A new study in Food and Energy Security investigates the impact of digital farmer networks on collective bargaining power in Uganda. While membership in supported groups improves collective agency, the study reveals that gender remains a persistent factor, with men reporting higher leadership confidence and participation. The findings ...
A recent study highlights the role of social relationships in knowledge sharing among farmers and proposes a new way to understand how climate-smart agricultural innovations begin. Trust, mutual support, and close relationships play a fundamental role in enabling knowledge sharing.
A study found that Blanco de Piura cacao can produce an average of 1,200-1,500 kilograms of dry beans per hectare, matching those of commercial clones. Good tree management and agronomic practices are key to achieving high productivity levels.
The rapid rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in high-income countries could lead to a shift in food purchasing patterns and marketing strategies. This could result in stronger corporate lobbying, more aggressive marketing, and expansion into urban markets in low- and middle-income countries.
Researchers at Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT developed a new biophysical allocation method to distribute emissions among cattle farm products, providing a more accurate calculation than traditional methodologies. The study found that producing a single bovine embryo generates up to 37.5 kg of CO2 equivalent.
Climate projections warn that nearly 20% of Colombia's cocoa-growing areas could lose suitable climate conditions by 2050, particularly in the Caribbean region. However, adaptation options such as wild cocoa, agroforestry systems, and conservation of native forests may help mitigate these impacts.
The Cacao of Excellence programme has announced its 2025 Edition, recognising 50 highest-ranking cacao producers from across four regions. The programme evaluates high-performing cacao through blind technical and sensory assessment, establishing an internationally comparable reference framework for cacao flavour.
Research suggests that tropical smallholder farms in fragmented landscapes can maintain healthy pollinator populations and fruit production, contrary to expectations. The study's findings highlight the importance of ecological diversity in supporting wild pollinators.
Researchers used a digital twin model to predict soil fertility and resilience in Ethiopia. The study suggests that regenerative agriculture practices such as leaving residues, organic manure, cover crops, agroforestry can help regain land fertility and resilience, but its benefits weaken under warming and erratic rains.
A study proposes concrete solutions to increase Africa's food production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Analyzing Africa and China, the research highlights water management in rice paddies, modernizing logistics chains, and improving livestock feeding to curb emissions.
Vietnam's food environments are transforming, with modern retail and processed foods becoming increasingly prevalent. The country's policy response has not kept pace with these changes, leading to rising rates of childhood overweightedness and obesity. Experts recommend aligning incentives and capacity to make healthy diets the easier ...
The Cacao of Excellence Programme has selected the 2025 Best 50 cacaos and their producers from 191 samples representing 45 origins. This recognition puts smallholder farmers on the global stage, providing international visibility and opportunities for quality recognition and market access.
A large-scale survey in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, and Senegal found that West African farmers can benefit from reliable climate services and financial support. The study charted a path to turn weather reports into a profitable investment for farmers.
The Time2Graze project is developing a decision support system to help farmers in Latin America make better grazing decisions, increase productivity and reduce methane emissions. The tool will assess pasture availability and provide real-time alerts to optimize grazing intensity.
The Kunming Manifesto proposes pathways to unlock agrobiodiversity's benefits, addressing food waste, environmental externalities, and social inequalities. Experts emphasize the need for a paradigm-bending power shift toward Indigenous and local communities to ensure agrobiodiversity thrives.
A fungal pathogen is causing cassava witches' broom disease to spread rapidly in Brazil and French Guiana, impacting food security and livelihoods. Researchers are racing against time to understand the extent of the threat and find a way to treat or prevent the disease.
Biofortified rice in Colombia has high potential to improve nutrition and is preferred by consumers despite its increased zinc content, with a 41% premium over standard rice. The variety was developed to address zinc deficiency in the country's Caribbean region, where rates are 41% among children aged 1-4.
The World Cocoa Foundation and Alliance of Bioversity International assessed the accuracy of key maps for deforestation, tree planting, and greenhouse gas emissions monitoring. The study found that open access global maps are not accurate enough for cocoa analyses in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.
Incorporating neglected and underutilized species into school meal programs in Nairobi's informal settlements significantly improves nutrition for children while reducing costs. The study found that these climate-resilient crops, such as African nightshade and hyacinth bean, meet up to 30% of daily nutritional needs.
Smallholder farmers in Western Kenya support native-tree restoration for improved crop yields, climate resilience, and food security. However, concerns about increasing tree diversity attracting wildlife and the need for locally designed solutions remain.
Researchers have identified the pathogens and diagnostic tests for the two diseases, revolutionizing cassava disease management in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. The study, published in peer-reviewed journals, marks a significant milestone in fighting the spread of these devastating diseases.
The study reveals five groups of barriers reinforcing each other, including corporate dominance and institutional shortcomings. A comprehensive framework is proposed to address these systemic challenges, emphasizing the importance of integrated political responses and context-sensitive solutions.
Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg brings expertise in food systems, social inclusion, and gender-sensitive innovation to drive transformative change in Africa's agricultural development. She aims to harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives.
Researchers found that widespread adoption of cement paths, disinfection stations, and production strategies can net significant benefits for each dollar invested. The disease could annihilate global banana production, but simple measures are already effective in slowing its spread.
A new study presents a cutting-edge catalog of banana diversity, tracing the ancestral origins of various cultivars using innovative genomic techniques. The catalog reveals that some locally appreciated banana groups are not single clones, opening perspectives for diversification.
A new case study in India found that home garden interventions struggled due to verbal training, lack of demonstrations, and limited household engagement. However, flexibility and participatory techniques like Process Net-Mapping revealed positive outcomes on nutrition and sustainable agriculture practices.
A recent study by Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT found that women's empowerment is associated with improved child nutrition, health, and education. The research shows that empowered women contribute to fewer underweight and wasted children, as well as improved household dietary diversity.
Researchers developed a tricot approach to collaborate with farmers in testing new crop varieties, increasing collaboration and community engagement. The approach has been shown to be cost-effective, equitable, externally valid, and scalable, benefiting national programs and improving data value.
Researchers developed a machine learning-based system to analyze satellite data and provide farmers with information on pasture productivity and quality. The approach uses remote sensing and AI-driven processing to gather data on large areas, providing a scale-neutral solution for small- and large-scale farms.
African national adaptation policy documents reveal inadequate information on adaptation investments and tracking progress, limiting investment channeling and tracking effectiveness. However, some countries have robust plans, such as Benin and South Africa, which hold lessons for future climate negotiations.
Researchers found that foreign direct investments and urbanization drove tree cover loss ahead of GDP growth in 40 countries. The study suggests addressing the full extent of FDI's link to deforestation by improving the entire food system.
Research finds that women in southern Colombia are more likely to adopt silvopastoral systems, which integrate nature into livestock farming, and are motivated by environmental reasons and a desire for future generations. These systems offer numerous benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased farm income.
A new survey reveals a significant knowledge gap about women and youth farming practices in Senegal, despite their crucial role in agriculture. The study highlights opportunities for training, access to efficient markets, and climate information services to improve agricultural skills and boost productivity.
A breakthrough in DNA sequencing technology has identified the fungus genus Ceratobasidium as the culprit behind cassava witches' broom disease. This discovery will help plant pathologists in Laos and other Southeast Asian countries protect their crops, supporting millions of smallholder farmers who rely on cassava.
A study analyzed mobile device tracking data from 25 Wi-Fi access points to characterize changes in behavior at five wet markets in Hanoi. The researchers found a significant decrease in visits and market engagement during the initial COVID-19 crisis phase, with peak shopping times shifting due to behavioral changes.
A new study found that women-led self-help groups in Odisha, India played a crucial role in maintaining food security during the COVID-19 lockdowns by procuring fresh produce from farmers and selling it to local markets. The groups also provided training and support to their members, enabling them to start their own businesses.
A study on the endangered coco de mer palm tree found that inbreeding depression may not be a major threat to its survival, contrary to previous assumptions. The researchers discovered that female trees prefer closely related kin to sire their offspring, suggesting outbreeding depression as a possible issue.
Experts recommend breaking with the past to develop a new international mechanism for sharing benefits from digital sequence information. The current system is threatened by the emergence of fast genome sequencing technologies and open access infrastructures.
A new study reveals that climate adaptation efforts are lacking in global coordination, with individuals and households shouldering the majority of the burden. Comprehensive collaboration between actor groups is necessary for effective adaptation, especially in rural areas where state actors play a more significant role in urban areas.
Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) could cause a 55% reduction in banana production in newly affected regions within 10 years. The disease is projected to result in significant economic losses, with consumers bearing 40% of the estimated $25 billion cost.
Four sub-Saharan countries aiming to restore degraded landscapes with trees face a major challenge: sourcing enough native seeds and planting material. Communities involved in seed management could play a crucial role in ensuring the success of restoration goals.
A new genotyping method called Single Primer Enrichment Technology (SPET) was used to investigate the genetic diversity of lettuce and identify genomic regions underlying important agronomic traits. The study revealed over 80,000 high-quality SNPs, allowing researchers to group accessions by type and geographic origin.
A new study reveals significant gaps in knowledge of Asian bee species, highlighting the need for more resources to build basic scientific knowledge of bee biodiversity. This knowledge is crucial for managing and maintaining bee diversity, pollination, and food security in Asia.
Researchers in Peru found that the majority of cacao can meet EU cadmium limits, but areas like Piura face significant challenges due to high levels of cadmium in their soils. The study provides an interactive map predicting cadmium levels across the country.
Researchers have discovered that breeding high-yielding rice hybrids with lower methane emissions can help farmers achieve food security without significantly increasing emissions. The study highlights the potential for low-emission rice production systems to mitigate methane emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Farmers' use of birds and bats as part-time collaborators has been found to increase productivity by 54% and boost annual yields by approximately $959 per hectare. This partnership helps mitigate the damage caused by pests such as aphids and mealybugs, ultimately benefiting cacao farmers in northern Peru.
A recent study analyzes national greenhouse gas emission inventories, revealing limited accuracy and transparency in low-and-middle-income countries. The review highlights the need for improved reporting methodologies to manage food security and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Researchers found that farmers implementing sustainable land use systems like cocoa agroforestry contribute to reducing conflicts over land. In a survey of farmer households, participants felt that agroforestry systems increased spaces for community dialogue and decreased disputes over access to natural resources.
Researchers teamed with Ethiopian farmers to develop new wheat varieties using genomic analysis. Farmers' knowledge played a crucial role in predicting crop yields and selecting optimal traits. The project aims to preserve agrobiodiversity and promote cultural heritage.
A recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural Economics found that home gardens can increase annual home-produced food by nearly 90% and monthly per adult equivalent incomes by 37%. These interventions also reduced poverty rates and improved nutrition among rural farming communities in Odisha, India.