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A model for the tropics, Team ICRISAT under Dar has harnessed the potential of, from among other crops,
sweet sorghum as an intelligent choice for a biofuel crop, for ethanol. Sorgo, as sweet sorghum is sometimes
referred to, is a legume; among its exceptional characteristics is its ability to grow well in denuded or degraded
sites, and is thus the perfect crop to fight desertification, a David fighting a man-made Goliath. It is also able to
grow well in waterlogged areas, a David twin fighting a Goliath twin.
With Team ICRISAT’s advocacy, an Indian national
has put up Rusni Distilleries to extract ethanol from
sorgo grown by small Indian farmers in a
commercial arrangement, complete with Indian
government support. Being Science Chair of a UN
body is added reason I say ‘William Dar is the Al
Gore of Science’ (americanchronicle.com).
Given all that, when it comes to the crunch, the global
war against desertification must be fought with local
battles that have to be won. On his part, and to begin
with, Dar had to steer his UN committee in the right
direction.
Having become Chair, Dar invited the delegates to
discuss the priority theme of their mission as the
new science committee. He noted that the proposed
Ten-Year Strategic Plan of the UNCCD, 2008-2018,
contained ‘relevant recommendations.’ For instance,
the Plan’s vision is compelling:
A world where land degradation/desertification
trends are reversed and the effects of drought
and climate variability mitigated, thereby
contributing to sustainable development through
the improvement of people’s livelihoods and
economic well-being and the protection of the
environment at the local and global levels.
Drought reversed, climate change moderated, livelihoods improved, economies ameliorated, environment
protected – locally, globally. And how are all that to be accomplished? The accompanying mission is apropos to
the vision:
UP! Pinoy Chairs UN Scientific Body