News Overview

The CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) published its 2020 annual report on activities and accomplishments from its five research flagships: food systems for healthier diets; biofortification; food safety; supporting policies, programs, and enabling action through research; and improving human health. Noting that the year 2020 was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, A4NH director John McDermott

BY KIBROM ABAY, HOSAM IBRAHIM, CLEMENS BREISINGER AND ALI ABDELHADI Global overweight and obesity rates have almost tripled since 1975 and are expected to continue rising over the next few decades (Shekar & Popkin, 2020). This trend is alarmingly steeper in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries, where the same rates are gradually declining (Ng et al., 2014, Shekar

Giulia Caroli, Carolina Sarzana and Alice Taylor   Climate change and related security risks, such as displacement, food insecurity, and health risks, are not gender–neutral. Droughts, floods, and extreme weather events interact with existing gender and social norms, relations and inequalities in a way that disproportionately exposes women and other marginalized groups to new and multi-faceted forms of insecurity. Despite growing

Unpredictable rainfall patterns, droughts and floods linked to climate change are increasingly driving people to migrate in search of a better life. In West Africa, in addition to rural-urban migration, deteriorating landscapes are encouraging people to move to coastal countries where plantations, mining and cities offer the hope of greater opportunity and economy security. Migration is a long-established economic strategy

The Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System, phase 2 (BASICS-II) project and the Nigeria country office of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) have agreed to work closely to reinforce and promote sustainable cassava seed system models in Nigeria. They reached this resolution during a recent courtesy visit the BASICS-II team paid to the Nigeria

To develop the research and educational capacity in Sub-Sahara Africa in the field of nematology, or the study of roundworms, a joint Erasmus+ KA2 project was recently launched. The Erasmus+ project, Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE): Nematology Education in Sub-Sahara Africa (NEMEDUSSA), is a joint effort by a consortium of Universities from Sub-Sahara Africa and Europe. This three-year project

The IITA Tree Heritage Park (THP), located within the campus of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan and managed by its Forest Center, has been awarded a Level II Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, for meeting identified standards of professional practices important for arboreta and botanic gardens. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation

To attract, retain, and change the perception of young people about agriculture, the Start Them Early Program (STEP), under the Oyo State Government, organized the 2021 STEP Schools Agri-Competition, the first of its kind, on 29 November. The event encouraged young people to embrace agriculture and develop career paths, including agribusiness. STEP Communication Officer Temiloluwa Adedeji moderated the event. The Agri-competition