Farming First

What could farmers grow to meet the world's nutritional needs? @GAINalliance's new Nutritional Value Score ranks foods by micronutrient density, protein quality and bioavailability. Read the full report: bit.ly/48NwlmV

At @ClimEat's recent Just Rural Transition panel, @FANRPAN CEO Dr. Madzivhandila made a case for localised seed systems. With fertiliser supply chains under pressure, regional resilience is becoming a priority. Read the highlights on @Devex by @taniakaras: bit.ly/4tbzmoD

As fertiliser supply chains come under pressure, diversifying nutrient sources is as much a financial decision as an environmental one. Patrick Kpai and Mark Lefsrud on how Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) helps farmers stay resilient: bit.ly/3WBNB88 @mcgillu

Knowing the history of crops might be one of the simplest ways to stay connected to the farmers who grow them. Oscar Castañeda of @Heifer and Eduardo Somarriba from CATIE explain why knowing the story of your meals fosters equitable food systems: bit.ly/4kMQL38

PPR kills up to 70% of infected sheep. For farming families across Africa, a single outbreak can destroy their livelihood overnight. Learn from @GALVmed's Stephen Wilson and Camilla Benfield on what the next wave of vaccinations must get right: bit.ly/47CDW7E

For small-scale farmers, traditional supply chains can be costly and unreliable due to counterfeit inputs, poor bargaining power and information gaps. Sanjeev Reddy sets out 4 ways digital tools are changing this for farmers in India: bit.ly/4qK9gbP 📸: @CGIAR

According to @FAO Chief Economist @MaximoTorero, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are already reshaping planting decisions for farmers from India to East Africa. Read how on @UN News 👇 bit.ly/3QLKCKw

Martha grows crops on Cuba's eastern coastline. When nationwide power outages hit in 2024, she couldn't irrigate. Now, solar panels from the @IFAD-supported Gibara Verde X Ciento project are keeping her farm going — through outages, droughts and all: bit.ly/3G1999h

Irrigation alone won't solve smallholder food security. But good governance, crop choices and circular systems can transform rural economies. 6 lessons from Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe on Farming First: bit.ly/4k5vEZq

10 tonnes of empty pesticide containers were processed in Zambia in 2024. For farmers like Makoza Tembo, who spent decades with no safe disposal option, it's a quiet but significant shift. @CropLifeAME’s Fasil Tadesse explains on Farming First 👇 bit.ly/4uiSbHq

The answer is… fewer than 20! Of 200,000+ plant species fit for human consumption, fewer than 20 provide 90% of what we eat. Isik Ozturk explores on Farming First why that matters for the ecosystems keeping our crops productive. bit.ly/3E4Ujxs

📣 Last call! The Women in Agricultural Leadership Programme applications close on Sunday, 26 April at 23:59 EAT. Open to women researchers from 6 African countries (🇪🇬 🇬🇭 🇲🇦 🇳🇬 🇸🇱 🇸🇳) – don't miss your chance! Apply now 👉 bit.ly/AfricanWomenAg… @awardfellowship @dfat

"Where stronger leadership exists, policies become impactful programmes, finance flows and innovations scale." Say experts @aruhweza, @DebisiAraba & @PascalMurasira on Africa's missing food systems infrastructure. 👇 bit.ly/3QEJB74 @AGRA | @AKADEMIYA2063 | @_AfricanFood

Why does ringfencing budgets for rural communities, building resilient systems and giving smallholders a seat at the table matter as much as any new technology? Find out from Chilufya Chileshe, of @SDG2AdvocacyHub on Farming First: bit.ly/47SX9B2

Nutrition and profitability can coexist — but only with the right incentives. @TechnoServe's Dominic Schofield on how Kenya and Nigeria's Micronutrient Fortification Index is making it happen. Read more on Farming First: bit.ly/41SwnpM

📢 @worldfarmersorg new publication brings together climate-smart livestock and dairy practices from across five continents. Showing what's possible when farmers lead the way with nature-based solutions. Read the report: bit.ly/489dB0W @Nestle 📷 @ILRI

"Youth make up 45% of East Africa's population. Unemployment among them is up to 57%." Agriculture can be the pathway. But only with the right policies. Sithembile Ndema Mwamakamba, Stella Massawe & @Rachie0283 on Farming First @FANRPAN | @AGRA_Africa bit.ly/4ePrSC7

⏰ Less than a week left to apply for the Women in Agriculture Leadership Program Fellowship! Open to women researchers from 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇬🇭 Ghana, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone & 🇸🇳 Senegal. 📅 Applications close 26 April: bit.ly/41o1c5v @AWARDfellowship

🐝 🌱 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: Biodiversity Quiz! Over 200,000 plant species are fit for human consumption — but how many do you think provide 90% of the food we eat?

⏳ 10 days left to nominate the 2027 World Food Prize Laureate! The prestigious $500K award celebrates trailblazers advancing #FoodSecurity. From breakthroughs to scalable solutions, it honours impact across #FoodSystems. Nominate now 👇🏾 bit.ly/2TCvNe3 @WorldFoodPrize