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Director of the CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) Program

Director of CGIAR’s Scaling for Impact Program

In Djimassar, in Senegal’s Sédhiou region, Fatou Diatta’s story begins in a micro-garden, between rows of carrots and peppers watered by hand. At twenty-eight, a mother of two, she belongs to a generation of rural youth searching for their place between tradition and modernity. Agriculture, long seen as exhausting and unrewarding, has become for her a space of empowerment and leadership. Through the AVENIR project, implemented by MEDA with scientific support from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and funded by Global Affairs Canada, Fatou discovered new farming practices, strengthened her skills, and transformed her plot into a local model. Her journey tells more than an individual success story. It reflects a changing perspective on youth, land, and the future of food systems in Senegal.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and the County Government of Kisumu have formalized a strategic partnership to advance climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable food systems, and biodiversity conservation in Kenya. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focuses on scaling innovative solutions—such as community seed banks, landscape restoration, and resilient crop systems—to address climate change, land degradation, and food insecurity. By combining scientific expertise with county leadership, the collaboration aims to strengthen farmer livelihoods, enhance seed systems, and drive sustainable development across Kisumu County.

Regional Director, Central and West Asia and North Africa, CGIAR, as well as Director General of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT have formalized a strategic collaboration with Bayer’s Crop Science division under the Modern Breeding Project to accelerate the development of improved crop varieties, strengthen resilient seed systems, and expand the reach of innovation to smallholder farmers across regions and crops.

Between what works in pilot settings and what transforms territories, there is a gap. Scaling helps understand how to adapt, connect, and sustain innovations to bridge it.

In several countries in Eastern and Central Africa including Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and Malawi millions of families depend on cassava as a staple food and source of income. However, production of this crop faces a growing threat: Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD), caused by viruses that damage the plant’s roots, significantly reduce yields, and threaten food security.