Uganda’s rural women find beans to beat climate

by Georgina Smith | Oct 13, 2016

Sunny Mbeeta Abwooli knows how to whip up a delicious meal, especially when it involves one of her favorite ingredients: beans. “We have many varieties of beans,” says Sunny, pointing to a colorful basket of different bean types. “They are different in color, taste;...

New vulnerability assessment shows how climate change could redraw the agricultural map of Central America

by Neil Palmer | Sep 28, 2016

New vulnerability assessment shows how climate change could redraw the agricultural map of Central America Climate change could transform the agricultural landscape in Central America, with key crops like beans and export-quality coffee losing suitability, and...

Bean power: Finger on the pulse of a drought-resilient future

by Georgina Smith | Aug 8, 2016

Against a hilly backdrop, Daud Bukuku and his wife Neema Obeti examine a handful of red specked beans from a large basket. The open fields behind them have just been harvested. But they’re lucky to have had a harvest at all – the beans they proudly shows us...

First drought-resilient, high iron beans for Uganda released

by Georgina Smith | Aug 8, 2016

Five new bean varieties bred with high iron and resilience to the impacts of drought have been released in Uganda for the first time. The varieties – co-developed by the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), the Rwandan Agricultural Board (RAB)...

Could “magic beans” help ease Malawi’s maize woes?

by Neil Palmer | May 12, 2016

Whichever way you drive into or out of Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, maize is everywhere. It flanks the roadsides for miles and miles; huge, undulating expanses disappear into the distance. You’d be forgiven for thinking the country was preparing for a bumper...