The production of root, tuber and banana crops (RTB crops) in developing countries has surged since 1960. A review recently published in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology suggests that the surge will continue to 2030 in light of past trends and recent projections. More than three billion people in developing countries consume RTB crops. For many of
IITA’s Director for Eastern Africa Hub and leader for Biotechnology research, Leena Tripathi, has been selected to be part of the External Advisory Panel of the newly launched Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development (NISD), UK. NISD is a world-leading institute that fosters sustainable development through transdisciplinary research and innovation. It is a partnership of leading research institutes working towards the UN Sustainable
Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) recently facilitated an exhibition program with the theme: “Crop diversification and alternative food”. A team of young people under the ENABLE-TAAT or Youth? compact of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation participated in the event to showcase the modern cassava value chain technologies. Zambian Head of State, His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, was present to witness
In the face of climate change, improving wheat varieties is essential to maintain yields—and genebanks are at the center of the process, a new study shows. Published in a special issue of the journal Food Security, the study used large-scale datasets to trace the transfer of the genetic material in goat grass, a wild relative of wheat, into improved wheat
In the Nairobi laboratories of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the organization’s scientists continue to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. Since mid-2020, ILRI—a CGIAR research centre—has been supporting Kenya’s Ministry of Health to process COVID-19 tests. Now, following a request from the Kenyan government, the institute’s labs, equipment and expert staff will be put to work sequencing the
The CGIAR System Board has appointed Dr. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda as a voting Board member. Dr. Sibanda is an award-winning and noted academic, thought leader and practicing farmer. Among her other roles, Dr. Sibanda currently serves as Professor, Director and Chair of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Food Systems at the University of Pretoria, and
Farmers in My Loi Climate-Smart Village in Vietnam can generate more profits from peanut cultivation by going organic. Inorganic fertilizers have been applied to improve crop yields but at the expense of the environment. Even worse, these fertilizers are contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, and thus to climate change. Agricultural stakeholders, such as the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change,