Restoring / enhancing soil health is key for sustainable intensification and regenerative agriculture in the Global South, while reducing vulnerability of
smallholder farmers to climate change.
A flexible framework is proposed that can be used to target, monitor and adapt soil health interventions with relevant stakeholders
Development of biological soil health indicators and assessment methods require more research – given the key role of soil biology for soil health/functions

Since the launch of CGIAR’s 2030 Research and Innovation Strategy (CGIAR Strategy) in 2021, the trajectory, frequency, and pace of known trends and cycles have changed, and the world has experienced an increasing array and severity of global shocks. As CGIAR prepares its 2025–2027 research and innovation portfolio, this is an appropriate time to examine the effects of these changes. Accordingly, the Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) commissioned a 2023 project to answer the following questions:

Like many other regions across the globe, South Asia is grappling with the challenges posed by climate change. World Bank estimates that 750 million people in South Asia have been affected by at least one climate-related disaster. The hazards and extreme weather events range from cyclones, monsoon rainfall variability, floods, heat waves, increased average temperatures and salinity in coastal areas, jeopardizing food security and people’s livelihoods.

Megathyrsus maximus is a species widely used as forage in livestock systems due to its high yield, good nutritional quality, and easy propagation. Knowing the response of the genetic diversity of the species to growth under shade is important to determine its potential use in silvopastoral systems, which are a sustainable alternative to mitigate the negative impacts of forage production in monoculture systems on soil health, animal welfare and the environment. To evaluate the response of M.

The global food system is responsible for 23 – 42% of total net anthropogenic emissions. This share is expected to increase in the future, driven by population and economic growth and changes in lifestyle, as other economic sectors are progressively decarbonized. Without rapid and radical transformations in food systems, the Paris Agreement targets will remain out of reach.

Climate change presents significant challenges to countries worldwide, and Ethiopia is not exceptional (Simane et al., 2016). The nation confronts a wide array of climate risks that pose substantial obstacles to its sustainable development and the well-being of its people. Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable to climaterelated hazards due to its predominantly agricultural economy and large population reliant on rain-fed farming.

ncreasing climate and conflict-related displacement in fragile or conflict-affected states threatens human security and sustainable development around the world. As forced displacement increases and becomes more protracted in length, destination areas—where displaced and host communities often have low adaptive capacity and live side by side, sharing resources related to land, food, and water systems—are particularly exposed to human security risks.

Mali, situated in the Sahelian region of West Africa, faces vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, and these effects are already evident across various sectors. Noteworthy consequences of climate change in Mali encompass heightened temperatures, increased frequency of droughts, water scarcity, and the progression of desertification. Indirect impacts include health impacts, such as the spread of vector-borne diseases, and resource conflicts, exacerbating existing tensions arising from diminishing resources.