News Overview

Berber Kramer, Brendan Rice, Carly Trachtman The integration of market intelligence into plant breeding is essential for aligning genetic innovations with real-world demand. However, a new study highlights persistent barriers that hinder its effective use. Researchers surveyed more than 500 breeding professionals across CGIAR, national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES), and small private-sector breeding enterprises to assess the adoption

Berber Kramer, Carly Trachtman, Jérémy Do Nascimento Miguel Investment decisions in agricultural research and development (R&D), particularly in plant breeding, often face significant ambiguity. Without clear market intelligence, funds may be spread across many breeding pipelines rather than concentrated in those with the greatest potential impact. A new study from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) explored how plant

Participants in the workshop for cowpea product design teams in Western Africa on September 29, 2024, in the IITA offices in Cotonou, Benin Republic. (Photo) Sika Gbegbelegbe, Dean Muungani Investments in crop breeding are usually expensive and take 7 to 10 years to yield results. However, market preferences tend to change over time due to various drivers including income changes,

Ruvicyn Bayot, Melanie Connor, Agnes Mbugua-Gitonga, Dehner De Leon, Neale Marvin Paguirigan, Arelene Julia Malabayabas Slow varietal turnover has been a challenge since breeding-investment decisions were largely informed by supply-side considerations rather than client needs. Hence, market intelligence is crucial for CGIAR breeding programs because it ensures that breeding efforts are demand-driven. CGIAR has demonstrated that investment in crop breeding

Paris, 26th March 2025: On the sidelines of the “Nutrition for Growth” (N4G) Summit, representatives of France and CGIAR signed the consolidated CGIAR/France Action Plan. This partnership will further advance our shared goals of reducing poverty and gender inequality, combatting food insecurity and malnutrition, and preserving natural resources and biodiversity for sustainable agriculture. The Action Plan was signed by France’s Minister

In the territories of Tumaco and Putumayo, where cocoa farming is a key productive activity with high potential in the region, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, together with Red Adelco and ICCO Conexión, implemented the PDET Routes Program. This initiative, financed by the European Union’s European Fund for Peace and in coordination with the National Government, benefited 220

Arelene Julia Malabayabas, Melanie Connor, Katherine Nelson, Le Anh Tuan Rice mills in An Giang and Can Tho Provinces, Mekong Delta, Viet Nam. Viet Nam’s rice industry plays a crucial role in its agricultural landscape, providing livelihoods for millions and significantly contributing to the economy as one of the world’s leading rice exporters. At the heart of this industry’s success

The internship, run out of the WorldFish Nusatupe Research Station in the Western Province, is equipping recent graduates with the skills to support sustainable seaweed farming in their own communities. Interns learned how to select sites, plant, harvest, and use the right tools and techniques while also gaining confidence and purpose. Read more