Farmer John Malika and experts from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT showcased how Brachiaria grass is boosting incomes and livestock resilience in Makueni, Kenya, proving that livestock forage can be a profitable and sustainable alternative to traditional crops. Forget traditional cash crops for a moment. In Makueni County, farmer John Malika champions a surprising source of wealth:
Tanzania’s agricultural sector holds immense potential for economic transformation. Often cited as one of East Africa’s most promising investment frontiers—the country has one of the world’s youngest populations, with most youth involved in farming. However, the sector faces persistent challenges including climate risks, outdated agricultural practices, and limited access to finance and technology. In response to these issues and
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are a powerful tool for transforming agriculture, and nowhere is this more evident than in the global effort to create a sustainable, low-emission rice sector. While low-emission rice is physically identical to its traditional counterpart, the enabling environment—the policies, market incentives, and collaborations that support its production—is what truly sets it apart. The International Rice Research Institute
Women farmers in Walana village, Pakistan, are turning farm waste into a valuable resource thanks to a compost-making training organized under the ICARDA–U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Fertilize Right (FR) project. This practical training equipped women with innovative techniques to reduce chemical fertilizing, improve soil health, and create a new source of income. From 3–4 September 2025, in partnership with
At the Transformations Community Navigating Sustainability Transformations Towards Justice and Equity Conference (TC/ESG25) in Johannesburg (19-21 August, 2025) one session confronted a growing problem in sustainability debates and within the CGIAR: the tyranny of the “co’s.” Terms like co-production, co-creation, co-innovate and co-design are now used almost as slogans, repeated in policy papers, funding calls, and project proposals. Yet too
The CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) Science Program signifies an innovative step in global research for sustainable development. MFL envisions vibrant, diverse, and resilient landscapes that are managed holistically to deliver eco-agrifood systems, healthy diets and climate resilience, all while staying within planetary boundaries (CGIAR, 2025–2030 Research Portfolio). This vision takes shape through co-creation, where scientists, farmers, policymakers, civil society, and
By Steven Were Omamo October 2, 2025 This post first appeared on the Africa Food Systems Forum website. Over 60% of Africa’s people are under 25. By 2035, more young Africans will join the workforce each year than in the rest of the world combined, underscoring the urgency of the 2025 African Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) theme: “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation,
By Sankalp Bhosale, Suresh Kadaru, and Glenn Concepcion The Rice Breeding Innovations (RBI) Demo plots at the Headquarters of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, showcasing the new elite rice varieties developed using the OneRice strategy for the prioritized market segments. As the global population continues its relentless climb, projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, the