Africa
Trees on agricultural land sink four times more carbon
Trees grown on agricultural land significantly contribute to global carbon budgets, say authors in this recent study.
Bean power: Finger on the pulse of a drought-resilient future
Against a hilly backdrop, Daud Bukuku examines a handful of brown beans from a large basket. The open fields behind him have just been harvested: his plot is freshly harvested. But he’s lucky to have had a harvest at all – the beans he proudly shows us didn’t crop up for everyone.
First drought-resilient, high iron beans for Uganda released
Five new bean varieties bred with high iron and resilience to the impacts of drought have been released in Uganda for the first time.
Seeing is believing: the impact of soil management
For over a decade, CIAT has tested agronomic and soil management practices in Western Kenya. From minimum tillage to integrated soil fertility management, two trials, established in 2003, are the most comprehensive picture of tropical soil health that we have in...
Providing game-changing technologies to help farmers better manage their soil and water resources
Across Africa, poor soils and widespread soil degradation are limiting growth in agricultural production and threatening the viability of food systems. Yet healthy soils are vital to maintaining food security, whole-farm productivity and smallholder incomes. Healthy...
CIAT announces new Regional Director for Africa
CIAT is pleased to welcome Dr. Debisi Araba as Regional Director for Africa. With extensive experience in agricultural policy and project implementation, he will work with the team to establish a vision and strategy for CIAT’s pan-Africa research programs, building on strong partnerships to deliver innovative science.
Eating high-iron beans reduces iron deficiency in just a few months
Eating specially-bred, high-iron beans twice-a-day for just four-and-a-half months reduced iron deficiency and anaemia in young women in Rwanda, according to a new study.
How much do countries benefit from one another’s crop diversity?
Bananas originated in South and Southeast Asia, and are now produced throughout the world’s tropics and eaten in at least 192 countries worldwide. Quinoa came from the South American Andes, and is currently cultivated in almost 100 nations. Countries clearly depend on one another’s crop diversity. But can we measure the extent of the benefits?
Less talk more action, special issue: it’s time to save our soils
This new special issue focusing on soils presents soil management options which preserve the soil’s health, while allowing farmers to intensify their production and profits in an environmentally sound and climate-smart fashion.
Guiding decision making in agriculture for a triple-win
Action towards specific global emission targets can’t happen without guidance on what change needs to happen and where. To that end, this new study outlines a methodology tried and tested within communities. It’s called the “Climate smart agriculture rapid appraisal” tool.
CIAT in Africa
CIAT’s vision of the promise of tropical agriculture is especially relevant to sub-Saharan Africa. Nowhere does the well-being of so many people depend so much on a concerted effort to realize farming’s potential for reducing chronic hunger, opening pathways out of rural poverty, enhancing human nutrition, and improving the management of natural resources. CIAT works especially on the following themes:
- Leveraging markets through improved productivity and competitiveness
- Agriculture for improved nutrition in Africa
- Transforming farms and landscapes for sustainability
- Investment planning for resilient agriculture
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