Behind the rhetoric what is really being done to combat desertification?
In The Independent, Nora Berrahmouni, a forestry officer for FAO and Michele Bozzano, forestry researcher at Bioversity International, point out that for the Green Wall project to succeed, "you need to plant the right [tree] species in the right place" and involve and benefit local communities and help change the belief that taking care of the environment is a luxury.
Genes are gems for food security
Risk management in the face of climate change is something we can all learn from smallholder farmers. As climate change stalks global agriculture, researchers should collaborate with smallholder farmers in enhancing the diversification of crops to ensure food security, says Emile Frison, Director General of Bioversity International.
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Browse by Tag: Livelihoods
Bridging Agriculture, Conservation, and Poverty Alleviation for a New Paradigm
This agriculture, development and conservation initiative is bringing together the science community, international governments and local partnership institutions to influence researchers, policy and advocacy spheres to act upon the livelihoods of global agricultural communities.
Crazy for quinoa in Bolivia
Today is the official launch of the UN International Year of Quinoa. Celebrate by watching a video about how a campaign by Bioversity International, IFAD and PROINPA to promote quinoa consumption in Bolivia is not only improving diets but the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Medicinal and aromatic plants improve livelihoods in Yemen
The use of medicinal and aromatic plant species in Yemen goes back thousands of years and is an important part of Yemeni culture. A new impact assessment looks at the effectiveness of work carried out in 2002-2007 to increase farmer income from four of these species: cumin, coriander, henna and nigella.
Medicinal and aromatic plants improve livelihoods in Yemen
A study to show the impact of a set of interventions related to conservation and use of neglected and underutilized species on livelihood's in Yemen based on a pilot study implemented by Bioversity International in Yemen between 2002 and 2005.
How studying peach palm in tropical Latin America can help us understand the potential of diversity.
A new open access research paper looks at peach palm in tropical Latin America and its implications for biodiversity conservation, natural resource management and human nutrition, with contributions from scientists at CIAT, CIRAD and Bioversity International.
2013 message
Never before has the need been greater to feed the world sustainably. To do that effectively, more research is needed to better understand the options available. As a research-for-development organization, Bioversity International works with partners worldwide to use and conserve agricultural and forest biodiversity, which we believe is a crucial resource for improved livelihoods, nutrition, sustainability and productive and resilient ecosystems. Find out more about our plans for 2013.
The Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD2), 29 October – 1 November 2012
The Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD2) has started in Uruguay. GCARD2 will focus on the ways to implement tasks identified in the GCARD RoadMap: 'Foresight, partnerships and capacity development for innovation and impact on smallholder livelihoods'.
Work to mitigate Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) reaps rewards
The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) has given its 2012 Award for Best KARI Implemented Project to a collaborative research effort, led by Bioversity International, to strengthen East-African food and income security. The project, funded by the McKnight Foundation, was given the award at the 13th KARI Biennial Scientific Conference.
Celebrating local foods on a global scale
World Food Day is 16 October. In honour of this day, Bioversity International is highlighting a research project that is under way in four corners of the world to improve food and nutrition. Photo: Traditional Sri Lankan meal. Bioversity/S. Landersz
Açaí: could the wonder fruit also be wonderful for forests?
A joint workshop by Bioversity International and CIFOR at the IUCN World Conservation Congress looked at how demand for açaí's age-defying properties is leading to reforestation in Brazil rainforest, with smallholder forest management tending to be better for biodiversity. Read more on the CIFOR blog.
Past, present and future of species, ecosystems and human livelihoods at IUCN
Cristián Samper, President and CEO, WCS, and Bioversity Board Member gave an opening address at the IUCN Conservation Congress highlighting the need to protect species and ecosystems in the face of a growing human footprint. Tomorrow is Nature+ Food day where Bioversity will participate in several sessions.
The potential of neglected and underutilized species - more than just a piece of quinoa cake
Today's Rio+20 blog post is from Dr. Stefano Padulosi, Bioversity Research theme leader, Marketing Diversity, highlights the potential of neglected and underutilized species for food security,in his personal account about eating quinoa cake in Bolivia. 2013 has been declared as the International Year of Quinoa by the United Nations.
A fork in the road to Rio: Kenya (part two)
Miriam Musyoka, a smallholder farmer, talks about how she has seen an increase in her income from selling local and traditional foods after a campaign to promote their value.
The impact of organic bananas in Alto Beni, Bolivia
Poor farmers in the Alto Beni region of Bolivia continue to enjoy improved livelihoods thanks to a project on organic bananas implemented by Bioversity International. An impact assessment, using an asset-based livelihoods approach, found that 85% of farm families in the region said their incomes had increased since the end of the project.
The impact of organic bananas in Alto Beni, Bolivia
Poor farmers in the Alto Beni region of Bolivia continue to enjoy improved livelihoods thanks to a project on organic bananas implemented by Bioversity International.
Valuing the African Cherry Tree
Development of conservation and sustainable use strategies for Prunus africana to improve the livelihood of small-scale farmers in Africa.
Karnataka Farmers lead Millet Revival in Southern India
The cultivation of declining traditional millet crops in Karnataka’s dryland tracts has been given a boost with the opening of the southern state's first seedbank specialising in millet strains.
Peru moves to mainstream agricultural biodiversity
A recent meeting in Lima, Peru, ended with a joint commitment by the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment to collaborate on the greater use of Peru's agricultural biodiversity to enhance its economic and social development.
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