Ethiopia – often referred to as the ‘cradle of humanity’ due to its significance in the study of human origins and evolution – is home to a variety of unique crops which are an important part of the country’s culture and nutrition. Among these, enset (commonly known as the ‘false banana’) stands out as a cornerstone of Ethiopian cuisine and agriculture.
Scientists in Uganda are using the MinION portable sequencer to study common bean genomics, aiming to improve breeding and adapt to pests, diseases and the impacts of climate change. This research, in collaboration with partners across East Africa, seeks to enhance food security and bean production. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are the fundamental molecules present in all living
African livestock producers have a unique opportunity to improve the production of meat, milk and eggs through modern breeding technologies and innovations being tested in Africa, according to a recent perspective paper published in Nature Genetics. With the right support, these advancements can enhance not only productivity but also climate resilience and sustainability. Through strategic investment and collaboration, African livestock
Así como las amenazas derivadas de la variabilidad climática se han vuelto más evidentes, también lo han hecho los esfuerzos por mitigar sus efectos en la agricultura. Frente a esta problemática, surgen herramientas que ayudan a tomar decisiones basadas en información climática -como temperatura, precipitación o humedad-, facilitando que agricultores y organizaciones tomen decisiones climáticamente inteligentes. Dentro de estas herramientas
This water-conserving, emission-reducing, and cost-saving practice can help farmers, but challenges still remain for widespread adoption. A new paper published in Nature Food by an international team of scientists proposes that an innovative rice irrigation methodology, known as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), has significant potential to transform rice farming globally, contributing to enhanced water productivity while maintaining high yields.
Behavioural changes through wetland conservation and education are urgently required to alter the human-wetlands relationship. Wetlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. They are essential for maintaining biodiversity, regulating water quality, supporting wildlife, and providing other critical ecosystem services. Many, though not all, wetlands act as natural filters, removing pollutants from water and improving water quality. They also
Header photo: Private veterinarians vaccinate small ruminants against peste des petits ruminants (PPR) (photo credit: ILRI/Folusho Onifade). By Jan Low with Nicoletta Buono, Ijudai Jasada, and Edwin Kang’ethe Jan Low, an agricultural economist specializing in agriculture-nutrition linkages and a World Food Prize Laureate, is facilitating a CGIAR project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation investigating the process of
2025 marks the 10th year since the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS) and the 30th year since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action were declared to elevate gender equality by leveraging women’s rights. This year, IRRI is celebrating IDWGS with the theme “Her Rice Science” by exploring diverse career paths that girls and women can