Africa’s drylands and grasslands face a tight knot of problems: recurrent droughts and erratic rains, depleted soils and vegetation, drying water points, blocked livestock corridors, and unclear rights—all of which erode food and fodder security, spark conflict, and accelerate biodiversity loss. This survey asks how to overcome that knot by...

This brief provides an overview of the Solis app, developed under the Inclusive Digital Tools (ATDT) project, part of IFAD and the EU’s Agroecological TRANSITIONS programme. Solis is a co-created mobile platform designed for Brazilian farmers to share agroecological practices and access tailored technical advice. It fosters peer-to-peer learning and expert...

This brief provides an overview of the FarMore app, developed under the Inclusive Digital Tools (ATDT) project, part of IFAD and the EU’s Agroecological TRANSITIONS programme. FarMore is a farm-activity monitoring and reporting tool co-designed with farmers, extension agents and cooperatives in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Integrated into the national RiceMoRe system,...

What role can grain systems play in an agroecological transition?  If any part of our food system is overdue for a redesign, it’s the industrial grain system. Built on a global, vertically integrated model of mechanized monocultures, synthetic inputs, and commodity trading, industrial grain has had far-reaching impacts on our health,...

In a joint statement released on 24 February 2026, civil society organisations, social movements, faith based actors, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralist and peasant groups from Africa and the Global South call on ICARRD+20 to become a turning point for land justice and food sovereignty. The statement warns that twenty years after...

Agroecology is gaining increasing recognition at a global level, with countries establishing new policies or laws relating to agroecology. Moreover, the world-wide Agroecology Coalition was set up to foster the development of agroecology At the European level, the European Partnership for Agroecology Living Labs and Infrastructure is a notable programme that...

Here at Food Tank, we talk a lot about the power of optimism and community solidarity to combat feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. And these are not abstract conversations! On the ground around the world, true food system transformation starts with local success stories like the one I want to...

En el cultivo de papa el tizón tardío (Phytophthora infestans) representa un desafío para los agricultores en Colombia, lo que resalta la necesidad de explorar nuevas estrategias para su manejo. En este contexto, el objetivo de este estudio fue valorar la herramienta de apoyo a decisiones (HAD) en la gestión...

Mitigating enteric methane in the humid tropics, particularly in the Colombian Amazonian foothills, remains challenging due to limited field-based data under real grazing conditions. This study evaluated the performance of a laser methane detector (LMD) as a non-invasive alternative to traditional techniques, providing the first field-based validation of this approach...

This study evaluated the impact of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) versus conventional thermal processing (TT) for the valorization of fruit and vegetable surpluses, using optimized purees of carrot, banana, yacón, beetroot, and gulupa. HC-treated purees consistently preserved bioactive compounds, with vitamin C retention in purple carrot puree reaching 6.8 ± 0.6...

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp., RKN) penetrate the roots of plants, blocking the flow of water and nutrients, preventing plant development, and causing losses of up to 68% in production. Its management is limited by the low availability of genetically resistant materials, the inefficient use of biological controllers, and the high risk...

Cassava is an economically important crop in Colombia, particularly along the Caribbean Coast, where major processing industries are located. Seasonality in cassava production poses a major challenge for both industry and farmers, as current commercial varieties exhibit a pronounced decline in dry matter content (DMC) when harvest is extended beyond...

Gender-responsive agricultural technologies are increasingly recognised as essential for addressing the unique challenges faced by rural populations, particularly women, in the agriculture sector that is being profoundly altered by climate change and the ongoing feminisation of its workforce. Their value lies in the potential to overcome labour constraints, improve access...

Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces in western Nepal face persistent food insecurity, with 21.3% of mountain populations experiencing moderate to severe hunger and Jumla and Bajura districts among the most vulnerable. Subsistence farming faces significant challenges, including fragmented landholdings, male labour outmigration, complex terrain, poor market access, limited infrastructure, and weak...

Pathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. are bacteria associated with foodborne diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the prevalence of these pathogens in foods sold across seven East African Community (EAC) countries and identifies key risk factors for contamination. A comprehensive search for peer-reviewed papers and grey literature was conducted in six...

Cross-country interdependencies have been identified in the FAO’s report "The future of food and agriculture – Drivers and triggers for transformation" as one of eighteen key drivers of agrifood systems. These interdependencies, and particularly commodity dependence and rising debt levels, have also been considered in regional and subregional strategic foresight...

The publication profiles and documents project impact on youth in Lesotho specifically, following the Emergency Support to Smallholder Poultry Farmers project.  

Agriculture is the backbone of Rwanda’s economy, generating more than 30 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), providing over 80 percent of employment (particularly for women), and supplying about 70 percent of export revenues and 90 percent of the national food needs. Despite its importance, the sector remains largely subsistence-based...

This study evaluated the effectiveness of portable, low-cost techniques, specifically colorimetry and visible spectroscopy for discriminating dark, firm, and dry (DFD) beef carcasses during processing in a certified slaughterhouse. Portable, low-cost devices were used for real-time assessments. A total of 523 chilled carcasses were analyzed, of which 449 were classified...

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026 NENA Regional Conference will bring together regional partners, government representatives, technical experts, researchers, and pastoralist organizations to strengthen collaboration and advance sustainable rangeland management across the Near East and North Africa (NENA).