In 2014, the beginning fit in the palm of a hand. Five grams of durum wheat seed, the weight of a few paperclips, poured into a small packet after a visit to the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute genebank. Starting from five grams poses a multiplication problem. Seed has to become more seed before it can become bread. That meant seasons of restraint, the kind that isn’t romantic when the hungry months arrive and the grain store starts to echo.
As global food systems face escalating pressures from climate change, economic instability, and demographic shifts, the need for systemic transformation has become increasingly urgent. These dynamics framed high-level discussions at the Africa Exchange Kenya launch of the EAT–Lancet Commission 2.0 Report, where stakeholders examined pathways towards sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems in Africa.
A new practical guide developed by the Centre National de Semences Forestières (CNSF) in partnership with CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) has been released to support native tree regeneration in the Sahel and Sudanian zones of West Africa. The guide compiles over four decades of research on breaking seed dormancy and improving germination of indigenous tree species, providing practical pretreatment methods such as soaking, scarification, and boiling water treatment.
Cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is essential for ensuring food security over the long run. Climate impacts such as rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather will limit the agricultural production needed to feed a growing global population.
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and the County Government of Kisumu have formalized a strategic partnership to advance climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable food systems, and biodiversity conservation in Kenya. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focuses on scaling innovative solutions—such as community seed banks, landscape restoration, and resilient crop systems—to address climate change, land degradation, and food insecurity. By combining scientific expertise with county leadership, the collaboration aims to strengthen farmer livelihoods, enhance seed systems, and drive sustainable development across Kisumu County.
From February 24th to 26th, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Kenya, in collaboration with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, hosted a workshop at the KALRO Headquarters, Kiboko, to validate and refine a Nature-Based Solutions Monitoring and Evaluation Framework tool, developed under the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency project.