News Overview

Smallholder custodians of agricultural biodiversity in two Western Kenyan counties now have the equipment and training needed to produce value-added products derived from their crops. The solar-powered dryers, winnowers, threshers, and vacuum-packing units safeguard crops and seeds from inclement weather, open new markets for products derived from local agrobiodiversity, and reduce labor demands, particularly for women and children. By Rachel

Communities at three NATURE+ sites in Western Kenya are transforming degraded farmland into productive landscapes through nature-positive solutions and collaboration. Two aggregated farms and a community-led demonstration farm show how nature-based land management increases productivity, creates economic opportunities and incentivizes the sustainable use and conservation of agrobiodiversity. More than 200 farmers were directly involved in the activities. While each site

Community commitment and action are vital to the successful adoption of nature-positive solutions. This was particularly true for the CGIAR Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative, which launched ambitious, community-needs-driven research and interventions across multiple sites in five countries. Yet successfully telling the stories of the people of the Initiative is always challenging. An innovative NATURE+ collaboration with The Lexicon and communities in

Smallholders in Western Kenya strongly support native-tree restoration due to long-term benefits for landscape restoration, productivity and livelihoods, new research shows. New digital tools and community buy-in are successfully backing restoration projects, though barriers remain. Researchers say that short-term farmers’ needs and concerns to planting trees should be given more attention to ensure the success of restoration projects. Top image:

CGIAR’s Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative in Kenya received significant media coverage in 2024, showcasing its focus on sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation. Local and national media outlets featured the initiative’s success stories extensively. Prominent publications like The East African Standard, Nation Africa, and The Star reported and published op-eds on topics such as the importance of soil health for food

The CGIAR initiative on Nature-Positive Solutions (NATURE+), in collaboration with BAIF Development Research Foundation and other key stakeholders in India’s circular economy sector, established a Circular Bioeconomy Innovation Hub (CBE-IH) in India. One year since its inception, the hub organized field demonstrations, piloted business models and hosted a range of activities – from innovation challenges and webinars to a stakeholder

Agriculture faces critical challenges, including water scarcity, soil degradation, and erratic rainfall, threatening productivity and ecosystems. CGIAR’s Nature-Positive Solutions initiative addresses these issues through innovative interventions like aquifer mapping, water harvesting, and soil conservation. Studies in Maharashtra’s Akole and Shahada reveal tailored strategies that improve groundwater recharge and soil moisture, boosting resilience and crop yields. These interventions align with global

Research and community-driven interventions by NATURE+ and partners mobilized new value chain activities in five countries between 2022 and 2024. Work focused on untapped potential for neglected and underutilized species (NUS) that rural women’s and farmer groups can sustainably manage, conserve and integrate into farm production strategies to benefit agrobiodiversity, food security, livelihoods and natural environments. Read the report: Approaches