News Overview

IBADAN, NIGERIA — A devastating virus is crippling banana production in Nigeria, and a new study reveals that gender inequality is one of the key drivers of its spread, leaving female farmers with disproportionately catastrophic losses. Researchers from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) presented these findings at the 14th Gender and Plant Health Webinar of the CGIAR Sustainable Farming Program on September 23,

The CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) Science Program convened its inaugural Community of Practice (CoP) webinar to align strategies, strengthen collaboration, and chart a path toward resilient, nature-positive landscapes across the globe. The session brought together program scientists, country coordinators, and partners from across CGIAR and beyond to discuss priorities, alignment, and upcoming global engagements. Opening the session, Simone Staiger Rivas,

More than 40% of the world’s cultivated land is degraded, affecting more than three billion people. Because 95% of our food depends directly on soils, restoring soil health is fast becoming one of the most powerful levers for climate action and resilient food systems, and a focal point for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. The

By Hagar ElDidi, Ryan Nehring, and Claudia Ringler October 15, 2025 With a ceasefire declared in the war on Gaza and a peace plan unfolding, attention is turning to the formidable task of rebuilding the Gaza Strip’s shattered infrastructure. Residents continue to face immediate challenges of obtaining water, food, and power. Equally important, the war also accelerated the destruction of the natural

By Bushra Humaira Sadaf  Arsenic in rice has long been linked to contaminated irrigation water, especially in the dry-season Boro crop. But new research in Bangladesh which covers 943 sites shows that rainfed systems also play a role, and understanding this better can help shape safer, more sustainable rice production. The study recently done by IRRI and Cranfield University looked at three

Author: Katherine Nelson At New York Climate Week September 21-28, 2025, the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition for Food convened a session featuring global leaders from the agrifood industry, finance sectors, and public institutions. The conversation focused on the urgent transition needed to build resilient, low-emission, and climate-smart food systems. Bringing together multiple perspectives, the session highlighted breakthrough financing

By Libere Nkurunziza, Arlindo Matsinhe, and Myrtel Anne Valenzuela  Mozambique’s irrigation systems hold great promise, but much of it remains untapped. Smallholder farmers often operate public irrigation schemes without the knowledge or resources to maintain them. Pumps fall into disrepair, canals become clogged, and rice productivity suffers. Weak administrative structures with limited financial transparency, and gaps in technical training make

A resilient mother-daughter duo transforms a family-run light engineering business through innovation, training, and inclusive entrepreneurship, setting a powerful example of women-led agribusiness in action ByKaniz TamannaandBharathi Parupalli Asma Akter and her daughter, Tasin Fahariya, have emerged as inspiring examples of resilient agriculture-based light engineering (ABLE) entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. Their journey began in the face of tragedy when Asma, at 38, lost her