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New study: In Colombia, cacao isn’t causing significant deforestation but could help reduce forest loss and conflict
The baseline study on the state of the cocoa sector in Colombia is funded by the World Research Institute, World Cacao Foundation, and the SLUS project, which is funded by the German government’s International Climate Initiative (IKI). It informs the development of the Cocoa, Forest and Peace initiative´s action plan
CIAT leads €5.2 million project for forest conservation, climate protection and peace in Colombia
In the context of ongoing debates surrounding the recently approved Colombian National Development Plan’s deforestation targets, there is reason for optimism regarding forest conservation. In a new agreement that highlights CIAT’s commitment to working with local partners on high-priority development goals, the Center was named lead implementing organization on a four-year project called Implementation of sustainable land use systems for forest conservation, climate protection (REDD+) and peace-building in Colombia (SLUS project).
Derlyn Lourido, champion in information management: PestDisPlace
Institutional data collection, clean-up, and preservation have been one of the most important assignments of Derlyn Lourido, Data Systems Analyst at CIAT, who has gradually made scientists aware of the importance of sharing their data and implementing the Open Access Policy.
“We are developing environmentally sustainable and productive livestock systems”: Michael Peters
Michael Peters and his team have been developing tropical forage varieties that enable improved animal productivity, better adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses, while being environmentally friendly, through the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Now CIAT has a more comprehensive view of environmental issues” David Kaimowitz
David Kaimowitz did not visit CIAT as the Natural Resources and Climate Change Director for the Ford Foundation, but as a family friend. And he found a CIAT placing more emphasis on climate change and with a potential in forest conservation, the subject matter of Kaimowitz’s expertise. Interview.
Genetic breakthrough on tropical grass could help develop climate-friendly cattle farms
The discovery of genes responsible for asexual reproduction in a tropical grass may reduce negative impacts of cattle farming. The grass captures carbon, reduces gas emissions from soils, restores degraded land, and improves cattle health and productivity.
Multilayered information to improve livestock production systems in Colombia
Livestock production sometimes has a negative connotation due environmental issues, ethical views and human health questions. A response to this — mostly from the developed world — is for a transition to a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Electronic scarecrows that monitor crops
Satoshi Ogawa and Manabu Ishitani wanted to find a way to simultaneously monitor climatic conditions and crop performance in real-time. So Ogawa, a researcher at CIAT’s biotechnology lab, and Ishitani, a molecular biologist and the lab’s leader, acquired e-kahashi, a Japanese technology that they deployed in CIAT’s experimental rice fields.
App enables smallholder farmers to be community influencers and citizen scientists
The GeoFarmer app allows community workers and smallholders to easily collect and share information on climate-related agricultural interventions. Development agencies can use the tool to gather effective feedback and to respond to emergent climate needs.
More bang for the climate buck: study identifies hotspots for adaptation funding
By combining the latest crop models and local expertise in Vietnam, Uganda and Nicaragua, scientists developed a process to pinpoint where cash crops and food security is most threatened by climate change. The tool can help streamline climate spending