News Overview

The Better Rice Initiative Cambodia (BRIC) was launched to foster national collaboration in tackling the interconnected challenges of agriculture, climate change, and food security. Ensuring farmers’ needs are addressed to close current gaps and shortcomings in adopting climate-smart rice cultivation practices is indispensable. Understanding farm activities and benefits from implementing MRV activities are important priorities. Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 16-21 February

This momentous event signifies a transformative step in Uganda’s agricultural biotechnology landscape. The newly inaugurated tissue culture laboratory will serve as a cornerstone in advancing banana production research across Eastern Africa. The facility, funded by the Government of Uganda, is poised to fast-track the development of disease-resistant and climate-resilient banana varieties, addressing the most pressing challenges facing banana farmers in

Ibadan, 3 March 2025 – The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is hosting His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, during an official visit to IITA headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria. This visit highlights the strong collaboration between IITA/CGIAR and the Government of Sierra Leone in advancing agricultural transformation through the Feed Salone agenda. During the visit, President Bio will engage

At the recently concluded Africa Business Forum (ABF) 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, IITA–CGIAR Director of Private Sector Partnerships, Dr Debo Akande, led an IITA delegation at the high-profile event hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Centered around the theme, “From Potential to Prosperity: Activating Africa’s Regional Value Chains,” the forum brought together key stakeholders to drive discussions on sustainable industrialization, development of

Urbanization is a major driver of biodiversity loss worldwide, with low- to middle-income countries in the global south facing the most severe consequences. The challenge is compounded by the lack of comprehensive data and logistical difficulties such as insecurity, inaccessible roads, and expensive running costs, making biodiversity studies in these regions particularly difficult. Innovative approaches are needed to track biodiversity

This quote gives meaning following the Tanzania Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology’s presentation of the High-Level Recognition Award in Science, Technology, and Innovations to Dr Kiddo Mtunda, a seasoned plant breeder from IITA–CGIAR. The award ceremony attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Honorable Dr Doto Mashaka Biteko took place during the 9th Science, Technology, and Innovation Conference

By Manuel Hernandez, Valeria Piñeiro, and Maria Lucia Berrospi March 10, 2025 There are over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. More than half of this population is from Mexico (37%) and Central America (19%) (Figure 1). Over the past four years, annual apprehensions of foreign nationals at U.S. borders—most along the border with Mexico—have fluctuated between 1.6 million and 2.2 million.

A comprehensive study documenting the extensive adoption of CGIAR-supported agricultural innovations across Vietnam was presented at a high-level workshop in Hanoi. The study has identified notable breakthroughs achieved under the initiative, including improved rice and cassava varieties and the successful integration of new tilapia strains. The event, hosted by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the CGIAR Standing Panel