Climate change means we must change how we grow coffee For centuries, coffee has grown nestled amongst other trees – in the understory of biodiverse tropical forests in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These agroforestry systems support biodiversity and ecosystem services that store carbon, regulate pests and diseases, maintain soil health and cycle water and nutrients. But with ever-increasing demand
For about 200,000 years, since humans became the dominant species, we have made many transformations to nature in order to survive and evolve. Without getting into the rightness and wrongness of this process, it’s essential to acknowledge that we have a symbiotic relationship with the planet, and that the more we take care of it, the more well-being we will
The training was attended by 16 officers (5 men and 11 women). This was done because a strong and responsive extension system is critical for effective and equitable last-mile delivery of agricultural services, technologies and innovations for increased agricultural production. Although seed is an integral part of the agri-food system, it is often unavailable and unaffordable to smallholder farmers in
Water is the basis of life. It is essential to the existence and health of ecosystems, and to all life that depends on them. Water has an indispensable role for all productive and reproductive activities like agriculture, industry, energy generation, hygiene, and sanitation. Likewise, access to clean drinking water is a prerequisite to meeting basic human rights. Despite the above
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT acknowledges the lifelong contributions of the researcher and colleague Peter G. Jones, who passed away yesterday in Dolgellau, North Wales. This distinguished emeritus researcher passed away at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy of devoted, unwavering, and invaluable contributions to agriculture development, notably in the areas of climate change and crop
Whereas agriculture is identified as a key sector to deliver economic growth in the Kenyan vision 2030, the youth are not effectively tapping into the employment and livelihood opportunities provided through agriculture. Some reasons for their low participation in agribusiness activities include the negative perception about agriculture, limited farming knowledge, and difficulties accessing land and capital for investment since many
Year in year out, I relied on maize which would fail due to extended droughts and unpredictable rainy seasons, and this would leave us hungry. However, for the past two seasons, using crop diversification and water management technologies, I can harvest beans then follow it up with maize. My family is assured of food, commented Mary Mbuya of Runyenjes, Embu
According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) statistics, Africa south of the Sahara (SSA) produces about 50 million tons of banana per year, that is, about a third of global production and covering more than seven million hectares (60% of global growing areas) BXW, a disease caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum (Xvm),