Global farm research consortium doubles funding to $1 billion
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the world’s largest partnership of agricultural research organisations, has doubled its annual funding in the last five years, raising it to $1 billion this year. The increase in donor backing, for scientific research to increase crop harvests and improve farming techniques, comes as an expanding global population demands more food, while worsening extreme weather and environmental degradation are making it harder for many producers to maintain their yields. Frank Rijsberman, CEO of the CGIAR said that, “the $1 billion in funding will help finance CGIAR’s 16 global research programmes and accelerate the development of scientific, policy and technological advances needed to overcome complex challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, land degradation and chronic malnutrition, improving the wellbeing of millions of poor families across the developing world.” (Thomson Reuters)
Supply Chain
Amazon wages war with frustration free packaging
Amazon has announced that 200,000 of its products now come in easy to open, recyclable cardboard designed to alleviate ‘wrap rage’. Amazon’s ‘Frustration-Free Packaging initiative’ began five years ago with just 19 products and now works with over 2,000 manufacturers including, Mattel, Unilever and Logitech. The aim has been to deliver products inside smaller, easy to open, recyclable cardboard boxes that reduce the overall amount of material used. The initiative, which has used customer’s views via ratings and feedback, has resulted in waste reductions including, eliminating 58.9 million square feet of cardboard, removing 24.7 million pounds of packaging and reducing box sizes by 14.5 million cubic feet. (Edie)
Energy
UK factories to be paid to cut back electricity use
UK factories will be paid to switch off their electricity during times of highest demand next winter, under emergency plans to stop outages. Fears that current levels of generation will not be able to keep pace with rising demand have led to the energy watchdog Ofgem taking new steps to avert blackouts, following predictions that there could be two percent spare capacity in the system by 2015. Cash incentives will be offered to businesses to reduce their electricity use between 4pm and 8pm on weekdays next winter, in an aim to switch maximum output away from afternoons and evenings. Ofgem’s chief executive, Andrew Wright said that, “Britain has one of the most reliable power systems in the world, but with margins tightening there can be no room for industry complacency on security of supply. Therefore we have approved these new tools to act as an extra insurance policy to protect consumers' power supplies.” (Independent)
Half of 2014 world solar demand to come from Asia-Pacific
The Asia-Pacific region will account for approximately 50 percent of all new solar demand (a 35 percent annual growth in demand) next year according to findings from researchers, Solarbuzz. Almost 95 percent of new solar capacity in the Asia-Pacific region will come from five countries: China, Japan, India, Australia and Thailand. This year, China and Japan accounted for 85 percent of Asia-Pacific installations; the Chinese Bureau of Energy recently announced increased targets for solar installation, whilst new investments have helped drive the Japanese market. Thailand has also increased its target for renewable energy contributions to 25 percent by 2012. A Solarbuzz analyst said “this milestone marks the final chapter in the transition from historic European domination to a new solar industry where supply and demand from Asia-Pacific will determine the basis of the global solar industry in 2015.” (CleanBiz.Asia)
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