What’s your beef? Why it might be time to give livestock a break

by Neil Palmer | Jun 21, 2016

Cows are regularly portrayed as evil: four-legged, four-stomached, greenhouse gas machines chomping through forests and destroying the planet. It’s no wonder the idea of a climate-smart livestock system sounds like an oxymoron. Nevertheless, I’m promised a glimpse. To...

No compromise: food security and carbon hoofprints

by Georgina Smith | Jun 16, 2016

Sessions at this week’s Africa Agriculture Science Week this week (June 13-17) in Kigali included discussion on the potential of livestock forages to boost farm production and sequester carbon. At night, Rwanda’s capital Kigali is a sparkling carpet of lights....

High-iron beans: a new “superfood” for Colombia

by Neil Palmer | Jun 13, 2016

New high-iron beans have been officially released in Colombia. They contain as much as 60% more iron than normal beans, and are intended to address the problem of iron deficiency – the world’s most persistent nutritional ailment. Affecting up to 2 billion people...

Why getting the right food on the table is central not just to the health of our children, but to the health of our continent

by Georgina Smith | Jun 12, 2016

Dr. Robin Buruchara, Director for Africa for the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, talks about need to tackle malnutrition at the Africa Agriculture Science Week this week (June 13-17) in Kigali.  We are in the midst of an emerging crisis. Now is the time...

“Foreign” crops – from maize to mangoes – dominate national food consumption and farming practices worldwide

by Neil Palmer | Jun 8, 2016

“Foreign” crops – from maize to mangoes – dominate national food consumption and farming practices worldwide The origins of over two-thirds of the grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural crops countries grow and consume can be traced to ancient...

Water harvesting: CIAT-FLAR project receives high honor

by Paul Blake | May 24, 2016

A joint CIAT-FLAR initiative that has allowed farmers in Nicaragua to grow a bumper crop during dry seasons has been recognized for its exceptional innovation. The water harvesting project allows farmers to capture and store rainwater for use during the dry season,...