USC Canada

Mali Farmers want Focus on Local Seeds

Farmers in Mali have called on government and policy makers to focus on improving local crops and seeds and more local collaboration between farmers and agricultural researchers. Read more, or see the full story posted by the Science and Development Network.

Biodiversity Nears ‘Point of No Return’

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, and later this year in Nagoya, Japan, we will have the chance to halt the decline of our planet’s biodiversity. As Hilary Benn – UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs – notes in this recent BBC News opinion piece, It’s up to us to seize it!

2010: A crucial year for BIODIVERSITY

The UN has invited the world to take action to safeguard the variety of life on earth, making 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. Stay tuned to this site for coming events, actions and knowledge-sharing. Let’s make this year count. Read More…

Food, Farming and Climate Change

1.7 billion of the world’s farmers are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. The many who are already hungry are the most vulnerable. Nonetheless, a significant opportunity to reduce the green house gasses that produce climate chaos lies with agriculture. Read more here…

An Evolve-by Date

Evolutionary Biologist Olivia Judson has written a provocative opinion piece in the New York Times, triggered by the 100th publication anniversary of Darwin’s Origin of the Species. We have a challenge for you as you read this piece. Find out more…

No Magic Bullets

CBC Radio’s The Current deserves credit for digging into some key issues regarding the shameful state of hunger on our planet. Their interview on Monday with Olivier de Shutter, the UN’s Rapporteur on Food Sovereignty, was bang on. But the next day the focus was on a silver-bullet solution that prompted this response from USC. Read More…

Food Sovereignty: A Growing Movement!

That’s the theme of the brand new 2010 issue of our Jottings newsletter, which is now available on our website. Check it out for inspiring stories from our partner farmers across the globe. Download the latest edition of the newsletter here.

Committed to Farmers

USC is delighted that Richard Minougou – the Executive Secretary of our partner in Burkina Faso – has won a Presidential Award of Merit for the work he has spearheaded, integrating crop diversification, secure seed supply systems, and land rehabilitation work in the remote villages of northern Burkina Faso. Our heartfelt congratulations, Richard!

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Tragedy has hit Haiti and people there need immediate assistance. USC is not in a position to provide emergency relief. Please consider donating to the following organizations.

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The Story of Food!

USC Canada’s new short, animated film will get you thinking about our broken food system. It identifies what’s gone wrong, and what we can do to rebuild it. Watch it now