Ghana’s rich agrobiodiversity is increasingly threatened by the decreasing use of traditional minor crops, which are becoming ‘neglect and underutilization species’. These crops – essential for rural livelihoods and food security – face genetic erosion and a lack of conservation. To address this, a pilot project has been launched to establish a community see bank in Ghana, co-led by the
Vitamin A deficiency is a major health issue in Uganda, especially affecting young children and women. This deficiency can lead to a weakened ability to fight disease, irreversible loss of sight, and even death. Although there are efforts to disseminate vitamin supplements and fortified foods, these solutions don’t always reach everyone. Bananas, which have a daily per capita consumption of
Community seed banks (CSBs) play a crucial role in conserving agricultural biodiversity, particularly in Africa where traditional seed varieties are at risk of being lost. CSBs have become pivotal in providing access to seeds for many smallholder farmers. They ensure that farmers have easy and affordable access to seeds that are well-adapted to local environmental conditions and cultural practices. This
At the same time, it will: provide a platform for exchange and cooperation among policymakers, scientists, producers, entrepreneurs, and farmers related to the conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity around the world; identify solutions to the climate and food crises through the application of agrobiodiversity; foster shared commitments and collaborative actions; and reinforce the critical role that agrobiodiversity plays in
Since its inception in 2007, International Open Access Week has grown significantly, inspiring events worldwide that champion the principles of accessibility and transparency in research. For the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, this week offers a platform to spotlight the benefits of open knowledge and show how our commitment to open-data policies shapes our everyday work.
Rural women are the backbone of agricultural activities in Africa, playing critical roles not only as producers but also in the transportation, marketing, and processing of farm produce. Despite their crucial contribution to agricultural value chains, they face numerous challenges that hinder their empowerment. Madam Sibasuri shared her struggles in cultivating beans to feed her family and earn a small
We are living in an incredible time of advances in genomics. Technology is revolutionizing how we understand the natural world. With the decreasing cost of genomic sequencing, researchers can now study larger numbers of plants and reimagine how we represent plant diversity. This allows for a more comprehensive approach, combining traditional visual classifications based on physical characteristics with an additional
On August 26, 2024, in Dakar, Senegal, a historic meeting marked a turning point in Sino-African relations and the global quest for sustainable food systems. The Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy (AGFEP) and the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR) in Senegal (Alliance, IFPRI, AfricaRice, CIMMYT, ILRI, ICRISAT) convened to address pressing issues like malnutrition, environmental degradation,