Workshop participants stand for a group photo. (Photo: Danny Ward/John Innes Centre) On April 26–29, 2022, researchers from Nepal participated in a workshop on the use of MARPLE Diagnostics, the most advanced genetic testing methodology for strain-level diagnostics of the deadly wheat yellow rust fungus. Scientists from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the John Innes Centre
Rabat, Morocco, May 2022: This week sees major advances for agricultural research-for-development (R4D) in Morocco with the launch of the partner-led CGIAR Climber and F2R-CWANA Initiatives, and the inauguration of the new ICARDA Morocco genebank. The Climber and F2R-CWANA Initiatives are two of CGIAR’s new global portfolio of 33 initiatives developed by CGIAR and its partners, to deliver more relevant,
The livestock sector in Kenya is vital to peoples’ livelihoods. Many households depend on the sector for income through the sale of animal products, employment, and as a source of food. The livestock sector is also a major benefactor to the Kenyan economy as it contributes about 12% to the national gross domestic product (GDP) and 42% to agricultural GDP.
Wild animals harbour many pathogens that can infect livestock and people. Because of this, epidemiological studies on these pathogens should include wildlife sampling to generate data on their distribution patterns in natural ecologies. This has been the overriding interest under the Co-infection project, which is led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). It uses a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary
By Kris A.G. Wyckhuys Given that agriculture is a major contributor to climate change, measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from various agricultural sources is important to track sustainability commitments and develop mitigation strategies. Several analyses have focused on the carbon footprints of nitrogen fertilizers, but relatively few assess synthetic pesticides—drivers of biodiversity loss that are often applied excessively and inefficiently.
War and weather sent food prices soaring. Now, China’s harvest is uncertain (New York Times) New York Times published an article on how Ukraine’s wheat exports have been mostly halted since Russia’s invasion, while drought has damaged crops in India and the United States. China’s upcoming harvest is another concern. According to senior research fellow Joseph Glauber, “China has a sizable stockpile of
Vegetable oil prices soar, far outstripping other food inflation (Washington Post) Washington Post published an article on how the war in Ukraine, drought, and competition with biofuels have put the squeeze on food oils. According to IFPRI (see the blog post, The impact of the Ukraine crisis on the global vegetable oil market), the rising cost of cooking oil. Extreme weather and the war
CARDA’s Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) project is made possible through the generous support of the IKI project —– Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) is a sustainable alternative to costly protection approaches subsidized by EU and USA Current pollinator-protection strategies are unaffordable for low- and middle-income countries. Farmers carrying them out in high-income countries, usually request financial compensation to set