Agriculture and Food Security

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Research with purpose

We support innovative agriculture and food security research that aims to:

increase and diversify agricultural production
help small-scale farmers and the poor benefit from value chains
help farmers manage their resources more sustainably
inform rural development strategies and policies

Current and past research projects are listed here, and can be searched by region or theme.

Sustainable Production of Underutilized Vegetables to Enhance Rural Food Security (CIFSRF)

Indigenous vegetables are extremely important to poor rural women but have received little attention from the research, development and policy community. There is need for improved farming practices a

Integrated Dairy Goat and Root Crop Production in Tanzania (CIFSRF)

Approximately 80% of Tanzania's population lives in rural areas and depends on crop and livestock production for a livelihood. It is estimated that over 90% of these rural households keep livestock. G

Increasing Food Security through the Practice of Agroforestry-Crop-Livestock Systems (CIFSRF)

In the semiarid countries of West Africa, livestock plays an important role in the subsistence of rural households. In particular, raising small ruminants can increase women's incomes. However, lack o

Integrated Nutrient and Water Management for Sustainable Food Production in the Sahel (CIFSRF)

In the Sahel, agricultural production is strictly limited by drought and low soil fertility. In 2005 and 2010, these two factors led to food scarcity in Niger. However, innovative technologies such as

Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Bolivian Amazon (CIFSRF)

Indigenous communities involved in fisheries and aquaculture are among the most food insecure in the Bolivian Amazon. Although fish could be the main source of protein, it is often not part of the loc

Improving the Nutrition and Health of CARICOM Populations (CIFSRF)

In the Caribbean, malnutrition is increasingly taking the form of over-nutrition and the prevalence of obesity is on the rise. Caribbean countries have a long history of reliance on exports of plantat

Intensification of Smallholder Agriculture in the Andes (CIFSRF)

Poverty in rural areas of Peru is almost three times higher than in urban areas, and in certain regions of the Andes, it affects up to 80% of the population. Organic agriculture provides an opportunit

Fourth McGill Conference on Global Food Security

The Fourth McGill Conference on Global Food Security will be held in Montreal, 4-6 October 2011. This year's theme, Risks and Threats to Food Security, will address climate change, competition for lan

Food Security, Land and Territorial Dynamics in Bolivia

Bolivia has been facing chronic food insecurity for many years, mainly due to two factors. The first is the replacement of local food rich in vitamins, proteins and fibre by wheat products (bread and

Support to the CGIAR Program on Aquaculture

More than 700 million people depend on aquatic agricultural systems (AAS) for their livelihood. These are diverse farming systems that include a mix of cultivation, livestock-raising, aquaculture, fis