In tropical regions around the world, bananas are far more than a staple food; they are a lifeline. This crop provides food, income, and economic stability for millions of smallholder farmers and plays a critical role in global food security.
Kenya’s coffee sector has marked a historic milestone with the successful preparation and export of its first shipment of European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)-ready coffee. This achievement reflects not only compliance with emerging global sustainability standards, but also the country’s growing capacity to operate within a rapidly evolving trade environment where environmental accountability is becoming a prerequisite for market access.
The conflict in the Persian Gulf, including limits on cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, has pushed up energy and fertilizer prices and boosted uncertainty in global markets.
The Crops Research Facility of the Kiboko Research Station, an essential agricultural research station in Makueni County, Kenya, has undergone a significant upgrade. With over $2.5 million in funding from Germany, administered in phases by the Crops to End Hunger (CtEH) program, the facility now features world-class infrastructure and equipment, which will accelerate further crop breeding and strengthen food security
By Rosa Jauregui, Tropical Forage Plant Breeder, Urochloa spp. and Megathyrsus maximus, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT A major step in the development of resilient guinea grass – a cornerstone in The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT’s (The Alliance) tropical forages breeding program – has been reached with the release of the crop’s reference genome. It was
Nairobi, Kenya – Building on the momentum of February’s inaugural hackathon, a team of biometricians and quantitative genetics experts from CGIAR Centers gathered this month for a week-long hackathon focused on advancing Bioflow, CGIAR Breeding Analytics Pipeline, and setting priorities for 2025. Launched in the second quarter of 2024, the Breeding Analytics Pipeline is a game-changing tool designed to optimize
Mechanizing crop breeding stations is critical for optimizing the trialling and nursery processes in sub-Saharan Africa and ultimately speeding up the delivery of improved crop varieties. Any operations can be mechanized, from field preparation, to planting, harvesting, and seed processing. Equally important is equipping operational staff with the skills to efficiently operate machinery and conduct high-quality trials that yield reliable
1. Seeds of Change Climate shifts, soil degradation and conflicts threaten food security in many countries worldwide. Every day, thousands of people struggle to find ways to ensure a stable food supply amid an uncertain future. For agricultural scientists, the pressing question is how their work can help minimise the impacts of these risks. Plant breeding, through improving the genetic