News Overview

Bringing together funders, policymakers, scientists, private sector partners, media, and food influencers, the evening offered a multi-sensory experience that celebrated the power of science to nourish, sustain, and transform. Each dish served was more than a delight to the palate—it was a story of research, resilience, and the richness of Africa’s agricultural biodiversity. The menu featured a thoughtful selection of

ICRISAT Presents Pivotal Research for Regenerating the Drylands ​As the world confronts the twin crises of climate change and land degradation, a silent revolution is taking root beneath our feet. A groundbreaking publication by scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) launched at CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, unveils a powerful new ally in the

When independent evaluators speak truth to power, what happens next? The true value of independent evaluations lies in whether their recommendations lead to action. This blog explores how independent evaluations are used, the critical role of management responses (MRs), and how governance bodies, such as CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board (IPB), can help drive meaningful change. As CGIAR advances towards its 2030

By Suresh Babu and Nandita Srivastava April 10, 2025 Food systems around the world face growing challenges. They must be transformed to sustainably feed a growing global population and made more resilient to shocks from extreme weather to conflict. Efforts on those fronts are increasingly interlinked—and depend on well-targeted local interventions. Those in turn will depend on effective national extension services operating

CGIAR has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AGRA during the inaugural CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi. This partnership aims to accelerate agricultural innovation and delivery across Africa, focusing on co-developing and scaling science-based solutions for smallholder farmers. The MoU formalizes the shared vision of CGIAR and AGRA to enhance food systems transformation through joint efforts in research,

Africa’s holds significant opportunities for agriculture, particularly potato and other tuber crops farming. However, limited investment in breeding has constrained the crop’s potential on the continent. Thiago Mendes (Ph.D.), a lead breeder at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Nairobi, aims to change that especially for potato. He believes the region needs to become more attractive to donors—and one of

ISDC CHAIR CGIAR is seeking to fill the Chair position to join current members who represent a diverse group of recognized experts in their respective fields. The commencement date would ideally be 1 October 2025. The Chair of ISDC is appointed by the System Council based upon a merit-based, open and competitive selection process. The Chair is appointed for a period

Mali is a landlocked country in the Sahel region of West Africa, where rainfed farming provides food and income for more than two-thirds of the population of nearly 21 million people. Highly variable rainfall patterns, droughts, and shorter growing seasons pose major challenges to food production, nutrition, and the livelihood of smallholder farmers.