Work Package 5 of the initiative is carrying out a qualitative study with CGIAR and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) colleagues to understand better key persons responsible for main breeding-related decisions (e.g., which pipelines and trait/s to prioritize) and what kind of information/data is used to prioritize investment decisions and from whom such information is acquired. We thus base this
To enhance wheat production and productivity, the Ethiopian Extension Service, with the support of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, piloted location-specific fertilizer recommendations (LSFRs) in Doyogena District’s Gomora Kebele during the 2023 main cropping season. This initiative aims to address the challenges of blanket fertilizer recommendations, which often lead to suboptimal use and hinder consistent growth.
The Sustainable Cacao Innovation Challenge was launched in August 2023 to provide knowledge and opportunities for entrepreneurs committed to preserving forests and promoting peace in the cocoa industry. The overwhelming response—393 applications and 89 nominations—showcased a wave of innovative solutions, reflecting a strong commitment to gender inclusivity and youth engagement.
In many parts of the world, weather forecasting is a valuable resource, whether for farmers who depend on rainfall for their crops, or for communities that must prepare for possible flooding. In Honduras, a community-based initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the Bioversity International Alliance – CIAT, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), generated a
What challenges do scientists face in bringing their innovations to market? The unique nature of the agri-food sector demands longer development periods, presents a scarcity of patient funding to drive ideas past the conceptual stage, and often a lack of incentives for scientists to brave this journey alone. Collaborative models like venture studios are providing a new framework to address
The pool of expertise also included the technical support of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Together, they embarked on a journey to create a learning experience that promises to transform our understanding and response to climate-related security risks. On November 14th, The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT convened key players at Trademark Hotel to validate the
As a co-design and participatory action research (PAR) platform, the field day interfaced diverse stakeholders including farmers from 6 districts, the community leaders, their frontline extension agents and District Directors who shared lessons with the researchers: from national institutes CSIR-Crop Research Institute (CRI) and Soil Research Institute (SRI) and the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT(The Alliance).. The primary goal was
Together, they have developed a highly successful program that creates positive change for farmers, and engages all audiences in farming, with the program broadcasted on Kenya’s leading television channel ‘Citizen TV’. Carried out in Kenya, Zambia and Uganda, this one-of-a-kind reality TV show uses a ‘makeover’ model where the production team of film crew, agronomists and researchers visit chosen farms,