceful ways.

Making that commitment is not just a driver for change internally, or a driver for respect in use of water, as a resource, but it is also to communicate to all of our partners how serious we take water on the agenda, said Brett.

He gave an example of success that they were having with irrigation going into their vegetable supply chains in California. The method of irrigation that decreases the use of water is called more crop per drop. It proved to be such a success that it was applied to other Olam operations.

For example we are now undertaking irrigation of rice, and irrigation of coffee plantations in places like Tanzania and Zambia. As a global company we are transferring learning, noted Brett.

The sustainability expert said over the last two years Olam has been measuring its water footprint and communicating that measurement to the public.

He added as a leader in addressing the challenges of water supply, they hope others will follow them in the pursuit of water rationalization and use in agriculture.

The Uses Of Interactive Maps For Crop Management For Agriculture

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Agriculture and its benefits are various and with the advancement in technology there are many tools and methods that can improve the methods of agriculture. Scientists have been using satellite remote sensing technology or flash maps with the aim to enhance water balance and farming yield appraisal on a huge geographical scale throughout the world. Therefore the current sensing algorithms being utilized have become so reliable and accurate that it provides detailed crop information for precise agriculture management to improve crop health and production with the availability of several high resolution maps and satellite sensors.

According to the data collected by FOA, almost 70 percent of freshwater resources is used for crop production. Therefore it is necessary to optimize the right use of water resources and yet increase agriculture production with the global population continuing to grow at a high rate. The agricultural resources are however the most dynamic and renewable natural resources. Therefore reliable, comprehensive and timely information on the agricultural resources is very necessary for countries who’s main economy lies in agriculture. Sometimes, there are agriculture surveys conducted throughout the nation to gather information and the statistic on livestock, crops and rangeland, also including other agriculture resources with the help of these advanced satellite remote sensing technology and maps.

Satellite images through these maps can show variations in organic m matter sand the drainage patterns. The soil higher in organic matter can easily be differentiated from the lighter soil which has lower organic content. So flash maps and the satellite image date has the potential to provide real time or live analysis for big areas of attributes of growing crops that can really help in making timely management decisions which may affect the outcome of the current crop. The technology is so advanced that the satellite images and maps can even import graphics or fields of the agricultural land to offer better crop management. These maps can even create custom regions which can indicate what crop has been currently planted in the region. If you have your own agricultural land, it lets you add additional details as well to show your farming information such as the target harvest time or the last time or next date to apply insecticide.

Moreover the satellite imagery maps analysis for agriculture management and production also allows for
Quantitative green vegetation assessment
Accurate and fast overview
Tree grading
Underlying soil characteristics

This remote sensing satellite imaging and maps is however an evolving technology with the potential to contribute to studies specific to land cover and change detection just by globally making comprehensive evaluations of several human and environmental actions as possible. These changes would thereby influence policy and management decision making. The maps and satellite image date also enables direct observation of the land surface at repetitive intervals and so lets mapping of the extent and assessment and monitoring of storm water runoff, crop health, air quality, change detection environmental analysis, irrigated landscape mapping, energy savings, yield determination, carbon storage and avoidance and soil an fertility analysis.

Hidden Wonders Of The Algarve, Portugal

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The Algarve meaning ‘the west’ is the sunny, warm coastal region along the south of Portugal. In the years since the 1960’s tourism has overtaken agriculture and fishing as the main industry and a lot of the Algarve’s charm has gone with the bleak apartment blocks and sprawling villa complexes. Even so, with a little knowledge there are certain areas that remain wild, untouched and oozing with culture and history.

Most tourists are shuttled off to the central Algarve leaving the most beautiful and unspoiled areas in the east and the west for independent tourists. In the back country only miles from the tourist destinations many villages and towns remain untouched with little known rural walks in the spring flowers and shady woods.

Most notable in the eastern Algarve is the historic city of Tavira with it’s multitude of churches and a central castle. This area is close to the Ria Formosa natural park offering miles of lagoons and barrier islands where flamingos and numerous aquatic birds live and bread. The beach at the ilha de Tavira can be reached in summer using a ferry from the centre of town or alternatively take the 20m minute walk out of town towards the island and hop on a boat that will take you across to the island. This stretch of sand is very popular with the Portuguese but continues for miles allowing for solitude even in the busy summer season.

In the west the city of Lagos is a popular destination and with good reason. The city has an important history as it is was from here that the Portuguese began their expeditions along the coast of Africa in the age of discovery. Lagos now has a completely pedestrianised centre within the old town that is surrounded by the castle walls. There are many shops, excellent restaurants serving fish and in the night Lagos is notorious for its bar scene. Don’t miss the market on Saturday mornings where you can purchase regional specialities and freshly harvested fruit and vegetables before heading down to the fish market for the days catch. Walk along the cliffs out to the Ponta da Piedade (Mercy Point) with it’s lighthouse or go swimming on the little known nudist beach at Praia do Carnavial.

The mountains of Monchique are easily reached by car from anywhere in the western Algarve. The Caldes de Monchique are therapeutic thermal baths and the area is ideal for a stroll in the wooded hills or down by the bubbleing stream. Drive out to the village of Marmallate or climb to the top of the mountain where you can take in views of the whole of the Algarve coastline and enjoy the refreshing cool mountain air. Many local shops offer locally produced hams and varieties of ‘Medronho’ (a brandy made from the Arbutus fruit that symbolises frienship) as well as hand made craft items. Restaurants either side of the main road offer up freshly grilled chicken, Piri Piri style.

After Lagos the Algarve coastline continues west towards Sages and the region once called “the end of the world” as little was known of what lay beyond the waves. Resort towns such as Praia da Luz with it’s arced bay and black rock headland give way to the natural park of Costa Vincentina where many more secret beaches can be discovered especially along dirt tracks west of Vila do Bispo. Atlantic rollers meet a wild landscape of immense natural beauty. Popular with surfers the beaches at low tide have waves that collapse on themselves again and again and sitting on the beach on a sunny afternoon undisturbed by the modern world listening to the roar in the background while looking out into the abyss one can see how sailors were captivated to venture forth to discover what lay beyond.

Investing in Los Pandos – Why should I invest

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In short (and for those that have not read my previous articles), here is a quick summary of the current Los Pandos investment scheme and the benefits of investing:

Minimum Investment 5,000
Invest in Euro, GBP, US Dollar or Swiss Franc
Returns Fixed at 30% to 39%
Investment Period Fixed for only 3 years
Privileged Access to Future Investments
Asset Backed Security SIPP and SSAS approved Proven Track Record FAQs
Q. What Guarantees do I have for my investment?

A. The security offered is by way of a formal charge against the land. We have a mortgage charge (this is the same as what banks take when loaning money to individuals or corporations) which covers the invested sum for all clients. Once you have signed your contracts they are taken to a Notary who will then create a formal charge on the land in your name. This means that after the 3 year term of your investment the funds plus interest must be returned to you. If not, you inform the Notary and the entire asset is frozen.

This (mortgage charge against the asset) is one of the highest forms of security available.
Q. The Vineyard will not be producing wine until after my investment has matured, how will you pay me back? A. We can demonstrate our ability to pay back in various way including:
Governmental grants for the building of the Bodega and re-planting of vines
Current farm and vineyard revenues
Other contracted revenues
Re-finance options
Equity partners

Q. Is the value in the asset if I were to call on the guarantee?

A.Yes, it is worth noting that we are only geared at no more than 30% of the current value today. The asset is increasing as we reach definitive planning (3 fold) and our gearing currently decreasing as we are paying back investors in other areas of the project.
Q. What if you don’t get definitive planning?

A. The asset more than covers our liability at this planning stage and the planning process has reached a position where it is irrevocable. On top of this the vineyard and other areas of the project do not require planning as they fall under agriculture use and Projects of Singular Interests (PSI).
Q. What is the process required to execute the guarantee?

A. In case of breaching the contract, one of the mechanisms that can be performed is the Out-of-court procedure, which is ruled in the Ley Hipotecaria Act (section 129), Reglamento Hipotecario Act (sections 234,235 and 236), and Civil Code (section 1858). This procedure is quick and simple and can be carried out by a Notary Public.
Q. How many charges are registered on the land that secures this investment?

A. There are no other encumbrances on this land. According to Spanish Mortgage Law, mortgages must have a priority order. Any future borrowings would take second place to this charge.

Q. What if we cannot sell the wine?

A. This investment is not affected by the sale of the wine, as the first year of production will be after your loan has been repaid. This investment is a stand-alone structure using company, farm and vineyard revenues, grants and re-financing and equity partner options.

Q. What if the harvest fails?

A. The vineyard and farm currently produces a profit in excess of ?420,000 per year. Since the vineyard’s inception two decades ago, there has been no crop failure. In addition, part of the initial funds raised has been invested in the improvement of quality and yield of the grapes. It’s important to note that returns are not based on the vineyard profit.

Q. Why don’t you go to a bank for the finance?

A. We have decided to build the bodega on private and public investment as the general banking situation is extremely difficult on a worldwide scale. One of the funds primary objectives is to build a loyal investor base to whom we can present further exclusive investment opportunities to within the Los Pandos Eco project over the course of the next six to eight years. Investors have the option at the end of their initial three year investment to take advantage of an exclusive investment opportunity within the development or to simply take the profits earned and cash in their investment.

Q. Why don’t you wait and re-finance in the future and why are these returns so high?

A. Quite simply these grants may not be available in the future and one of these, the replanting grant for the new vineyard, covers 100% of the cost. Additionally when planting new vines it is an average of 4 to 6 years before the grape is stable enough to produce a good quality wine. By starting sooner we can bring the profit in sooner.These two elements alone make it more than financially viable to offer these levels of returns.

Q. Can I get my money out before the end of the investment term?

A. No, the funds are tied in for the three year period with Capital and Interest being paid at the end of this term.

Q. When does my investment begin?

A. The three year investment begins when your funds are received by us.

Q. Is this investment affected by the worldwide credit crunch?

A. No. As the investment is being raised by private finance, we are not dependant on any kind of loans from banking institutions.

Q. Are there any other costs or charges?

A. No, the fund does not have any set up, ongoing or closing fees. At the end of the term we return your invested amount plus the pre-agreed return.

Click here to view the Los Pandos Investments website and see our latest news Click here to learn more about Los Pandos

Click here to view the Los Pandos Investments website and see our latest news
Click here to learn more about Los Pandos

Eleven Million in Sahel Face Severe Food Insecurity

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A U.N. agency says 11 million people in Africas Sahel region still face severe food insecurity. At the same time, an emergency appeal for 113 million dollars has gone largely unmet.

De Capua report on Sahel food insecurity
The Food and Agriculture Organization says the Sahel has faced food insecurity crises in 2005, 2008 and again in 2012. Those crises, it says, have eroded the capacity of the poor to maintain or restore their livelihoods.

In Dakar, Patrick David, FAOs deputy coordinator for food security analysis for West Africa and the Sahel, said, There is still a lot of people in food insecurity. The people more and more find some difficulty to recover from the past crisis even if there is a good harvest because there have been pretty good harvests in 2012.

David said many people in the Sahel depend on a few cattle and a small piece of land for survival. So, its hard for them to stock up any reserve food or agricultural supplies in the event of drought, conflict or bad harvest.

While before it would take one or two years to recover, now its longer for those people to recover. Its difficult to restock cattle, for example. Its difficult for them to access agricultural credit to have good input[s] and to have fertilizer. And in some places in the Sahel, like in Burkina Faso and Niger, there [are] some dense populated area[s] where there is degradation of land and the loss of soil fertility. That means their agricultural
yield[s] are decreasing year by year, he said.

That compounds the problems they already face as the price for grains, such as sorghum, millet and maize, continues to rise.

David said, The poor and the very poor households, as soon as theyve exhausted their little harvest, totally depend [on] the market. So they have to buy the grain at higher and higher prices. So their purchasing power is decreasing every year.

Insecurity, such as the recent conflict in northern Mali, can also boost prices because agricultural products cannot get to market.

The FAO has appealed for $113 million for its programs in the Sahel. However, its only received less that $19.5 million so far.

The intervention of FAO strengthens the resilience of the affected households. But when the affected households cannot receive the good seeds and the good fertilizer or cannot recapitalize their livestock, they stay very vulnerable and its a problem for the next year. So we definitely need additional support for the farmers and agriculture in order to decrease the impact of the forthcoming crisis, he said.

Building resilience includes improving the storage, processing and transportation of goods as well as livestock food supplements, animal health campaigns and herd restocking. The Food and Agriculture Organization programs also include fixing irrigation systems.

The FAO said it would like these programs to be in place and making a difference during the next growing season which runs from October through April