News Overview

On July 27, 2021, ICARDA’s Director-General, Mr. Aly Abousabaa, led a scientific virtual lecture titled “ICARDA’s Efforts and Achievements in Developing Date Palm Cultivation Sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries,” which the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation (KIAAI) organized. More than a hundred experts and specialists attended, representing 16 countries. During the lecture, Mr. Abousabaa

BY JULIE KURTZ AND DREW SAMPLE Our food system has a plastic problem. Macro- and micro-plastic pollution is contaminating aquatic and agricultural ecosystems—threatening food security. Plastics are entering food chains, threatening both animal and human health. Meanwhile, as diets increasingly include more packaged ultra-processed and fast foods, the food system itself is generating more and more plastic pollution. Takeout food and beverage

A pilot study determined a new fish smoking protype is cheaper and safer to operate for rural fish processors and produces fewer emissions. Smoking, hot or cold, is a proven way to extend the shelf life of fish and add retail value. In many low- and middle- income countries, where cold storage is limited, smoking kilns help to preserve fish

The Hallbars Award brings welcome attention to the importance of indigenous knowledge and practices within resilient and sustainable food systems.

The Fusarium wilt TR4 is ravaging banana plantations around the world. The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT and partners in Yunnan, China explored the ability of five Bacillus strains to control the spread of TR4 by identifying its biocontrol activities through RT-qPCR.

Shakuntala Thilsted, recipient of the 2021 World Food Prize, explains why diverse aquatic food production systems need to holistically nourish the world in an article in Nature Food. As the world’s human population grows, fish and aquatic foods are set to play an increasingly vital role in food and nutrition security. Farming fish and other aquatic foods is one of

WorldFish researcher Jacqueline D. Lau answers questions on her new publication exploring the role of morality in climate decision-making. Read more

Anouk Ride is WorldFish’s social scientist based in the Solomon Islands. Ride’s research focuses on human wellbeing and social security. Ride works at the intersection of conflict, gender and social inclusion in small-scale fisheries, analyzing the root causes of exclusion and violence. She also examines local indigenous-led solutions to development and security challenges and shocks related to climate change. Read