News Overview

By John Choptiany  Climate change is here. It is real. African smallholder farmers – the backbone of food and nutrition security – are at the frontline.   Battered by a ‘perfect storm’ of climate shocks—simultaneous extreme heat, droughts, floods, and rising temperature variability—smallholder farmers, particularly in rain‑fed systems, face mounting risks. They are often ill‑equipped to cope. Even with adaptation measures,

Rose-Marie Mingninou, a determined agricultural sciences’ graduate, was never destined for a traditional career. She had a passion for agribusiness and a clear vision: to innovate, create, and make tangible impact in her community. Her journey began with humble ambitions, selling imported goods to save money for her dream business. The pivotal moment came when she joined the ENABLE-TAAT program

Over the years, Professor Sanni has served in various leadership roles at IITA, significantly contributing to the advancement of agriculture in Africa. Today, he continues to lend his expertise to the institute in various capacities. This honorary doctorate not only acknowledges Professor Sanni’s remarkable achievements but also embodies the collaborative spirit that underpins the shared mission of building sustainable food

Mariam Abass and Rukayya Muhammad were subsistence farmers in northern Nigeria, producing just enough food to feed their families, until they came across an agribusiness training program that changed their lives. This program has equipped them with the knowledge and skills to start and grow their businesses, significantly increasing their productivity and putting them on a sustained profitability path. For

In a bold move to accelerate agricultural transformation in Nigeria, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, joined the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari – representing Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, and the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and other dignitaries at the groundbreaking

Young people across the MENA region are leading a quiet revolution in agriculture, driving innovation, boosting climate resilience, and laying the groundwork for long-term regional stability. But for this potential to translate into real transformation, youth must be at the center of the region’s agricultural future.  This was the core message at the inaugural Youth Action Leadership for Agrifood Awareness

Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) National Action Plans are a powerful but underused tool for tackling the interconnected challenges of gender, climate, and conflict. Across the Mediterranean region, these plans often fail to address how climate change is deepening gendered vulnerabilities, and that omission is a missed opportunity.  At the 2nd Mediterranean Climate Week, CGIAR’s MENA Climate Security Hub joined

Authors: Shadrack Mwatu and Juneweenex Mbuthia In July and August 2025, the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), conducted a ten-day intensive training of trainers’ workshop on Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling under the CGIAR Policy Innovations program. Held at KIPPRA’s offices, the training brought together technical