In the uplands of Vietnam, fields of cassava stretch toward the horizon. They are part of a farming tradition that feeds millions and powers one of the country’s most important export industries. Yet, these landscapes are also on the frontline of environmental change. Rain falls harder and less predictably. Soils lose their richness. Biodiversity thins. Farmers work the same
The first AGX Unconference, a dynamic, participant-driven event, convened in Nairobi during 23-24 July 2025. Hosted at ILRI Nairobi, the gathering brought together a diverse group of stakeholders – from small-scale farmers to fintech developers, researchers, cooperative leaders, and policymakers – all driven by one shared goal: making agriculture more efficient through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
A youth-led tech initiative designed to help coffee farmers meet complex European regulations has won the AGX Inspire Challenge just before a critical trade deadline. The AGX Inspire Challenge provides seed funding and technical support from CGIAR for the team to develop a proof of concept that addresses real-world challenges in agriculture. ASEL Agri’s “Youth Trace Force,” a project designed
By Abdul Haque, Sharif Ahmed, and Humnath Bhandari Photo 1: A youth local service provider (LSP) sows direct-seeded rice (DSR) using a two-wheel power tiller-operated seeder in Nilphamari, Bangladesh. Photo credit: Asad, IRRI Bangladesh’s economy heavily relies on agriculture, with a significant portion of the population directly and indirectly dependent on it for their livelihoods. Agriculture contributes approximately 11%
By Van Schepler-Luu & Myrtel Anne Valenzuela Rice diseases such as bacterial blight and blast are no strangers to farmers across Asia and Africa. Year after year, these fast-evolving threats reduce yields, undermine farmer livelihoods, and chip away at food security. However, scientists are staying one step ahead of these diseases through near-isogenic lines (NILs). Near-isogenic lines are highly specialized
Preventing child wasting is more urgent than ever before. Nearly 43 million children worldwide suffer from wasting at any given time, and severe wasting accounts for 20% of deaths among children under 5 years of age. This situation will likely worsen as conflicts and crises intensify poverty and food insecurity around the world. Research on how to address child wasting
FLEX shares critical knowledge on climate resilience from conflict-affected settings and offers a space for learning, collaboration and collective action for the benefit of fragile communities. Author: Isis Palay In the world’s most fragile settings, climate extremes, conflict, displacement and weak governance are colliding to create compound crises. These crises are eroding livelihoods, intensifying food and water insecurity and straining
In Colombia, deforestation, largely driven by the agriculture, forestry and other land use sector accounts for 56 percent of total emissions. As the nation strives to meet its ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51 percent by 2030, transforming food production systems will be essential. However, achieving this transformation demands substantial investments, underscoring the need for effective