Mesoamerica is home to five forest ecosystems vital to the planet: the ‘Five Great Forests of Mesoamerica’. These territories not only provide habitat for native species such as the Central American tapir, but also provide a home and source of livelihoods for millions of people, mainly Indigenous communities. However, these great green lungs are under threat. What challenges and opportunities
In the midst of an industry-wide disease threat to cassava, researchers from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT have found that farmers in Laos and Cambodia are willing to pay higher prices for disease-free, high-yielding seeds. Cassava is a key starchy crop in Laos (where it is known as “Man Ton“), making up $345 million in exports in 2022,
The Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI) is advancing food science by decoding the complex molecular composition of foods to address critical global issues in health, sustainability, and food security. At COP16 on biodiversity, PTFI leaders and partners emphasized the initiative’s transformative role in mapping nutrients and exploring edible biodiversity. The event highlighted the need for biodiversity not only
As the world recently observed World Food Day 2024 with the theme of ‘The Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future’, ongoing work to address hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity remains crucial. Despite significant global efforts, over 800 million people still face hunger, and many more suffer from malnutrition and lack access to nutritious food. World
When he began his studies, Rein van der Hoek was surrounded by friends whose families were small-scale livestock farmers. He developed an interest in farming at a young age, but he was not sure how to focus his interests in agriculture and sustainability. While exploring various fields, van der Hoek felt skeptical about industrial farming methods: “I found that this
Siaya County is one of Kenya’s 45 counties participating in the World Bank’s Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program, charting an inspiring path toward sustainable, community-driven climate resilience. By empowering both local communities and county officials, FLLoCA is fostering robust governance frameworks and catalyzing impactful climate actions at the grassroots level. Structured across three tiers – the Ward Climate
On September 20, 2024, key stakeholders in Cambodia gathered for a pivotal workshop aimed at crafting a Sustainable Food System Country Profile. This event brought together 56 participants from diverse sectors, including government institutions, academic circles, the private sector, international organizations, and civil society groups. All united in their commitment to enhancing food systems in the country. The workshop was
Over the last few years, Ethiopia has grappled with extreme drought, flooding, political instability, and conflict. Engagement on the intersection of the effects of climate change, peace, and human security has never been more critical. This November, the CGIAR FOCUS Climate Security team of the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT went on a scoping mission to Addis Ababa to better