By Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) Director General In the face of urgent challenges threatening global food security — from climate change to new diseases and other adaptation pressures — we need to breed rice for Africa faster than ever. We must predict how varieties will perform earlier, and we now have tools that let us do exactly
By Suresh Babu and Ann Maina September 4, 2025 The rising incidence of climate change-driven extreme weather and related problems has profound implications for food system transformation. Linking food system efforts to climate action goals and integrating their strategic objectives can accelerate progress in both food system transformation and addressing climate change, and yield positive synergies. A key effort on this
Over a decade ago, Ambarish Patel Patanawar was a hatchery operator in Nawalparasi District, Nepal, striving to improve the quality of fish seed for smallholder farmers. At the time, Nepal lacked a reliable supply of hatchery-produced seed for key species like carp. Farmers depended heavily on fingerlings imported from India or transported from distant parts of Nepal, which often arrived
Hatchery-based mass seed production of Small Indigenous Species (SIS) represents a vital innovation in strengthening resilient and nutrition-sensitive aquatic food systems. Rich in essential micronutrients, SIS such as mola (Amblypharyngodon mola), punti (Puntius chola, Puntius sophore), and tengra (Mystus tengara) serve as critical dietary sources of vitamin A, calcium, iron, and zinc. However, the natural availability of SIS has declined due to
When we think of schools, we often imagine classrooms, textbooks, and examinations. Yet, schools hold untapped potential to serve as mini-Living Labs for sustainable food system transformation, bridging the gap between ecological farming, ecosystem restoration, and community resilience. Recent co‑design workshops in what we refer to as the Lower Eastern Integrated Landscape (LEILA) reinforced this vision by bringing together educators,
In Madhya Pradesh, a new effort is exploring pathways to better link local livelihoods, community knowledge, and India’s diverse food heritage with school meal programs. While aiming to enhance nutrition for children, the effort also seeks to reintroduce neglected and underutilized crops into local farming and institutional food systems. Mobilizing Agrobiodiversity in India to Support Integrated Landscape Planning and
Ibadan, Nigeria – IITA–CGIAR proudly celebrates the recognition of Dr Mercy Diebiru-Ojo as one of the 2025 Africa Food Prize Laureates, honoring her outstanding contributions to advancing Africa’s agricultural transformation through the widespread promotion of a novel node culture technology for cassava and yam called Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH). Dr Diebiru-Ojo’s work is shaping a new frontier in rapid crop multiplication, transforming SAH from a
By Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) Director General In the face of urgent challenges threatening global food security — from climate change to new diseases and other adaptation pressures — we need to breed rice for Africa faster than ever. We must predict how varieties will perform earlier, and we now have tools that let us do exactly