CGIAR Sustainable Farming Science Program (SFSP)

According to SFP reports, women make critical decisions in farm management, crop monitoring, and post-harvest activities, yet their contributions remain largely under-recognized in agricultural policy, innovation, and investment decisions. Evidence from SFP work shows that equal access to land, inputs, finance, and advisory services closes the gender productivity gap, delivering comparable yields and economic outcomes for women. Recognizing women as central actors is key to building inclusive and resilient agricultural systems. When women gain access to land, credit, inputs, and extension services, their yields and economic outcomes match those of men, demonstrating the impact of inclusive interventions. Watch our work: youtube.com/playlist?list=… #WomenGrowSystems #InclusiveAgriculture #SFPImpact

Women play a central role in agricultural production, climate resilience, and household food security across the Global South. Yet many women farmers still face barriers accessing land, finance, advisory services, and modern agricultural technologies. Research shows that when women have the same access to information, inputs, and services as men, their productivity and economic outcomes are comparable. The next couple of weeks we will share research insights and program experiences that highlight how policies, innovations, and partnerships can strengthen women’s access to knowledge, technologies, and opportunities that support resilient farming systems. @SugandhaMunshi #WomenGrowSystems #WomenInAgriculture #SustainableFarming

The Sustainable Farming Program brings CGIAR’s science together at the level where it matters most: the individual farm. We turn research, data, and innovation into practical, farm-ready solutions that support productivity, resilience, and sustainability at scale. Here are some of the countries where we tackles the biggest challenges facing small- and medium-scale farmers — from demographic and environmental pressures to economic and social constraints — while responding to emerging global megatrends. This map shows some of the places where our work is focused between 2026 and 2030. How many of these countries can you recognise? Drop the names in the comments 🌍 #WeAreSFP #SustainableFarming #DigitalAgriculture #FarmInnovation

Banana farming on Ukerewe Island nearly collapsed after Bunchy Top Disease wiped out over 85% of plants. Recovery came through a coordinated, science-led effort with farmers, clean planting material, and local seed systems, working alongside scientist George Mahuku. A clear example of how community-owned science can restore livelihoods. Read here - cgiar.org/news-events/ne…

From farm to field to fork, sustainability is a shared effort. As we look back on the year, the Sustainable Farming Program’s published work focused on practical challenges within farming systems and how research responds to them. Across our articles, we explored soil health and fertility management, the use of digital tools to support on-farm decision-making, and integrated approaches to pests, diseases, and climate stress. We also shared insights from global and regional platforms where researchers discussed how innovations move beyond trials and into real farming contexts, shaped by local conditions and farmer realities. Taken together, this body of work reflects ongoing efforts to connect science with application and to support more resilient food systems through evidence, collaboration, and systems thinking. Thank you to the scientists, funders, researchers, partners, and contributors who shared their work and insights throughout the year. Catch up on our latest articles: cgiar.org/news?f%5B0%5D=…

We often talk about agricultural innovation, but adoption doesn’t happen in a vacuum—social and gender dynamics shape how digital tools are used on the ground. This video explores constraints that men and women rice farmers in Nigeria face when using RiceAdvice Lite, and why understanding these differences matters for impact and inclusion. If we want advisory services and digital solutions that work for all farmers, we need evidence that informs design, delivery, and extension strategies. Watch the video here: youtu.be/K-7zlhZ0vQs #Agriculture #DigitalInnovation #GenderInAg #SmallholderFarmers #ResearchToPractice #InclusiveDesign #RiceAdvice

🌱 @CgiarFarming addresses climate change, soil degradation, pests & more — reducing emissions, restoring land & reaching millions of farmers with sustainable solutions. Learn more: on.cgiar.org/4ohVoEb #WithScienceWeCan

Scaling agricultural innovation works best when research and the private sector move with shared intent. This article explores how IITA is partnering with private sector actors to translate research into market-ready solutions that support farmers, strengthen food safety, and improve decision-making across value chains. Through evidence-based tools, structured licensing, and co-creation models, research outputs are being designed for real-world use and scale. Read the full article on our website: cgiar.org/news-events/ne… #AgriculturalInnovation #ScalingForImpact #PrivateSectorPartnerships #FoodSystems #IITA #CGIAR

Before the United Nations made it official in May, tea-producing countries had already marked their own day, 15 December, to honour the growers, pickers, and smallholder farmers who keep the tea world turning. So today, we raise a cup to the OG celebration of International Tea Day, the one started by the farmers themselves. From Kenya’s highlands to the hills of Sri Lanka and the valleys of Uganda, millions of smallholders wake before dawn to tend the green leaves that connect the world. Their hands shape the taste, quality, and tradition behind every cup. Here’s to the farmers who made tea a global ritual long before hashtags and international days existed.

#WorldSoilDay 2025: Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities – Empowering Smallholder Farmers in the global south Agriculture sustains several hundred million smallholder farmers in Africa and South Asia, who farm small plots yet supply most local food amid poverty, hunger, and climate stresses like droughts and pests. Soil degradation, acidity, erosion, carbon loss, salinity, and nutrient gaps, traps them in low-productivity cycles, demanding sustainable innovations over quick fixes.​ The UN's theme, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities,” emphasizes soil's role in rural food security and urban benefits like carbon storage, water filtration, and cooling green spaces. Healthy rural soils ensure resilient food systems that feed cities while combating urbanization's soil sealing.​ CGIAR's Sustainable Farming Science Program (SFP), integrates soil, plant, and water health, delivering global public goods like digital soil maps and climate-smart practices. It diagnoses constraints, validates fixes such as acidity correction and carbon restoration, and scales via partnerships, aligning with national strategies.​ These efforts boost productivity, empower women farmers facing resource gaps, and enhance market access for nutritious foods, supporting SDG 2 on hunger and smallholder incomes. Tools like the CGIAR Soil Health Explorer provide FAIR data for evidence-based policies and investments.​ On December 5, invest in systemic soil health for thriving farms, vibrant cities, and poverty reduction—agriculture growth lifts millions out of poverty twice as effectively as other sectors.

It all starts with the soil. For smallholder farmers in the Global South, many with plots the size of a football field, soil is the engine powering their entire farms. When it loses vital components like organic matter, nutrients, or biodiversity - or suffers from acidity, salinity, compaction, or diseases - crops struggle, jeopardizing food for families and market sales. Ahead of #WorldSoilDay (December 5), the CGIAR Sustainable Farming Science Program (SFP) shares insights of how soil science, digital tools, and policy alignment empower can millions of resourceful smallholders to boost productivity, adapt to climate challenges, and build resilient communities. #SoilHealth #SFP #SustainableAgriculture

Soybean rust is cutting yields in Western Kenya by as much as 80 percent, yet many farmers still struggle to identify or manage the disease. Kenya produces only about 11,000 metric tons of soybean each year against a national need of 150,000, and rust remains a major barrier to closing this gap. @IITA_CGIAR, together with @FAO , @kalromkulima and the Bungoma County Government, has launched a project to train farmers on detection, management and use of tolerant varieties like BlackHawk and KenSoy. Through 100 Farmer Field Schools and 30 field days, the initiative will reach more than 5,000 farmers with practical, field-level solutions. Read the full article here: cgiar.org/news-events/ne…

We were honored by powerful messages from the @JapanEmb_Uganda @UKinUganda, & development partners led by the #WorldBank and @IITA_CGIAR Country Reps, affirming the global partnerships that shape our journey. Grateful to @DKinUganda & #Kenyan High Commission for joining us!

Next Tuesday, we will host the 16th Gender and Plant Health Webinar, featuring new evidence on how gender dynamics shape the adoption of digital agronomy tools in Nigeria’s rice systems. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regist…

Aflatoxin contamination continues to threaten food safety, public health, and trade across Africa. Our new article breaks down how Integrated Aflatoxin Management brings together biocontrol, better field practices, post-harvest drying, safe storage, and awareness efforts to keep staple grains safe. It includes clear evidence on how Aflasafe works, why contamination often begins before harvest, and what practical steps farmers, processors, and policymakers can take to reduce risk. Read the full article here cgiar.org/news-events/ne…

It’s False. More fertilizer doesn’t always mean more yield. It can actually degrade soil health and waste resources. With AgWise, farmers receive AI-based recommendations that tailor fertilizer use to their exact soil type, crop, and weather pattern, thus improving yields while protecting the environment. #AgWise #SustainableFarming #SoilHealth #DigitalAgriculture

TRUE or FALSE? More fertilizer always means more yield. Vote in the comments below🧠⬇️ #AgWise #SoilScience #SmartFarming

@kfuturefields @IFPRI @icipe Watch the full recording on demand: youtu.be/R4Z5eoqjX7U

@CgiarFarming @IFPRI @icipe Wow, empowering farming through gender roles and pest solutions! Push-pull tech with solid extension services sounds transformative. Can't wait to learn more. Where's the webinar link? 😊

Did you miss our recent webinar? Experts from @IFPRI and @icipe shared insights from a large-scale field study in Kumi District, Uganda, exploring how demonstration plots, gender-based lead farmer nominations, and airtime support influenced the adoption of push-pull technology among maize farmers. The session unpacked strategies for tackling fall armyworm and striga - two major threats to maize productivity - and highlighted lessons for strengthening extension services and farmer engagement. Watch the full recording on demand: youtu.be/R4Z5eoqjX7U

Catch up on what we’ve been working on this month, from soil health breakthroughs to AI innovations and gender-smart farming, in our October newsletter. linkedin.com/pulse/driving-…

True agricultural transformation happens when innovation endures beyond a project’s end. In Ogun State, #Nigeria, one lead farmer’s consistent use of AKILIMO recommendations, which was developed by @IITA_CGIAR and partners, has improved productivity, strengthened local systems, and inspired formal recognition from the Ogun State Government and Prof. Ruth Oniang'o. This story shows how sustained farmer commitment and institutional integration can turn digital tools into long-term development frameworks. Read more about how AKILIMO is transforming lives and strengthening extension systems in Nigeria: cgiar.org/news-events/ne… #SustainableAgriculture #AKILIMO #IITA #DigitalFarming #Nigeria #FoodSecurity