MELSpace (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning)
Not a member yet
14195 research outputs found
Sort by
Orientations Stratégiques et Priorités Futures de l'Office de l’Elevage et des Pâturages
No full textFirst national workshop to define the strategic orientations and priorities of the Tunisian ‘Office de l'Elevage et des Pâturages (OEP)’: As part of a participatory process launched by the Tunisian ‘Office de l'Elevage et des Pâturages’ in partnership with the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), and supported by the MFL science program, the first national workshop to define the strategic orientations and priorities of OEP was held on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the National Institute for Agricultural Research in Tunis, under the supervision of secretary General of the Ministry, with the participation of ministry officials, research structures, experts, and professionals in the livestock sector. The workshop program addressed the strategic planning methodology and the outcomes of regional workshops, in addition to analyzing the climatic, social, and institutional challenges affecting the multifunctional development of the livestock sector. Few interactive sessions dedicated to identifying priorities and performance indicators were also organized. This workshop represents a fundamental step in building a practical strategic vision based on consultation and field knowledge, with the aim of strengthening the Office's role in serving livestock farmers and supporting food security
7.2.3 Restaurant pop-up events are organized to promote the use of the traditional food and malt products
No full textAs part of the MountainHER project’s outreach and market linkage activities, partners
organized a series of culinary pop-up events to promote innovative cereal-based products
developed by women-led cooperatives. These events successfully showcased agroecological
products, strengthened cross-sector collaboration, and highlighted the role of women’s
entrepreneurship in rural areas
Genetic parameters estimation of fatty acid and related traits in the longissimus Thoracis of Hu sheep
No full textThe influence of fatty acids (FAs) on meat quality and health is widely recognized. However, estimates of genetic parameters for FAs in sheep muscle remain scarce. Here, data from 1230 Hu sheep with integrated pedigree information were used to estimate heritability, genetic correlations, and selection response for FA traits in Longissimus thoracis (LT). A total of 44 individual FAs and 33 FA classes were identified. Among the FAs, 12 (C18:2n6t to C18:3n6), 25 (C18:0iso to C16:0), and 7 (C14:0 to C6:0) had low (0.04–0.15), moderate (0.16–0.29), and high (0.35–0.70) heritability, respectively. Indices of FA metabolism also showed high heritability (0.28–0.44). Estimates of heritability for saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids decreased with increase in FA unsaturation. Positive genetic and Spearman correlations were observed among most FAs, particularly among C10 ∼ C18 FAs. The unsaturation index (UI), health-promoting index (HPI), and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (h/H) had strong and negative genetic correlation with SFA, MUFA, unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), and intramuscular fat (IMF). Selecting for improved HPI, UI, and h/H, resulted in a favorable response in several traits including UFA/SFA, PUFA/SFA, MUFA/SFA, thrombogenic index (TI), atherogenic index (AI), SFA, C12:0, C16:0, and C18:0. These findings can be used to formulate breeding strategies to improve the FA profiles of LT in Hu sheep
Towards Multifunctional Agro-Silvo-Pastoral Living Landscape in the Mediterranean Medjerda Valley – Tunisia
No full textThis presentation provides a concise overview of the Multifunctional Agro‑Silvo‑Pastoral Living Landscape in the Mediterranean Medjerda Valley, Tunisia. It highlights the landscape’s significance as a highly representative case of Mediterranean dryland systems, covering highland–lowland–dryland transitions and their associated ecological and socio‑economic functions. The presentation was delivered during the MFL Technical Coordination meeting in Leuven, Belgium from December 16 to 18, 2025. It outlines the main problems in this Tunisian landscape—such as land degradation, resource competition, and climate‑induced pressures and presents integrated solution pathways. Finally, it identifies key partnerships and expected 2030 outcomes, including more resilient ecosystems, enhanced livelihoods, and a scalable model for Mediterranean landscapes
C4RPW - ODK Training for Baseline Survey - ICBA
No full textC4RPW - ODK Training for Baseline Survey - ICB
Technical specification for multi-crop raised bed planter suitable for intensified small-holder farmers in Egypt
No full textEgypt’s irrigated agriculture is under intense pressure from water scarcity, land fragmentation, and rising input costs. Mechanized raised bed planting has already been demonstrated in Egypt to improve water-use efficiency, nitrogen-use efficiency, and wheat productivity compared with traditional flat planting and flood irrigation (Devkota et al., 2026). Studies from ICARDA and national partners show that raised beds can save ~20% irrigation water, reduce seed rates by ~30%, and increase yields and profitability in wheat and other crops in the Nile Delta and Valley. Yet, widespread adoption is still constrained by the lack of scale-appropriate mechanization for bed formation and planting. Most existing raised bed seed drills manufactured or imported for Egypt are heavy, designed for higher horsepower tractors, and often poorly matched to the small, fragmented holdings that dominate the old lands. Many smallholders operate tractors in the 45–60 hp range or rely on hired services with limited maneuverability in narrow plots, irregular field shapes, and soft soils. Oversized or overweight planters increase fuel use, cause excessive compaction, are difficult to transport between small fields, and are economically unattractive for service providers serving many small clients.
Recent ICARDA in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and private sector partners has led to the development of a lighter raised-bed planter suitable for tractors <45 hp (Transformative Innovation for Dryland Agriculture | ICARDA; a7d14d910077edc955c5ac8bbfd47c78). This design is an important step forward, but it is mostly tailored to wheat and does not yet support multi-crop configurations
D2.1.2b Analyze field performances across research station locations
No full textCereal crops are highly vulnerable to extreme climatic events. The limited genetic diversity of
elite germplasm used in modern breeding constrains the development of high-yielding and
stable cultivars under climate change. Consequently, understanding genotype × environment
interactions (GEI), which are commonly revealed through multi-environment trials (METs),
has become essential. As climate conditions continue to shift, crops must be adapted to sustain
current production levels. Large-scale exploration of GEI therefore represents a critical step
toward the development of high-yielding, resilient, and stable cultivars in a changing climate
Potential impacts of carbon pricing on vegetable cold chains
No full textThe urgent need to address climate change has prompted growing interest in carbon pricing mechanisms as tools for reducing emissions in food systems. This review explores how carbon pricing may affect vegetable cold chains, which rely on energy-intensive, temperature-controlled networks essential for preserving produce quality and limiting food loss. While carbon pricing can serve as an incentive for adopting energy-efficient technologies, renewable energy, and sustainable logistics practices, its implementation can also trigger adverse consequences. These include increased operational costs, potential disruptions to supply chains, food affordability challenges, and public health concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations. Drawing on global evidence, this paper discusses both the enabling conditions for carbon pricing (when applied to vegetable cold chains or relevant stages within them) to deliver environmental benefits and the risks of socio-economic trade-offs, including potential impacts on labour, equity, and food security. Mitigation strategies, such as revenue recycling, targeted subsidies, and hybrid policy designs, are also discussed. Overall, the paper emphasizes the need for carefully designed carbon pricing mechanisms tailored to the structure of vegetable cold chains to ensure a just and effective transition to low-carbon food systems
Small-Scale Mechanization Adoption and Scalability in Egypt: A Consultation Workshop Report
No full textThe agricultural sector is a cornerstone of Egypt's economy, and smallholder farmers make up most of those engaged in agricultural activities. Challenges like labor shortages, escalating production costs, and climate variability have amplified the requirement for innovative solutions to maintain productivity. Implementing small-scale mechanization provides a revolutionary method for addressing these challenges, offering accessible, efficient, and cost-effective technologies specifically designed for the requirements of smallholder farmers. To generate a comprehensive knowledge of small-scale mechanization and its roadmaps for broader adoption and scalability in Egypt, six governorates (Kafr Elsheikh, Gharbia, Beni Suef, Minya, Sohag, and Qena) have been chosen for monitoring the current state of small-scale farm mechanization in Egypt. The main aim of this report is to explore the national context of the status, limitations, constraints, and opportunities for scale-appropriate farm mechanization in Egypt. Furthermore, design a roadmap for scaling up the application of small-scale mechanization among smallholder farms in Egypt
Integrated Bundled Solution for Chickpea in Uzbekistan: Irrigated Karshi–Southern Systems and Rainfed Jizzakh–Foothill Belt
No full textChickpea is the most strategic legume for Uzbekistan because it can (i) follow wheat or cotton in irrigated oases like Karshi, (ii) grow on the large rainfed/lalmikor belt of Jizzakh–Syrdarya–Samarkand (≈62,000 ha already reported), and (iii) supply biological N to rotations. But it is not yet agronomically synchronized with local conditions. In irrigated Karshi/Samarkand, well-managed spring chickpea with 1–
3 timely irrigations and basal P routinely reaches 2.0–2.8 t/ ha; in contrast, in rainfed Jizzakh the recorded farmer yield is only ≈1.2 t/ha against an attainable 1.0–1.6 t/ha, mainly because of: late February–March sowing, sowing into dry/ cloddy soil, no/low P and K, Ascochyta blight, pod borer (Helicoverpa), cutworm (Agrotis), aphids (Acyrthosiphon), and failure to do operations on time (as the sheet clearly says). Science from ICARDA and regional stations is very consistent on three points: (1) chickpea must be sown early
into moisture, (2) P (and a little starter N) must be placed at sowing to drive nodulation and podding, and (3) one welltimed irrigation at flowering/pod set (where water is available) is worth more than three late irrigations