News Overview

In a prestigious recognition of his expertise in banana, Professor Rony Swennen, a scientist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)/CGIAR, has been appointed as a visiting professor at the Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China. This honorary title was conferred upon Rony during a recent visit to China upon invitation by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural

In today’s world, data is everywhere, but finding the right information is often a challenge. Production statistics, trade data and research outputs are scattered across multiple platforms, making the search process time-consuming and challenging. To address this, the Alliance Crop Observatories were created as a platform to integrate as much official data as possible. The observatories collect, process, and

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas ICARDA and its national partners in Tunisia engaged in a comprehensive dialogue with private sector entities specializing in manufacturing and trade of small mechanization, along with farmers’ organizations and representatives, to explore potential pathways and identify priority actions necessary to formulate national strategic plans. A high-level national workshop titled “Petite

By Eliot Jones-Garcia, Kristin Davis, and Niyati Singaraju October 7, 2025 Generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) is gaining traction in agriculture. Conversational agents such as chatbots and voice assistants are being explored as digital extension solutions, promising scalable, personalized advice for farmers that can supplement and support the work of human extension agents. Yet designing and deploying such AI tools presents many

(Image generated by AI) By Varunseelan Murugaiyan and Glenn Concepcion  The global food system is facing unprecedented pressures. Rising production costs, chronic labor shortages, dwindling natural resources, and accelerating climate change are forcing agriculture to adapt. Many scientists and policymakers look to the Fourth Agricultural Revolution, called Agriculture 4.0, which aims to integrate digital technologies into farming. Agriculture 3.0, the

More than half of the world’s population could be living with overweight or obesity by 2035, with a rapidly growing share in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It is also estimated that the global economic impact could top US$4 trillion by that time. These trends are closely tied to the rise of obesogenic food environments; settings where unhealthy food options are cheap,

Climate change is challenging aquatic food systems worldwide. In Timor-Leste, where floods, cyclones, droughts and deforestation threaten rural livelihoods, even small shocks can push communities below subsistence levels. Through the IkanAdapt project – funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), led by FAO with WorldFish and Timor-Leste’s Directorate General of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Resource Management (DGPAGRA) – 21 fishing

Cattle farming is often in the spotlight of environmental debates: it’s a major source of greenhouse gases, and a driver of deforestation. Yet cattle are also a livelihood for millions of pastoralists, and the backbone of rural economies in many developing countries. This brings up a crucial question: as countries develop and their cattle industries grow, will their environmental