Agrobiodiversity
CIAT, CAAS establish Beijing joint lab and expand scientific cooperation
In further strengthening scientific cooperation, CIAT and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS) is establishing a Joint Laboratory in Advanced Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture in Beijing.
Agricultural mechanization is a key input for the CIAT Rice and Bean Programs
The adoption of farm mechanization in the agricultural production processes of crops, such as rice and beans, is one way in which the Agrobiodiversity Program at CIAT is seeking to comply with the goal of modernizing and optimizing breeding programs. A key factor to achieving this is increasing the evaluation areas for new lines, along with providing the most accurate yield estimate possible for these areas.
Climate change and rising population put pressure on essential crops in low-income regions
Crops such as bananas, potatoes and cassava are essential to food security in the world’s poorest regions. By 2050, their importance will increase, but climate change and population growth will put unprecedented pressure on production
The world needs a global system to detect and halt the spread of emerging crop diseases
In the same manner that nations collaborate to detect and stop human pandemics, a global surveillance system for crop diseases needs to be created to safeguard agricultural trade and food security, argues a team of experts in Science
Jacobo Arango, Lead Author of the Sixth IPCC Assessment Report
Jacobo Arango, environmental biologist from the Tropical Forages Program at CIAT, is one of the lead authors from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He is currently contributing to draft the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), more specifically, on mitigation pathways compatible with long-term goals.
The Germplasm Health Unit at CIAT was Officially Registered
The Germplasm Health Unit (GHU), which is part of the Genetic Resources Program at CIAT, obtained Official Registration as an approved laboratory to conduct phytosanitary diagnoses, through a resolution issued by the Government of Colombia, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR), and the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA).
Low emission livestock – how to quantify gains across Africa?
Livestock, and especially its environmental impacts, have been hotly debated in public, science and policy arenas since more than a decade. The recently published EAT-Lancet report re-fueled the discussion, calling for reduction in consumption of animal source foods for benefits of human health and the environment. However, many voices from across Africa feel that the call for reduction of livestock production and consumption should be much more clearly targeted to industrialized countries, not regions with predominantly smallholder systems and low meat consumption.
Colombia could lose 60% of land suitable for irrigated rice due to climate change
Unchecked emissions will reduce land suitable for rice in Colombia, underscoring how geography limits options for crops. Unlike China, where rice paddies can move to higher latitudes, Colombian production may go to higher altitudes without climate action
Vietnam can reduce emissions and save $2.3 billion with changes in agriculture and land use
Through cost-saving practices for coffee, rice, maize, and livestock production, Vietnam can increase its Paris Agreement commitments, says a study that highlights climate action potential for agriculture in Southeast Asia
Strengthening institutional and human capacity on National Livestock Market Information system in Ethiopia
Even with the largest livestock population in Africa, Ethiopia does not benefit from its livestock resource due to various factors. The absence of strong market information system is one of the key challenges that resulted in a collaboration between the government of Ethiopia through the Ministry of Agriculture and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) to address this challenge by developing human capacity on national livestock market information system (NLMIS).
About agrobiodiversity research at CIAT
CIAT develops more resilient and productive varieties of cassava and common bean, together with tropical forages for livestock. We also help improve rice production in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The superior crop varieties that result from our collaborative work offer many valuable traits, such as high yield and stress tolerance, which are vital for guaranteeing global food supplies in the face of rapidly rising demand, shifting disease and insect pressures, rampant environmental degradation, and the looming threat of climate change.
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This CIAT Blog was launched in January 2016. For articles related to agrobiodiversity prior to this date, visit our former blog. Please note the old AgBio blog is no longer updated.