Kenya, like many African countries, has historically relied on a mix of indigenous and introduced crops to feed its population. However, over the past few decades, there has been a steady decline in the cultivation and consumption of indigenous vegetables due to the rise of imported crops and changing dietary preferences. However, a resurgence of interest in traditional food
Nairobi, 27 June 2025 (IITA) – As it marks its first anniversary, the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel is set to roll out game-changing digital soil maps and tools to transform smallholder farming, build climate resilience and bolster food security. Most African farming systems are characterised by poor crop yields as a
By Alan de Brauw, originally posted as an IFPRI blog. Improving diets is a key element of food systems transformation, which in turn depends on the availability and affordability of nutritious foods. Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in providing both food and employment in many low-income countries—making them a key target for food systems transformation
By Eugenio Diaz-Bonilla, Geeta Sethi, and Johan Swinnen June 30, 2025 Transforming food systems requires more than technological innovation and policy reforms—it calls for bold and strategic investments. This is the first post in a special blog series, Financing Food Systems Transformation, that explores the scale and scope of financing needed to support this transition. It examines current funding flows, identifies gaps, and highlights
Could the future of dryland agriculture emerge along the shores of the Red Sea? From June 10–12, 2025, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT participated in Djibouti’s first-ever National Agri-Business Forum, bringing together decision-makers, researchers, donors, and the private sector. In a country facing extreme climatic conditions but committed to innovation, the Alliance showcased its expertise in Climate-Smart
As Rwanda continues efforts towards eradicating malnutrition, the bean crop continues to be a symbol of national resilience and agricultural innovation. Beans, widely produced by Rwandan farmers and deeply ingrained in local household diets, are now central to a revitalized collaboration between the Government of Rwanda and the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA). This enduring and impactful partnership gained
Explicit mentions of climate security have been removed or weakened in recent UN mandates. For example, in Somalia’s recent UN transition mission mandate, signaling a possible deprioritization of long-term resilience-building measures. This trend may compromise efforts to address root causes of conflict, leaving missions ill-prepared to handle future conflicts triggered by climate change. We highlighted this concern in our paper,
Press Release – June 30, 2025 A new study by researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) finds that if Sudan’s conflict continues through the end of 2025, the country could face catastrophic economic losses, widespread unemployment, and a dramatic rise in poverty, with women and rural populations hit hardest. Published in The Journal of Development Studies, the paper uses