Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a valuable food security crop in West Africa, where 92% of the world production occurs. The availability of quality seed tubers for increased productivity is a major challenge. In this study, minitubers weighing 1, 3, and 5 g produced from virus-free single-node vine cuttings of two improved yam varieties (Asiedu and Kpamyo) growing in an aeroponics system were assessed for suitability in seed production at a population of 100,000 plants ha−1.

In Tanzania, diets are dominated by starchy staple crops such as maize, levels of malnutrition are high and largely attributed to lack of dietary diversity. We employed fuzzy cognitive mapping to understand the current soybean, maize and chicken value chains, to highlight stakeholder relationships and to identify entry points for value chain integration to support nutritious diets in Tanzania.

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an important approach towards minimizing impacts due to climate risks and maintaining agricultural growth. This report aims to contribute towards building a national strategy for scaling out climate resilient agricultural
practices and technologies by synthesizing cumulative knowledge, experiences, and learnings gained by ICAR, CCAFS, and CG Centre’s Programs in climate risk management. The report presents district level adaptation plan for resilient farming in

Studies in the agricultural research for development literature that explore women’s involvement
in decision-making within the household tend to focus their analysis on married or cohabiting
couples and often consult only one spouse in a marital dyad during field interviews. These and
other studies in the literature explore who makes a particular decision within the household, and
more recently, inquire about the extent to which the respondent or another household member

Bioversity International’s financial mandate includes maintaining accountability and transparency in its finances, and to evaluate and communicate direct impact from our work to our donors, partners and the wider research and development community.

Background: Conservation of plant genetic resources, including the wild relatives of crops, plays an important and well recognised role in addressing some of the key challenges faced by humanity and the planet including ending hunger and biodiversity loss. However, the genetic diversity and representativeness of ex situ collections, especially that contained in seed collections, is often unknown. This limits meaningful assessments against conservation targets, impairs targeting of future collecting and limits their use.

Potato plays an important role in Kenya’s food and nutrition security plan - part of the Big Four
Economic Development Strategy. The crop is cultivated by approximately 800,000 smallholder farmers
and a few medium and large-scale farmers. The sector employs another 2.5 million people -
transporters, distributors, processors, vendors, retailers, and exporters - who derive their livelihoods
along the value chain. Production has fluctuated over the last decade, despite a steady increase in area

Highly digestible forages are associated with an in vitro low-methane (CH4) rumen fermentation profile and thus the possibility of reducing CH4 emissions from forage-based systems. We aimed to assess the in vitro ruminal fermentation profile, including CH4 production, of the top stratum of Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus - Hochst. ex Chiov) harvested at different sward heights (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 cm). Herbage samples (incubating substrate) were analyzed for their chemical composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and morphological components.

In-depth forest coffee cup quality assessments have not been conducted yet on Kafa Biosphere Reserve coffees. Hence, the influence of location, elevation gradient, and processing methods on coffee bean physical and sensorial qualities, and the relationship between soil and coffee quality variables were studied in 2017. Districts (Gimbo, Gawata, and Decha), elevation gradient ranges (low-<1600, mid-1600-1800, and high->1800 m a.s.l), and processing methods (wet, semi-wet, and dry) were taken as factors.

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) has rapidly spread in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and has emerged as a major pest of maize and sorghum in the continent. For effective monitoring and a better understanding of the bioecology and management of this pest, a Community-based Fall Armyworm Monitoring, Forecasting, Early Warning and Management (CBFAMFEW) initiative was implemented in six eastern African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi).

The rich agrobiodiversity of China is under unprecedented threat, experiencing a dramatic loss of many valuable local varieties and wild relatives of main crops. The country's formal conservation system of ex situ genebanks faces serious challenges to address this loss. Community seed banks can play a key role to complement the conservation activities of these genebanks and provide other important collective goods, such as evolutionary services, but although they have been around for some 35 years in various parts of the world, in China they have a much shorter history.