By Glenn Concepcion In a world grappling with a rising population, climate change, and a growing need for healthier food options, scientists are turning to an unlikely pairing: rice and seaweed. A scientific review published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition explores the vast, untapped potential of combining rice starch with biopolymers from seaweed to create transformative products
Matty Demont (IRRI), Berber Kramer (IFPRI), Robert Andrade (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), Melanie Connor (IRRI), Nedumaran Swamikannu (ICRISAT), Sika Gbegbelegbe (IITA), Bert Lenaerts (IRRI), Ruvicyn Bayot (IRRI), and Vivian Polar (CIP) Area of Work 1 on Market Intelligence, CGIAR Breeding for Tomorrow Science Program Like many donation-dependent non-profits, CGIAR faces recurring budget fluctuations that force difficult trade-offs. Each funding cycle demands a
In Guatemala’s InnovaHubs (From the AgriLAC Resiliente Initiative in the departments of Huehuetenango, Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango, Zacapa, and Chiquimula, with additional participation from Sacatepéquez) more than 200 farmers, students, and technicians participated in training activities strengthened their skills in postharvest management, agronomic practices, and climate information to promote more resilient agriculture in the country. View original article .wysiwyg a::after {margin-left: 10px;top:
The Scaling Forages ToT drew significant attention from high-ranking officials, including H.E. Dr. Fikru Regassa (State Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture), as well as regional and local leaders and members of the farming community: elders, men, women and youth. Around 350 participants attended the event, which featured practical field demonstrations aligned with the Sidama regional campaign for multipurpose
Nigeria, Africa’s fourth-largest economy and a key food producer, is launching the Presidential Soil Health Initiative to strengthen the sustainable development of agriculture. Spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and backed by technical partners like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the initiative aims to revolutionize soil fertility management and boost national sustainable food
At the FAO Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, held in Rome on September 30, 2025, Alliance Scientist Jacobo Arango moderated the side event on ‘Cultivated forages as climate solutions to transform livestock systems in the Global South‘: A session that explored how cultivated forages can serve as practical climate-smart solutions to transform livestock systems by improving productivity, reducing greenhouse gas
Indigenous peoples’ food systems have existed for millennia: far longer than the industrialised food systems that dominate much of the world today. Often living in remote areas ranging from the Amazon rainforest, the deserts of central Africa, and far beyond, Indigenous peoples make up 6.2% of the global population, yet they are believed to be the custodians of up to
This year’s 4th African Plant Breeders’ Association (APBA) Conference brought together more than 400 breeders, researchers, and partners in the largest gathering of plant breeding experts on the continent. For Breeding for Tomorrow (B4T), the event was all about partnership. As the program driving CGIAR’s integrated approach to modern, data-driven crop breeding, B4T supports national breeding programs through technical backstopping,