A perspective from the RTB Seed Systems Community of Practice The promise is that growing improved varieties will end hunger, improve nutrition and strengthen livelihoods. However, in sub-Saharan Africa farmer adoption of improved varieties of vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs) and small grains and legumes is stuck at around 40%. And the average age of a variety in a farmer’s field
Climate change effects on agricultural yields will be uneven over the world. A few countries, mostly in high latitudes, may experience gains, while most will see average yield decrease. A new PIM-supported paper, “The crucial role of domestic and international market-mediated adaptation to climate change” by Christophe Gouel and David Laborde estimates how climate change in the agricultural sector will
Climate change is going to force us to consider entirely new needs. We need to get to zero emissions, and we’re going to need a lot of innovation to do it. But innovation doesn’t happen overnight, and it will take decades for green products to reach a big enough scale to make a significant difference. From what I’ve seen, no other
In the lead up to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), CGIAR and France have strengthened their partnership and are looking to the future with the signing of a joint Action Plan. The joint signing ceremony marked the continuation of the partnership and cooperation between France and CGIAR as they work on the shared goals of fighting food insecurity
Young Malawian researchers are being trained in crop modeling to tackle land, water and climate related challenges facing agriculture and smallholder farmers. During a recently-held training program, 11 researchers from Malawi’s national research organizations learned to model agricultural systems with the Agricultural Production Simulator Model (APSIM) under the aegis of the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research. Crop modeling is
Could legumes be the key to food production sustainability and climate change resilience? They consume less than half the non-renewable energy of traditional cereals, they can survive harsh conditions like drought and they improve soil health by fixing nitrogen. On this, World Pulses Day, February 10, Dr Christopher Ochieng Ojiewo, principal scientist at ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the
The traditional milpa intercrop — in which maize is grown together with beans, squash, or other vegetable crops — can furnish a vital supply of food and nutrients for marginalized, resource-poor communities in the Americas, according to a study published today in Nature Scientific Reports. One hectare of a milpa comprising maize, common beans, and potatoes can provide the annual
Gender-inclusive participation in the sciences allows both men and women to fully benefit from advancements in science and technology. The past year revealed both the interconnectedness of and the challenges facing the global community. As scientists rushed to create a vaccine, COVID-19 claimed lives and stalled economies. While the pandemic dominated global headlines throughout 2020, climate change remained an