Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, delivered the inaugural IFAD Lecture at the 38th session of the Governing Council, IFAD's annual meeting of Member States. Her lecture – entitled 'The Future of Aid' – took place on 17 February 2015. It was the first in a planned series that IFAD has launched to advance thinking on rural transformation as a key to sustainable development in the post-2015 world.

Some 50 farmers in the Japanese cities of Iwamizawa and Kitami in the island of Hokkaido signed a petition to support biotech/GM crops, their field trials, and cultivation, in two separate fora on March 26 and 27, respectively. Farmers were initially briefed on biotech crops, their benefits and potentials in the country and the Philippine experience in planting biotech corn.

A bill was drafted by the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) supporting the development of new crop varieties in the country. According to Gervais Nkuriza Ngerero, Director General of RAB seed department, the bill is expected to protect plant varieties developed by Rwandan researchers

A study led by University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) professor and soybean specialist Shawn Conley reveals that even on a good year, soybean farmers in the United States are taking a great loss because of changes in weather patterns. In the last 20 years, a massive US$11 billion were lost due to such changes.

FAO 2 April 2015, Rome - The FAO Food Price Index continued to decline in March, dropping 1.5 percent from February and 18.7 percent (40 points) below its level a year earlier. A sharp fall in the price index for sugar - which reached its lowest level since February 2009 - together with dipping prices for vegetable oils, cereals and meat, more than offset a rise in dairy prices and contributed to the lower index, which in March averaged 173.8 points.

Agbiotech company Ceres reported that its biotech sugarcane traits have moved to the next stage of testing ahead of schedule because of the positive results from initial field assessments. The initial field trials were conducted in Latin America under tropical conditions. Elite varieties are currently being multiplied for wider-scale field trials scheduled to begin in May and June 2015.

IFAD 20 MARCH 2015 – Water lies at the heart of sustainable development and underpins economic growth, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. It plays an integral part in food and industrial production, human and environmental health, energy security, sustainable urbanization and the ability of rural women and men in developing countries to pursue productive activities.

27 March 2015, Rome - FAO's executive council today closed its week-long session by reaching consensus on the agency's biennial programme of work and budget - an unprecedented move that reflects widespread appreciation for the leadership shown by Director-General José Graziano da Silva since he took office in 2012.

Responding to fears that bean production will take a big hit from global warming, CIAT scientists have identified about 30 “elite” lines showing tolerance to temperatures 4 degrees Centigrade above the crop’s normal “comfort zone.” Research on these beans, which is supported by the CGIAR Fund and documented in a recent CGIAR report, represents a major contribution to the CGIAR Research Programs on Grain Legumes and on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.

20 March 2015, Rome -- Strong winds, heavy rains and floods resulting from Tropical Cyclone Pam have caused extensive damage to agriculture throughout Vanuatu, including the main food and export crops, livestock, and fisheries infrastructure, FAO said today.