Switzerland’s Dominance in the Commodities Trade
Switzerland has recently emerged as one of the world’s most important hubs in the global trade of commodities. But its
Shifting water demands onto the vulnerable?
Our water footprints have gone global. The drivers include modern agribusiness and the unprecedented reach of value chains. Those living where rain falls or rivers flow may give little thought to the water demands of their lifestyles. Others do not have that privilege. Worldwide, people’s water uses contribute to an increasingly complex web of “virtual” water flows implied in agricultural production, trade, and investment. This datablog entry introduces some of the water issues of global market-driven agricultural investment in developing countries.
Visualize a strategy
For this blog post, we used CDE’s new Strategy 2016–2021 to explore and visualize text mining techniques. Nowadays text mining
Good intentions, big footprints: Facing household energy use in rich countries
This CDE policy brief looks at energy-related household carbon footprints. Scientists agree that human activity – above all emission of
Investing in mountain regions is essential for global sustainable development
Investing in mountain regions is decisive for the future not only of mountain regions but of the planet as a
Joint Action for Sustainable Development –
A storymap
The Eastern and Southern Africa Partnership Programme (ESAPP) was launched in 1999 and concluded in 2015. This storymap summarizes experiences and knowledge gained from 15 years of partnership-based research and action in Africa. It presents 24 representative highlights carefully selected from over 300 small-grant projects carried out in Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
Sustainable Land Management is simply about people looking after the land – for the present and for the future
Sustainable Land Management (SLM) means maintaining healthy land resources – soil, water, vegetation, and animals – including their productive functions (e.g. food security), ecological functions (e.g. water, nutrient, and carbon cycles), and biodiversity.
Where our roses come from – commercial horticulture in Kenya
Growing flowers and vegetables for export is a vital source of revenue for Kenya and other East African countries. It provides jobs for local people, including women, and creates market channels for small-scale farmers to sell their crops. But working conditions and employment terms must be improved. Moreover, the industry is a major water consumer, competing for declining river water with other uses. This is a problem during the dry season, which corresponds with Europe's winter. Near Mt Kenya, the sector is shifting from using river water to relying more on stored water and boreholes.