On a sunny April morning in Nairobi, the United Nations compound buzzed with more than diplomatic chatter. Instead, the air crackled with ideas that could shape the future of farming in the Global South. Scientists, software engineers, and agricultural innovators from across the globe gathered for CGIAR’s Science Week side event titled “AI-Powered Innovation: Accelerating Research for Agri-Food System Transformation.”
GRIN-Global Community Edition (GGCE) is an open-source software platform for managing genebank collections. It enables all genebank staff to conveniently capture and make use of data as they work. The platform offers several benefits: Centralized Data Management: GGCE helps genebanks centralize their data, making it easier to track and manage large collections of plant genetic resources. Improved Access to Genetic
By Steven Were Omamo and David Spielman May 16, 2025 The future of agrifood science was in full view at CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, Kenya, in April. Expert panels devoted to climate adaptation, digital innovation, soil health, equity, and food systems transformation brimmed with ambition and sophistication. There was much to celebrate: New tools, new partnerships, and bold visions of what research can
CGIAR INITIATIVES Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH) Primary Impact Area Environmental health & biodiversity Related Impact Areas
CGIAR INITIATIVES Sustainable Healthy Diets Primary Impact Area Nutrition, health & food security Related Impact Areas
Sustainability is also about ensuring that peoples and communities have their needs met and improve their quality of life. For impact investment projects, this is one of the goals, coupled with environmental goals. Having monitoring and evaluation tools that take into account socio environmental characteristics is essential to ensure that sustainable projects also measure their human impact properly. In 2023,
By Waseem Hussain, Mahender Anumalla, Margaret Catolos, Joie Ramos, Ma Teresa Sta. Cruz, and Myrtel Valenzuela In a landmark study published in The Plant Genome, IRRI scientists unveiled a next-generation flood-tolerant rice germplasm that outperforms current SUB1A varieties by 40–50% in submergence tolerance. This germplasm also exhibits high stagnant flooding tolerance, a trait lacking in SUB1A varieties. Floods Threaten Asia’s Rice Bowl—And SUB1A Alone Isn’t Enough
by Waseem Hussain, Mahender Anumalla, Margaret Catolos, Joie Ramos, Ma. Teresa Sta. Cruz, and Myrtel Valenzuela IRRI scientists are changing how rice is bred for stress-prone areas by shifting the focus from traits to environments. Their new approach, TTE, offers a faster, more reliable path to develop climate-resilient varieties. Scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are shifting the way rice is bred for