News Overview

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Breeding team made a significant impression at the 32nd Plant and Animal Genome (PAG) Conference, held recently in San Diego, United States. Recognized as the premier global forum for plant and animal genome research, the conference attracts thousands of scientists each year, facilitating collaboration and knowledge-sharing through technical presentations, poster sessions, workshops, and exhibitions. 

Community commitment and action are vital to the successful adoption of nature-positive solutions. This was particularly true for the CGIAR Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative, which launched ambitious, community-needs-driven research and interventions across multiple sites in five countries. Yet successfully telling the stories of the people of the Initiative is always challenging. An innovative NATURE+ collaboration with The Lexicon and communities in

By Danielle Resnick January 28, 2025 On January 28, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will lose three of its founding members—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—comprising 16% of its population of 424 million and 7% of its GDP. Labeled “Sahelexit” by some commentators, the decision to leave ECOWAS was first announced a year ago by the three countries’ trio of military leaders and is now poised

In West Africa and the Sahel, there is a productivity gap between men and women farmers because women face more challenges in accessing resources, including finance. At the same time, climate change affects women-led agricultural activities disproportionately, making them particularly vulnerable. Women play significant roles across agricultural value chains, acting as producers, processors, sellers, and consumers. With their expertise, resourcefulness

Ethiopia’s rural landscapes, the backbone of the nation’s economy, have long relied on mixed farming systems. However, as the population grows and climate change intensifies, these age-old practices have struggled to meet the increasing demand for food. To address this challenge, innovative agricultural solutions are crucial to empower farmers and ensure a sustainable future for mixed farming systems Mixed farming

By Anton Liutin, Paul Castañeda Dower, and Muzna Alvi January 28, 2025 Policymakers in countries that are transitioning away from authoritarian regimes can face challenges in obtaining unbiased information about local conditions—as do researchers and international community representatives working in these countries, including those trying to understand policy change. This information problem is a critical challenge for water security. As