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Soils and pulses: symbiosis for life
On April 19, FAO, Bioversity International and the Permanent Representation of Italy to the UN will jointly host the seminar Soils and pulses: symbiosis for life. The event will focus on the reciprocal relationship between soils and pulses, while also discussing how the cultivation of pulses can help achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Last year, FAO…
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Farmers’ Crop Varieties and Farmers’ Rights
A new book in the Issues in Agricultural Biodiversity series examines policies that aim to increase the share of benefits that farmers receive when others use the crop varieties that they have developed and managed.
A new book, Farmers’ Crop Varieties and Farmers’ Rights, examines crop plant varieties developed by local farmers – commonly referred to as farmers’…
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Mutually supportive implementation of the Plant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol in Benin and Madagascar
Bioversity International is working with the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) Capacity Development Initiative, the secretariats of the CBD and ITPGRFA, the African Union Commission, and with partners and stakeholders in Benin and Madagascar, to develop ABS laws and agreements that contribute to pro-poor rural development and…
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CGIAR site integration in Uganda: developments and recommendations
In preparation for a second phase of CGIAR Research Programs, the CGIAR Consortium is proposing to make the research programs more integrated so as to more effectively contribute to the objectives and targets set by the CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework. How? Through a pilot process termed ‘site integration’.
In light of the third Global…
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Bean biodiversity bugs pests
In light of the UN-declared International Year of Pulses, Bioversity International scientist Devra Jarvis blogs about the benefits that many bean varieties have on yields.
By Devra I. Jarvis, Principal Scientist, Bioversity International
The common bean is an unsung hero, and especially important in East and Central Africa and parts of Latin America. As well as improving the…
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Can ancient Ethiopian wheat varieties provide resistance to stem rust?
Interviewed by Süddeutsche Zeitung, Bioversity International scientist Carlo Fadda explains how Ethiopian durum wheat offers a unique and not fully explored source of genetic diversity that can provide resistance to diseases and climatic stresses.
Interviewed by Süddeutsche Zeitung, Bioversity International scientist Carlo Fadda explains…
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New study shows quinoa is good for quinoa farmers
As discussed at length in NPR's The Salt, consumers' quinoa habits benefit not only farmers' incomes but also their nutrition. Bioversity International's Adam Drucker and Stefano Padulosi encourage greater use of quinoa but warn of trouble ahead.
As discussed at length in NPR's The Salt, consumers' quinoa habits benefit not only farmers' incomes but also their…
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Community seedbanks as a platform for crop conservation and improvement in South Africa
Community seedbanks could service as co-ordinating agencies bringing together farmers, plant breeders, genebank curators and other stakeholders to realise the true benefits of utlizing agrobiodiversity effectively and efficiently– the conclusion of an article published in GRAIN SA last week.
"Community seedbanks could…
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Dietary diversity and biofortification – Closer than you think
What if food staples were made to work towards better nutrition? How would that fit with the need for dietary diversification? Gina Kennedy, Bioversity International, and Mourad Moursi, HarvestPlus discuss in this joint article.
Some 2 billion people suffer from hidden hunger caused by infections and diets lacking in essential micronutrients such…
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Rural Bhutanese farmer Pema faces climate change with a cornucopia of agricultural biodiversity
Rural women are integrally connected to all aspects of local biodiversity – as users, custodians and agents of change. On the occasion of the International Rural Women's Day, scientists Ronnie Vernooy and Lhab Tshering chat with Bhutanese farmer Pema, the first farmer to have a greenhouse in the village of Tsento, Bhutan…
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Twenty five years of international exchanges of plant genetic resources
A blog from the Crop Trust features Bioversity International scientists who analyzed 25 years of plant genetic resources exchanges facilitated by seven CGIAR genebanks. The results show how no country is self-sufficient.
A blog from the Global Crop Diversity Trust features Bioversity International scientists who analyzed 25 years of plant…
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Seeds for Restoration - a global survey calls for contributions
Restoring hundreds of millions of hectares of degraded forestlands will require billions of tree seeds and seedlings. This month, we invite restoration practitioners to take a survey to help identify current problems, good practices and recommendations for improving tree seed and seedling supply for forest and landscape restoration.
Restoring…
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Increasing benefits from genetic resources held in trust by CGIAR
Frank Rijsberman, CEO, CGIAR Consortium, explains how CGIAR engages with the Plant Treaty in his latest blog. Rijsberman was one of the high level speakers at the opening session of the Plant Treaty Governing Body held yesterday in Rome, Italy.
“CGIAR places very high priority on the conservation and use of the plant genetic…
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New six-step methodology employs farmers’ knowledge and experiences to determine research priorities
Bioversity International’s scientist Ronnie Vernooy blogs about a new six-step methodology that facilitates participatory processes with men and women farmers in order to select the most effective climate-smart technologies and practices.
Bioversity International’s scientist Ronnie Vernooy blogs about a new…
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Traits for taste: Spicing up the chilli market in Bolivia and Peru
Whether you like your chilli (Capsicum) peppers mildly spicy or ‘burn in the mouth’ hot, Peru and Bolivia have more than enough chilli varieties to satisfy your culinary cravings. A new paper examines the genetic traits that cause these taste differences and explores how creating links to markets could giving a much-needed income boost to the smallholder…
