News Overview

In a region aced with droughts, land degradation, and irregular rainfall, the TARSPro project has established Climate-Smart Villages (CSV) in five West African countries—Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad. These villages serve as collaborative hubs where farmers, researchers, and local institutions work together to test, adapt, and scale up climate-smart agricultural practices. Through a participatory approach, the project enhances

28 February 2025, Bangkok, Thailand – Rice represents the essence of Asia’s food system, and feeds over half of the global population. In Thailand, rice cultivation accounts for about half the agricultural landscape, employing 18 million smallholder farmers. Yet, as climate change intensifies, Thailand’s staple crop faces pressures from prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, flash floods, and extreme weather events in

Dhaka, Bangladesh (March 19, 2025) — The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Bangladesh, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in research and innovation, technology transfer, extension services, and capacity development in the rice-based agrifood systems in Bangladesh. The MoU signing ceremony, which took place

By Delphine Leconte-Demarsy and Brendan Rice March 20, 2025 Fertilizer prices experienced a significant surge in 2021, driven by the post-COVID 19 global economic recovery. Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine propelled prices even higher. Broad economic sanctions on key fertilizer exporters Russia and Belarus exempted agricultural products but triggered further economic disruptions. Overall, the conflict heightened market uncertainties regarding

With the high costs of agricultural inputs and issues with flooding, lodging, and rice straw burning, the Fertilize Right project is transforming Vietnam’s rice farming by promoting efficient and effective fertilizer use. This collaboration between USDA, MARD, and IRRI continues to yield promising results, reducing input costs, labor demands, and environmental impacts while increasing farmers’ income. Fertilizer plays a critical

Zambian smallholder farmers are set to benefit from the BRAINS project, which integrates beans, bees, and fruit trees to address agricultural challenges. This climate-smart initiative will boost productivity, diversify incomes, and enhance resilience to climate change through sustainable practices and strategic partnerships. Belinda Kamwanga and her husband, residing in the peaceful countryside of Chongwe District, east of Lusaka, Zambia, have

Bangkok, Thailand (5-7 March 2025) – Bringing together government officials and representatives from nearly 20 countries, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and IRRI hosted a workshop on “Advancing Climate Ambition in the Agrifood Sector: Workshop on NDC 3.0 and COP30 Preparation in Asia-Pacific”. The event provided a platform for countries to exchange knowledge, refine strategies,

Amid ongoing conflicts in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an innovative agricultural initiative is cultivating hope. Centered around beans—a vital and nutritious staple—the “Beans for Women Empowerment” (B4WE) project empowers local women farmers. By positioning women at the forefront of agricultural recovery, the program tackles the dual challenges of combating hunger and rebuilding communities. Conflict and Food