Breeding Plants to Withstand the Bad Ozone Layer
Scientists have long known that ground-level ozone harms not only humans and wildlife but also crops. It’s well documented in experiments, but quantifying the scale of the problem globally has […]
Building a Better Cactus for a Warmer, Dryer World
Before climate change took center stage in the environmental consciousness of the world, activists and diplomats already fretted about the growing risk of desertification—agricultural lands becoming degraded to the point […]
Subsurface Water Retention Technology: Promising but Pricey Without Further Innovation
One of the most promising climate-smart innovations for dryland farming in arid regions is still out-of-reach for the vast majority of smallholder farmers. But the technology is still relatively young, […]
The Largest Aid Appeal Ever as a Food Security Disaster Looms in Afghanistan
On January 11, a UN coalition appealed for $5 billion to avoid a famine in Afghanistan. It’s the largest UN humanitarian aid appeal ever, to support the very part of […]
“Uber for Tractors” Gains Traction at Smallholder Farms
Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa do most fieldwork using hand tools and manual labor, usually on their own but occasionally with hired hands. Some farmers use draft animals. Only a […]
FAO Says COVID-19 Took a Heavy Toll on Food Security in Multiple Regions
COVID-19’s hit to food security has been felt worldwide, but some areas were struck harder than others. Toward the close of 2021—and on the heels of its latest State of […]
Personalized Digital Extension Services Pay Off Big in India
Many smallholder farmers have limited access to agricultural extension services or are slow to adopt the practices extension agents teach. But a new study out of India makes an intriguing […]
Fix the Dangerous Vulnerabilities in Smallholder Agriculture Now—FAO
On November 23, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization issued its 2021 State of Food and Agriculture report (https://www.fao.org/3/cb4476en/cb4476en.pdf). In a nutshell, this latest assessment says food systems worldwide […]
Climate-Resilient Teff: A California Dream?
By Fetien Abay and Tareke Berhe The global food system is currently dominated by just three staple crops: maize, wheat, and rice. Food and nutrition security requires a more resilient […]
How One Ugandan Peanut Scientist Fights “World War Z”
Uganda’s groundnut farms face risks from climate change but their number one threat is the groundnut rosette virus, according to Dr. David Kalule Okello. Dr. Okello is a busy man. […]
