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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New lethal coconut disease threatens Papua New Guinea smallholders' livelihoods
In Papua New Guinea, a lethal plant disease called Bogia syndrome is killing coconut palms, other palm species and some banana varieties. With support from Bioversity International and CGIAR, COGENT is mobilizing the fight against this disease and to re-locate the International Coconut Collection.
Pests and Diseases
Follow Comment Give Subscribe Contact Pests and Diseases Home Partnerships Entrepreneurship Technology Climate change People Pests and Diseases Gender Nutrition Resilience Policy Productivity Conservation The use of agricultural biodiversity has been shown to be effective against crop diseases because different varieties offer different resistance levels to outbreaks.
Chinese province honors senior scientist for work to combat banana disease
Dr Agustin B. Molina, Senior Scientist and Regional Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific at Bioversity International, was honored with a Guangdong International Friendship Award from Guangdong Province on 27 November for his work and partnership in helping to combat banana disease, an important crop for this region.
Climate Conversations - Can biodiversity cut the risks of crop losses?
AlertNet inquires about sustainable alternatives to preventing crop loss. The use of agricultural biodiversity to minimize the risk of crop pest and disease has been the focus of a 5-year Bioversity International project in China, Ecuador, Morocco and Uganda.
Report examines the many effects of climate change on agriculture, urges action now
A new report from the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security calls for the need to “recalibrate” food production in the developing world. Bioversity International’s scientific research is helping to identify not only the challenges but also potential solutions.
Diversity protects the bean harvests of poor farmers in Uganda
Poor farmers in Uganda use agricultural biodiversity to protect themselves against pests and diseases, according to a recent paper published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and the Environment (photo: CIAT/N. Palmer).
Article highlights role of crop diversity in reducing pests and diseases
"A risk-minimizing argument for traditional crop varietal diversity use to reduce pest and disease damage in agricultural ecosystems in Uganda", co-written by Bioversity scientists, is now accessible online. Here the authors argue that the loss of a large slice of the world's annual harvest could be prevented by the diversification of smallholders' crop fields.
A coconut embryo culture protocol for the international exchange of germplasm
The coconut palm is integral to the culture of many countries and supports more than 10 million sustainable livelihoods worldwide. Yet genetic erosion, climate-change and disease are placing bio-diverse coconut heritage under threat.
Philippine government to adopt new coconut conservation culture
The Philippine government will use a coconut embryo culture technique, that is directly linked to a research programme carried out by Bioversity International through the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network. The Philippines is the world’s largest exporter of coconut products, with an export market worth around $2 billion.
Stemming the spread of cacao pests and diseases
Updated guidelines for the safe movement of cacao germplasm take into account increased risk of pests and diseases.
A diverse approach to manage agricultural pests and diseases
International scientists are meeting in Rabat to discuss the results of a ground-breaking global project that is offering new insights into how even the poorest farmers can protect their crops against epidemics of pests and diseases, now and in the future.
A diverse approach to manage agricultural pests and diseases
International scientists are meeting in Rabat to discuss a ground-breaking global project that offers new insights into how even the poorest farmers can protect their crops against pests and disease epidemics.
The Global Diversity of Taro: ethnobotany and conservation
Taro Leaf Blight is devastating crops in West Africa. A new Bioversity publication on taro diversity offers potential solutions.
Award for banana research
Collaboration between Honduras and Tanzania to improve banana production has been recognized by the UN’s Global South-South Development Expo
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This work by Bioversity International is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. |



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