News Overview

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

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

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

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

The CGIAR Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative’s groundbreaking work was a big draw at the recent biodiversity conference in Colombia, COP16. From research and community engagement to apps and artworks, the Initiative underscored its relevance to global biodiversity action. But agrobiodiversity still needs greater prioritization under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Top image: One of 24 artworks by The Lexicon presented at

An innovative initiative in Loumbila, Burkina Faso, places neglected and underutilized species (NUS) at the heart of agroecological practices. Led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and Mani Tese ONG, the project empowers women by equipping them with skills in food processing, quality standards and sustainable practices. By revitalizing local women’s groups and upgrading processing facilities, this initiative