News Overview

IITA–CGIAR reaffirms its commitment to recognizing and applauding women and girls for their resilience, impact, and contributions to agriculture, research, and food security. On 10 March, IITA celebrated International Women’s Day with the theme: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” The event commenced with a commemorative walk to honor the invaluable contributions of women in agriculture and development. This

Cowpea, a vital legume crop in sub-Saharan Africa, nourishes millions and supports rural economies. Yet, its productivity is under siege by a persistent enemy: cowpea anthracnose disease (CAD). Recent research has identified the causal agents of CAD in Nigeria, challenging previous understanding of the disease in the country. Historically, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and C. destructivum were considered the primary pathogens responsible for CAD in Nigeria.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and IITA–CGIAR have renewed commitment toward transforming Africa’s agricultural landscape following the signing of a €5 million German grant agreement in Abuja to support the ongoing Phase 2 of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program. The grant signing is a testament to the shared effort by both organizations to scale agricultural technologies, boost food production, and strengthen economic growth

As the World marks World Water Day 2025 on March 22 under the theme “Glacier Preservation”, ICARDA highlights agrivoltaics. This innovative solution optimizes water use while enhancing dryland food and energy production.  As distinct as they may seem, glaciers and drylands have something in common: water. In abundance for the former, in paucity for the latter. Sadly, both are

CGIAR INITIATIVES Fragility, Conflict, and Migration Primary Impact Area Nutrition, health & food security Related Impact Areas

In the wake of the escalating climate crisis, small-scale farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa face unpredictable weather patterns that threaten their yields, food security, and livelihoods. To address these challenges, the Enhancing Climate Change Resilience in East Africa (ECREA) project is working to empower farmers with Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) and agro-advisories. The ECREA project is funded by the

A One Health approach, coupled with community education and improved disease surveillance, can help to prevent future outbreaks of wild animal diseases in Southeast Asia, according to a recent research study published in Veterinary Quarterly (Mar 2025). The authors of the study reviewed a decade of published literature on wildlife zoonoses in Southeast Asia, a known hotspot for the emergence

As the world faces increasing environmental challenges, the need for sustainable livestock practices has never been more urgent. In response to this, a multi-disciplinary team of international researchers from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) have developed an integral framework for evaluating ecosystem services in