publication
Genetic resources and genomics for adaptation of livestock to climate change
Bioversity International (Bioversity International)
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/72641
Abstract
Animal genetic resources (AnGR) are critical for global food security and livelihoods. Livestock products have high densities of energy, protein, and other critical nutrients, which are particularly beneficial for infants and expectant mothers. Around a billion people rely directly on livestock for their livelihoods, many of which are among the…
publication
Learning to select and apply qualitative and participatory methods in natural resource management research: self-critical assessment of research in Cameroon
Bioversity International (Bioversity International)
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78632
Abstract
Biophysical scientists are increasingly interested in undertaking research on natural resources management from a social science perspective. This, however, requires at least a basic understanding of the different social science approaches and the philosophical…
article
Los gremios en el centro de la gestión de conocimiento en el Convenio “Clima y Sector Agropecuario Colombiano”
Empoderamiento de los técnicos, seguimiento y evaluación del fortalecimiento de sus capacidades y comunicación conjunta son los tres enfoques principales Aprovechando del informe trimestrial que finalizamos para el Ministerio de Agricultura y de Desarrollo Rural (MADR) de Colombia, compartimos conclusiones provisionales acerca de los objetivos que nos propusimos en el tema de la gestión de conocimiento al arranque de la segunda fase del Convenio “…
article
''El agua sale limpia'': ecosistemas, seguridad alimentaria y adaptación al cambio climático en Mesoamérica
De Genowefa Blundo Canto y Maria Claudia Tristán Febres Investigadores del grupo de Servicios Ecosistemicos de CIAT están trabajando en el desarrollo de una metdologíá para monitorear y evaluar resultados de seguridad alimentaria (SA) vinculados a la Adaptación basada en Ecosistemas (AbE), es decir el uso de la biodiversidad y servicios ecosistémicos para apoyar a las personas en el proceso de adaptación frente a los impactos…
publication
R package gdistance: Distances and routes on geographical grids
Bioversity International (Bioversity International)
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83180
Abstract
The R package gdistance provides classes and functions to calculate various distance measures and routes in heterogeneous geographic spaces represented as grids. Least-cost distances as well as more complex distances based on (constrained) random walks can
be calculated. Also the corresponding routes or probabilities of passing each cell can be determined.…
article
On the trail of wild beans in Peru
It’s down there somewhere. Treasure. At least, it was. Almost thirty years ago. A few hundred metres above Peru’s Sacred Valley, Daniel checks his map. The same one as before, impeccably preserved. But Daniel is no ordinary treasure hunter.
What he’s looking for is something more ancient than the Incas, and potentially more valuable than all their silver and gold. And if he finds it, he’s just going to look at it. For a few minutes. And then leave. We wind our way down to the valley floor, and past…
article
Grass forages: an unlikely weapon against poverty and drought
Silas Mdoe has a weapon against poverty and drought. It’s so unassuming that most farmers completely overlook it: livestock grass. As this recent study shows, keeping livestock can help farmers like Silas earn more money and put more food on the table, especially during unpredictable weather.
In Tanzania, drought has decimated many farmers’ harvests, including Silas’ maize, which he relies on for an income. In his village of Mbuzii in Lushoto, in the east of the country,…
article
Livestock: the untold story
“For millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa, livestock are indispensable. They're not mass-produced on factory farms, but raised by family farmers in rural areas”
#CIATforward Visions of a sustainable food future
Birthe Paul, environmental scientist
Livestock: the untold story
For me, there are two sides to every story. And that’s definitely the case when it comes to livestock. In North America and Europe, we hear much about the negative health impacts of eating too much meat; of cows producing too…
article
Beans without borders
“The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is a free trade area for 20 countries, which has allowed us to significantly speed up the release of new beans”
#CIATforward Visions of a sustainable food future
Claire Mukankusi, plant breeder
My dream has always been to reach the poorest in Africa through science. And now, as a “doctor of plants,” as my children call me, I help regulate the flow of beans between the world’s largest bean genebank in Colombia and many…
article
Why diversity, disruption, and innovation in science matter
“We’ve heard many times that ‘business-as-usual’ is over. But we hear less about what will take its place. I think the world urgently needs disruptors”
#CIATforward Visions of a sustainable food future
André Zandstra, Head of Partnerships and Communications
Why diversity, disruption, and innovation in science matter
CIAT’s impacts over the last 50 years stem from a broad multidisciplinary approach, the thoughtful involvement of partners, and a keen focus on impact. But…
article
The future of food: take a walk on the wild side
“Crop wild relatives and ancient, barely domesticated crop varieties hold the secrets to breeding crops of the future”
#CIATforward Visions of a sustainable food future
Colin Khoury, crop diversity specialist
The future of food: take a walk on the wild side
I think the future is going to be a lot wilder and weedier. That’s a good thing. That’s because the majority of our food is grown by converting the enormous complexities of wild landscapes into more simplified, controllable,…
article
Why big data will shake up farming
“CSA requires a carefully tailored package of interventions, developed in unison with farmers”
#CIATforward Visions of a sustainable food future
Ana María Loboguerrero, Latin America Regional Program leader, CCAFS
Why big data will shake up farming
It might have taken years, but agriculture is firmly on the global climate change agenda. The next step is to make change happen on the ground too. I think that in the coming years we’re going to see the rapid expansion of climate-smart agriculture (…
publication
Unravelling technology-acceptance factors influencing farmer use of banana tissue culture planting materials in Central Uganda
Bioversity International (Bioversity International)
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/106979
Abstract
Effective management of plant health is fundamental for food and income security to meet the growing demands of local and global markets. This however requires farmers’ adequate access to quality planting materials under the prevailing contextual and psycho-social factors. This study, anchored…
article
The future is full of green cows
“I’ve seen first-hand how animals can be raised sustainably and profitably. We don’t have to dream about it – it’s happening right now”
#CIATforward Visions of a sustainable food future
Ngonidzashe Chirinda, farming system specialist
The future is full of green cows
For me it’s a travesty that livestock have such a bad name. All we hear is how animals produce greenhouse gases, drive deforestation, and destroy the land. I can see why so many look down on livestock. I think that’s going to…
article
What Peru teaches us about paying nature its due
“No other country in the region had gone so far in setting out the role of the public and private sectors in investing in ecosystem services”
#CIATforward Visions of a sustainable food future
Marcela Quintero, leader, Ecosystem Services
What Peru teaches us about paying nature its due
Peru’s Cañete River Basin is a great example of the benefits and challenges of payments for ecosystem services (PES). Downstream, farmers depend on the river for irrigation; further upstream…
