In Kenya, agriculture plays play a vital role in the economy, contributing 26 percent of the GDP, employing more than 40 percent of the total population and providing the wider livelihood for more than 80 percent of Kenya’s population. But beyond the economic profile of agriculture, what is the day-to-day reality of farming in Kenya? In this episode of our #AGRF2021 UPL Insights series, Florent Clair speaks with Shanni Srivastava (Regional Head, East Africa and Middle East, UPL) and Catherine...
Despite favourable climates and growing conditions as well as over 130 million hectares of land suitable for rice cultivation, why does Africa produce less than 5% of the world’s total rice? Harnessing Africa’s untapped natural resources and fostering a thriving rice sector offers a clear pathway towards food security, sufficiency, and prosperity. In this episode of our #AGRF2021 UPL Insights series, Florent Clair speaks with Fadel Ndiama, Vice President at AGRA, and Isaac Mungoma, Investment...
How is artificial intelligence transforming farmer’s capabilities to identify and tackle pests and protect their crops? In Kenya, GoMicro, an artificial intelligence app, is revolutionising the way growers interact with their fields, crops and insects – driving farmer resilience, productivity and prosperity. In this episode of our #AGRF2021 UPL Insights series, Florent Clair is joined by Shanni Srivastava, head of East Africa and Middle East at UPL Ltd., and Sivam Krish, Founder and CEO of Go...
annual partnership meeting, we look at the many challenges facing the cocoa sector, from low wages and human rights issues, to environmental damages and biodiversity loss. Florent Clair is joined by Hubert Ehouman, who leads UPL’s cocoa programme for West and Central Africa, where they discuss how UPL is taking into account these challenges and the needs of each stakeholder and is helping empower smallholder farmers to grow more cocoa on less soil. UPL is proud to be the only input pro...
We believe that the solutions to some of the world’s biggest development challenges can be found in some its smallest places. Tiny, potentially problem-solving technologies can be found all around us in symbiosis with each other. Where? In the natural world. In the seventh episode of the Natural Plant Protection (NPP) – Podcast, we’re matching a technology with a pest, and looking at the massive impact that one of nature’s most destructive creatures is having on crop health and food se...
We believe that the solutions to some of the world’s biggest development challenges can be found in some its smallest places. Tiny, potentially problem-solving technologies can be found all around us in symbiosis with each other. Where? In the natural world. In the sixth episode of the NPP – Natural Plant Protection – Podcast, we examine how we can collaborate with and learn from nature’s own technologies to make our food systems more resilient. From the soil up, NPP is bringing science and ...
We believe that the solutions to some of the world’s biggest development challenges can be found in some of the smallest places. Tiny, potentially problem-solving technologies can be found all around us in symbiosis with each other. Where? In the natural world. In the fifth episode of the NPP – Natural Plant Protection – Podcast, we examine how we can collaborate and learn from nature’s own technologies to make our food systems more resilient. In this episode, host Dan Sanchez is joined by E...
We believe that the solutions to some of the world’s biggest development challenges can be found in some its smallest places. Tiny, potentially problem-solving technologies can be found all around us in symbiosis with each other. Where? In the natural world. In the fourth episode of the NPP – Natural Plant Protection – Podcast, we examine how we can collaborate with and learn from nature’s own technologies to make our food systems more resilient. Host Dan Sanchez is joined Estelle Moreau, Tec...
We believe the secrets to solving some of the biggest development challenges in the world can be found in some of the smallest, naturally occurring technologies. From seaweed to starch, and biostimulants to bacteria, it’s time to meet this episode’s micro – GOACTIV – the microtechnology unlocking the secrets of seaweed to promote the natural stimulation of crops around the world. In this second episode of the NPP – Natural Plant Protection – Podcast, host Dan Danchez is joined by Arnau...
Treated like a transformative agri-technology, soil has the potential to feed a booming global population; reverse the impacts of climate change; and even dramatically reduce greenhouses gas emissions. So how can we work with farmers all over the world to ensure that healthier soils lead to a healthier planet? Joining TopSoil to explore this question is Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, President and CEO of the Soil Health Institute. In this episode, Wayne talks us through the SHI’s ‘Soil Targets’ program...
UPL has made a commitment to redefining sustainability, and part of this means redefining our relationship with the natural world. We believe that soil health, plant health, and planet health are interlinked, and an important part of the transformation of global food systems. To lead this discussion, we’re launching a new podcast mini-series that looks at the untapped potential of soils, and brings together some other soil champions from around the world. Our first episode is a sp...
In this episode of UPL Insights, we’re looking at Aflatoxins, the ‘silent killer’ threatening food crops and livestock across the African continent, and the new technology developed to fight it. Florent Clair is joined by Dr. Jane Kamau, Commercialisation & Agribusiness Manager at IITA, and Dr Titilayo Falade, Associate Scientist, IITA. You can read more about UPL’s work with biosolutions here: https://www.upl-ltd.com/solutions/plant-stress-and-stimulation To know more about...
In this episode of UPL Insights, we’re looking at the story of FAWligen – the new technology that has reprogrammed the inner workings of caterpillars to help combat one of the most serious threats to crops across the African continent. Florent Clair is joined by Dr. Shachi Gurumayum, Head of Africa for AgBiTech, and Dr Ivan Rwomushana, Senior Scientist, Invasive Species Management for CABI. You can read more about FAWligen here: https://www.cabi.org/isc/fallarmywormaction To kno...
In this episode of UPL Insights, we’re looking at the changing role that agribusiness is playing to support farms and farmers around the world. Florent Clair is joined by Dhruv Sawney, Business Head and COO of nurture.farm, to discuss Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) and how digital platforms are helping to solve last-mile delivery for smallholder farmers. To know more about us follow us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/upl_global/ Facebook : https:/...
In our first episode of UPL Insights, we explore the existing and emerging threats to the way we grow food and support farmers, and look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed some concerning trends in the way we think about food security. Florent Clair is joined by Dr David Nabarro, Special Envoy of WHO Director General and Strategic Director of 4SD, and Dominique Burgeon, Director of FAO's Emergency and Resilience Division. You can read more about UPL’s work with locusts here: htt...
In this episode of UPL Insights, we explore how a revolutionary new technology is reworking the science of soil and water to help plants reach their full potential, even in the harshest and most desolate growing conditions. Florent Clair is joined by Kevin Ashford to discuss UPL’s work developing and testing ZEBA technology. You can read more about UPL’s work with ZEBA here: https://www.upl-ltd.com/in/product-details/water-conservation/zeba
In this episode of UPL Insights, we’re looking at the way technology is already transforming agriculture, food systems and farmer livelihoods and the innovations that will shape the future of food. Florent Clair is joined by UPL’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr Adrian Percy to explore the agri-innovations large and small, and how UPL has created a new innovation model based on collaboration. You can read more about UPL’s work with technology and the OpenAg Center here: https://www.upl-lt...
In this episode of UPL Insights, we’re asking if new technologies developed in Argentina could offer a new route to food security for farmers and families across the African continent. Florent Clair is joined by Pedro Pardo to discuss the work that UPL is leading with Sorghum and how the many uses of this staple crop could turn transform the potential for Africa’s breadbasket over the next decade. You can read more about UPL and Advanta’s work with Sorghum here: http://advantaus....
In this episode of UPL Insights, we take a look at the threat to farmers, food security and livelihoods posed by the swarms of locusts – numbering in hundreds of billions and covering hundreds of square miles – that have ravaged East Africa in recent months. Florent Clair is joined by Patrick Amuyunzu to discuss the work UPL is leading on crop protection and the new technologies helping farmers meet this challenge. You can read more about UPL’s work with locusts here: https://www...
What questions will define global agriculture in our lifetime and beyond? In a new series called ‘UPL Insights’ the UPL Sustainability Podcast brings together leading experts to explore the ideas, innovations and solutions driving the green revolution in sustainable agriculture and changing the game for smallholder farmers across the continent. Join UPL at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Virtual Summit from 7 September 2020 and follow the link to learn more about UPL’s ...