News Overview

The food security and livelihoods of smallholder farming families in sub-Saharan Africa depend on maize production. The region accounts for up to two-thirds of global maize production, but is facing challenges related to extreme weather events, climate-induced stresses, pests and diseases, and deteriorating soil quality. These require swift interventions and innovations to safeguard maize yields and quality. In this Q&A,

BY VALERIA PIÑEIRO, JOAQUÍN ARIAS AND HONOR DEARLOVE As populations grow and the climate crisis intensifies, sustainable agricultural practices are essential to mitigate negative environmental impacts and increase the efficiency of food systems. But persuading farmers to adopt such practices is often a challenge. How can policy makers promote a shift towards sustainable agriculture in ways that promote meaningful change?

In his newly launched book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need,” Bill Gates singled out CGIAR centers, which have been at the forefront of supporting the world to feed itself through research including developing improved higher-yielding varieties of important staples such as maize and rice, as doing work that is  “indispensable in creating new climate-smart

As scientists study and learn more about the complicated genetic makeup of the wheat genome, one chromosomal segment has stood out, particularly in efforts to breed high-yielding wheat varieties resistant to devastating and quickly spreading wheat diseases. Known as the 2NvS translocation, this segment on the wheat genome has been associated with grain yield, tolerance to wheat stems bending over

A well-designed strategy currently being implemented to develop pearl millet lines that are both high-yielding and high in iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) was appreciated by donors and partners at a virtual review meeting attended by the leadership of HarvestPlus. Strategic studies ongoing at ICRISAT identified potential high-yielding lines that had Fe ranging from 44 to 72 ppm and Zn from

Major food policy changes are underway in Kenya that could mean that sorghum and millets finally get to give maize a run for its money. Starting in 2018, the Kenyan government has signalled its intent to implement a national flour blending initiative to increase the demand for under-utilized high value foods including sorghum, finger millet, pearl millet, cassava, sweet potato

Inland fisheries are critical to supplying children with the nutritious, diverse diets required for cognitive development in rural sub-Saharan households, a new WorldFish research publication revealed.  The study determined fish was the primary animal-source food in the diets of infants and young children in Malawi and Zambia, and proximity to inland fisheries increased aquatic food consumption. The research showed that children rarely consumed other animal flesh foods

Over 190 countries made a formal commitment to sustainable and inclusive aquatic food systems at the 34th session of FAO’s Committee on Fisheries (COFI34). The move underscores the critical role of aquatic foods to achieve the 2030 sustainable development agenda and transform global food systems for healthy people and planet, a global concern that will be discussed at the UN