What can we learn from nationally-representative data on adoption of agricultural innovations? This question motivated a recent virtual event with CGIAR System Council and senior management, in which SPIA presented summary findings from the first pillar of our Work Plan: Country Studies with results from four countries – Ethiopia, Uganda, Bangladesh and Viet Nam. Beyond SPIA’s mission of analyzing, expanding, and deepening the
By Nina Jovanovic and Jacob Ricker-Gilbert June 18, 2025 Increasing farmer adoption of improved crop varieties is a key way to improve agricultural productivity and reduce poverty in low-income countries. Yet in these areas, smallholder farmers’ reported yields for such varieties often fall far short of researchers’ and policymakers’ expectations. What accounts for this gapbetween the high yield numbers documented in
CGIAR INITIATIVES Accelerated Breeding Primary Impact Area Nutrition, health & food security Related Impact Areas
By Alex Oguso, Shadrack Mwatu, Juneweenex Mbuthia From May 5-9, 2025, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) successfully delivered a training of trainers’ workshop under the CGIAR Policy Innovations program for the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and KIPPRA staff. Building on the foundational work of the CGIAR National
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines (2 June 2025) – Faster and smarter crop breeding depends on better digital tools, and making sure these tools can work together is critical. To support this, developers, data scientists, and breeders from the BrAPI Community gathered at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for a weeklong hackathon focused on improving digital systems used in breeding programs.
In the global push to finance and scale nature-positive transitions in food systems, the conversation often revolves around capital, who pays for it and who receives it. But the real challenge goes deeper. Mobilizing funds is fundamental, but it’s not the only part of the equation. What matters just as much is ensuring that finance is aligned with national
Researchers from the Alliance’s Artemis project developed mobile AI tools and farmer feedback systems in Tanzania and Colombia to transform how crop breeding responds to real-world smallholder needs. Across the Global South, crop breeding programs face a recurring challenge: the gap between improved varieties developed in research stations and the realities of smallholder farms. This mismatch is a byproduct
From June 9–13, scientists gathered to share ideas and innovations at Science Week: The Alliance’s annual event to exchange knowledge and accelerate collaboration around food systems research. This year’s conference took place in Vientiane, Laos, where the Alliance has a strong research and field presence. In this recap, we invite you to explore the emerging topics covered and hear from