Many of us have accidentally eaten a bitter almond: an unpleasant surprise that today is an exception to the rule. Thousands of years ago, a ‘spontaneous genetic mutation’ ‘switched off’ almond tree's production of amygdalin: the cyanide-releasing compound present in bitter almonds.
The diet of Guatemalans has deep roots in the Mayan worldview, which relied on the milpa system composed of maize, beans, and squash—foods that continue to be consumed daily by the population. However, between May and August 2025, it was estimated that nearly 19% of the Guatemalan population was experiencing an acute food insecurity crisis, struggling to access not only these traditional foods but also others essential for diet diversification. This situation stems from a combination of socioeconomic and environmental factors, ranging from rising prices of the basic food basket to extreme climate conditions that lead to crop losses and, therefore, reduced food reserves.
In Kenya’s Central Highlands, the future of feeding communities while conserving biodiversity is at a crossroads. Production systems in the region are hindered by erratic and declining rainfall, soil fertility loss, watershed degradation, and increasing climate stress. Furthermore, intensive farming, land fragmentation, shrinking land and water sources, and overgrazed rangelands are degrading the very ecosystems that sustain rural livelihoods.
An ambitious new data platform is poised to strengthen the way the world understands and manages its vast rangelands – the grasslands, savannas, and shrublands covering nearly half of the Earth’s terrestrial surface. The development of the Global Rangelands Data Platform led by ILRI with technical support by GMV and Vizzuality seeks to tackle one of the most persistent obstacles
Communities across Africa are facing the combined pressures of climate change, conflict and forced displacement. These pressures are not occurring in a vacuum, but rather interact with and exacerbate each other. In many regions, climate hazards are deepening existing vulnerabilities, straining social cohesion, and undermining governance systems already under stress. Against this backdrop, CGIAR and UNHCR jointly organized a bilingual
Climate variability continues to affect pastoral communities across East Africa, increasing the need for practical, data-driven solutions that strengthen drought preparedness. On 3 October 2025, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders met at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) campus in Nairobi for the Anticipatory Drought Risk Finance Product Design Workshop organized in the framework of the NG’OMBE project. The event
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) provided crucial, science-driven perspectives at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Brazil, focusing on the global transition from climate pledges to practical, locally-led implementation. Dr. Jon Hellin, IRRI’s Principal Scientist, was a prominent voice across four LLA dialogues, sharing how robust scientific research can be operationalized to support community agency, ensure gender
Two years ago, selected schools in Kumasi, Ashanti Region of Ghana, discovered a powerful truth: waste is not waste when we rethink its value. In 2023, the Resource Recovery & Reuse (RRR) Schools & Youth Program introduced waste segregation lessons in these schools.