September 2009

A Special Tribute to Dr. Norman Borlaug

Honoring the Legacy of an Extraordinary Scientist and Leader
Though Borlaug is no longer with us, his achievements continue to inspire redoubled commitment to research for the ongoing fight against hunger.

Thematic Focus: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Copenhagen and Beyond
Once a bit player in climate change negotiations, agriculture now plays a role more in line with its significance in the run up to Copenhagen.

Interview with Bruce Campbell, Director, CGIAR Challenge Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
Bruce Campbell shares his thoughts about CCAFS and his new role as the program director.

Research Highlights

Trees Grow into the Job
As trees in tropical forests grow bigger, they absorb more carbon than previously thought, heightening their role in mitigating climate change.

Credit Where It's Due
Including agriculture in the market for carbon offset credits is key to ensuring Africa a fair deal regarding incentives to mitigate climate change.
Coastal Resilience
By conserving and restoring mangrove forests, Solomon Islanders diversify their livelihoods while addressing climate change.
Whither Wheat
As climate change makes tropical wheat environments less favorable, new varieties and conservation agriculture will help wheat beat the heat.
Shadow of a Drought
A drought-screening facility for transgenic plants promises further gains as drought-tolerant rice varieties begin to emerge.
Capitalizing on Cassava
As the global climate changes and the going gets tough for other staple crops, tough but neglected cassava may finally get going.
Animal Attraction
A report predicts that many African farmers will shift from crops to hardier livestock as temperatures rise and rainfall patterns shift under climate change.
Irrigation Revisited
Asia urgently needs to learn how to use water more wisely to feed the additional 1.5 billion people who will live there by 2050, warns a new report.
Water Works
A project in Africa and South Asia identifies promising agricultural water management solutions to unlock the potential of smallholder farming.
Off the Margin
Women recruited to bioreclaim degraded lands restore farmland previously considered useless and assert their right to own and cultivate it.
Dry Response
Agricultural research in the dry areas of Asia and North Africa considers the many ramifications of climate change in these vulnerable regions.
Women Move In but Not Up
A groundbreaking survey finds more women in agricultural research and higher education in sub-Saharan Africa, but not across the continent or at the highest levels.
Where the Plus Comes From
Cooperation from Brazil pays off for HarvestPlus in poor Brazilian farm communities, across Latin America and around the world.
Yam Breakthrough
Using vine cuttings to propogate yam spares tubers for consumption or sale, limits nematode infestation, and speeds the dissemination of improved varieties.

Media Highlights

An Update on Media Coverage of CGIAR Research
The CGIAR's international media presence reaches new heights in the run up to major events on food security and global climate change.

Rural Climate Exchange: A New CGIAR Blog
A collaborative communications initiative strives to better connect international agricultural and environmental science to the climate change agenda.

Inside the CGIAR

An Update on Implementation of the CGIAR Change Initiative
An Executive Council nod guides finalization ahead of the CGIAR Business Meeting in December and the inaugural Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development in March 2010.