News Overview

Did you know that almost everything we eat today was shaped by plant breeders? Without them, our plates would be empty.

Now in its ninth week, the Iran war has sparked rising energy prices, heightened shipping and insurance risks, and disruptions along key trade corridors, increasing pressure on global supply chains.

A new article by Belgium's development agency Enabel says promising innovations often demonstrate their value early on, yet too many never move beyond the pilot phase. As funding becomes more constrained and expectations for measurable impact increase, the real challenge—they argue— is no longer inventing solutions but ensuring they reach the people who need them most.

In several countries in Eastern and Central Africa including Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and Malawi millions of families depend on cassava as a staple food and source of income. However, production of this crop faces a growing threat: Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD), caused by viruses that damage the plant’s roots, significantly reduce yields, and threaten food security.

Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) like Boeng Ream are being integrated into Cambodia’s broader governance architecture for food security, nutrition, and climate resilience.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, marking a significant step forward in strengthening collaboration to advance sustainable development, climate action, and resilient landscapes across the country.

Across the world’s rangelands, climate change is already reshaping how pastoral systems function. Droughts are becoming more frequent and severe, leading to reduced pasture, declining water availability, and increased livestock losses.

In Djimassar, in Senegal’s Sédhiou region, Fatou Diatta’s story begins in a micro-garden, between rows of carrots and peppers watered by hand. At twenty-eight, a mother of two, she belongs to a generation of rural youth searching for their place between tradition and modernity. Agriculture, long seen as exhausting and unrewarding, has become for her a space of empowerment and leadership. Through the AVENIR project, implemented by MEDA with scientific support from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and funded by Global Affairs Canada, Fatou discovered new farming practices, strengthened her skills, and transformed her plot into a local model. Her journey tells more than an individual success story. It reflects a changing perspective on youth, land, and the future of food systems in Senegal.