News Overview

A new system could overhaul maps that misclassify hundreds of thousands of smallholder coffee and cacao farmers as working in forests. Without better maps, deforestation regulations could ripple through markets from remote farms to a caffe mocha near you. Sample Earth, launched by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, helps mapmakers build accurate, inclusive maps to prevent smallholder farmers from being wrongly classified as producing major

In a previous blog, we explored what Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are, and why they are essential for global climate action. Here we take a deeper look at one of the most strategic and vulnerable sectors in the face of climate change: agriculture and livestock production. In this blog, we explain how adaptation and mitigation in the agricultural sector

ICRISAT’s Novel Solar-Powered Water Hyacinth Harvester has now earned a place in the prestigious Top 100 Indian Innovations 2025, published by the India Innovators Association. ICRISAT is restoring freshwater ecosystems using its solar-powered water hyacinth harvester. The recognition of this harvester as one of India’s Top 100 Innovations of 2025 was announced during the launch of the book Top 100 Indian Innovations

Bundling technical innovations with gender equality is transforming smallholder farming in Kenya’s semi-arid regions, boosting yields by 80% while empowering women farmers. In the drought-prone landscapes of Makueni County, Kenya, farming communities are not just approaching farming with better seeds or climate-smart techniques but also addressing social inequalities alongside agronomic challenges. For decades, agricultural development programs have focused on single-technology

Bridging science, policy, and practice to accelerate climate-resilient solutions in Central Asia By Maha Al-Zu’bi (IWMI & CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program AoW2 Focal Point) How can integrated approaches to water, energy, food, and ecosystems (WEFE) help transform agrifood systems and enhance regional cooperation? This was the central question explored during the regional webinar “Scaling for Impact: Integrating WEFE Nexus

Aflatoxin contamination threatens public health, trade, and food security across Africa. Produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, these potent toxins cannot be destroyed by cooking and are linked to liver cancer, immune suppression, stunted growth, and export losses. This article outlines an Integrated Aflatoxin Management (IAM) strategy centered around Aflasafe, a biocontrol agent made from native, non-aflatoxin-producing fungal strains, which reduces

Week 1 of COP30 in Belém, Brazil – set against the backdrop of the Amazon – was eventful and at times fraught. As negotiators grappled with complex issues, CGIAR’s delegation closely followed eight key tracks vital to food systems and climate action. These span from gender equity and adaptation metrics to agricultural transformation and climate finance. Below we summarize the

Rome, 2–4 October 2025 — The Sustainable Beef Investment Roundtable brought together over 50 participants representing investors, producers, researchers, NGOs, and policymakers from across Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Convened under the STELARR Project (Sustainable Investments for Large-Scale Rangeland Restoration) funded by the Global Environment Facility, with technical support from the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) the event marked a turning