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Multi-stakeholder platforms for enabling agroecological transitions: configurations and lessons from seven agroecological living landscapes
No full textAgroecological transition (AET) of agrifood systems is a multidimensional process involving diverse stakeholders. Participatory innovation and co-creation of knowledge are also at the heart of agroecology. Deliberately designed multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) are collaborative spaces conducive to driving this type of collaboration and change. However, how these processes are operationalized is poorly documented. This study contributes to filling this gap by highlighting how MSPs can be important vehicles for enabling AETs. As part of the CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology, Agroecological Living Landscapes (ALLs) were set up as MSPs specifically focusing on co-creation of agroecological innovations. By examining different ALL configurations in seven countries, we analyze MSP attributes that can enable and shape AETs at different stages or “levels” of the transition pathway. We find that MSPs can advance different levels of the transition pathway simultaneously by working on multiple innovations involving various stakeholder coalitions. MSPs navigate complex environments, with diverse stakeholders playing multiple policy and non-policy roles to support AETs. The results also illustrate the intersection between MSP configuration and AET objectives, such as policy change, agroecology market support, and scaling adoption. Finally, we discuss the non-linear nature of AET pathways and political economy considerations for stakeholder engagement in MSPs
Metagenomic insight into drought-induced changes in the Egyptian wheat rhizosphere microbiome
No full textWheat is one of the most important cereal crops and an important source of food for billions of people worldwide. However, drought stress can pose a real threat to its productivity and lead to significant yield losses, especially in Egypt. The rhizospheric microbiome of wheat can play an important role in drought stress and help wheat to respond to this abiotic stress. Understanding this microbiome is therefore also important to improve drought stress resilience and productivity. In this study, a metagenomic analysis was performed to investigate how the composition and diversity of microbial communities associated with the wheat rhizosphere change under drought. Taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses revealed a shift in microbial abundance, with Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia being the four most abundant phyla of the ethnic microbiota. Remarkably, other classes, including Alphaproteobacteria and Cytophagia, were significantly enriched under drought, which could be a promising enhancement of plant stress altruism. Differential abundance analysis showed that the control samples had higher abundance of microbial taxa such as OD1, WS2, Chlorobi, ABY1 and SHA-109 compared to the drought-treated genotypes. Functional prediction analysis using PICRUSt showed that an uncharacterized ATP-binding protein within the AAA + superfamily is overrepresented under drought conditions. This suggests that these genes may play a role in stress adaptation, possibly via energy-dependent regulation of cellular processes involved in plant survival. Our results expand our understanding of the complexity of responses of the wheat rhizosphere microbiome to drought and have practical implications for the development of microbial target combinations to improve wheat tolerance and productivity in the context of climate change challenges
Wheat Self-Sufficiency Requires Sustainably Closing the Yield Gap in CWANA
No full textFound in flatbreads, loaves, bulgur, freekeh, and couscous, wheat is a regional staple woven into the culture, nutrition, and economic stability of millions across Central and West Asia, and North Africa (CWANA). Yet, the combination of growing populations, climate change, and water scarcity has left many countries importing over 40% of their wheat supply, with some as much as 100%.
Our research at ICARDA, under the Scaling for Impact (S4I) and Sustainable Farming Program (SFP), focuses on bridging the widening yield gap, the difference between what farmers currently produce and what is attainable under optimal rainfed or irrigated conditions using good agronomic practices (GAP). These practices, such as timely planting, recommended seed and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) fertilizer rates, resilient crop varieties, and conservation agriculture, offer a science-backed route to food self-sufficiency and resilience in the region.
Development of Multiple Rust-Resistant Durum Wheat Genotypes and Identification of Resistance Sources Using Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS)
No full textWheat is the most strategic crop that provides about 20% of the daily dietary protein intake in the world. The productivity and production of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) is affected by stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici: Pgt), leafrust (Puccinia triticina: Pt) and yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f.sp. Tritici: Pst) in different countries (Silva et al. 2023). Virulent races of (Pgt), such as TTRTF, and races of (Pst), such as PstS7 and PstS14, have been recently identified in Morocco (El Hanafi, S. et al. 2018). Across North Africa and the Middle Eastern regions where durum wheat is a major staple crop, rust diseases pose a serious threat to wheat production, often leading to severe yield losses under favorable disease development conditions. The most prevalent diseases in farmers' fields were leaf rust (LR) and stripe rust (SR), highlighting the need to develop elite germplasm with multiple disease resistance. Efforts have been made to develop multiple resistance to three rust diseases in ICARDA durum wheat breeding pipelines. The objective of this work is to identify new sources of resistance to three rust diseases of durum whea
Policy Brief on Integration of Formal and informal Resilient Seed System Development in Western Kenya
No full textCommunity Seed Banks (CSBs) represent a strategic interface between farmer-managed and formal seed systems, with proven potential to conserve agrobiodiversity, enhance climate resilience, and improve equitable access to quality seed for smallholder farmers across heterogeneous landscapes. In Western Kenya, where CGIAR sister centers, national institutions, farming communities, and development partners collaborate under the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) Science Program to advance food production, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood outcomes, CSBs offer a locally grounded and cost-effective mechanism for addressing persistent weaknesses in the seed system. These weaknesses stem largely from a policy and regulatory environment that prioritizes the formal seed sector. This bias limits the recognition, institutional support, and scaling of farmer-managed seed systems, and generates tensions with constitutional provisions that protect indigenous seed systems and associated knowledge.
The brief identifies key binding constraints (BCs) alongside emerging opportunities and proposes actionable recommendations to embed CSBs within national and county-level strategies, in accordance with the indigenous seed protection provisions of the Kenyan Constitution. Realizing the full potential of CSBs will require deliberate policy coherence, targeted investment in local capacity, and strengthened science–policy–practice interfaces to deliver sustained, landscape-level impact.
Western Kenya is a smallholder-dominated farming region characterized by highly diverse agroecosystems spanning mountains, deep valleys, and plains. The presence of both long and short rainy seasons enables year-round cropping. These landscapes are inherently multifunctional, delivering food, ecosystem services, cultural values, and rural employment. However, they are increasingly exposed to climate shocks, soil degradation, and declining crop diversity. In this context, Community Seed Banks (CSBs) in Western Kenya play critical roles, including:
- In situ conservation of locally adapted agrobiodiversity and genetic resources.
- Improving affordable farmer access to diverse, climate-resilient plant propagation materials.
- Supporting agroecological transitions and enhanced dietary diversity
Delineation of CA suitability maps to Identify priority soils to be targeted in, Central Morocco : Rabat-Sale-Kenitra
No full textThis study focuses on the delineation of Recommendation Domains (RDs) to support the scaling of no-till (NT) systems within cereal-based cropping areas of the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra (RSK) region in Morocco. The region represents diverse rainfed and irrigated systems with significant potential for sustainable intensification. The delineation process integrates three biophysical parameters essential to NT adoption: soil suitability, land use (extent of cereal cropping areas), and slope gradient. Using spatial analysis of soil data, Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, and slope models derived from ASTER DEM, a multi-criteria classification identified areas suitable for NT.
In the Zaer-Zemmour Innovation Platform (IP), cereal-based systems cover 317,000 ha, while in the Gharb IP, they cover 186,060 ha. Soil analysis revealed that approximately 80% of soils in Gharb and 67% in Zaer-Zemmour are either highly or moderately suitable for NT, dominated by chernozems, luvisols, vertisols, and kastanozems. Constraints to NT were mainly associated with shallow or poorly drained soils, such as gleysols and lithosols.
The results identified 193,000 ha in Zaer-Zemmour and 141,000 ha in Gharb as favorable recommendation domains for NT seeding. These outputs support Morocco’s national roadmap to expand NT to one million hectares by 2030, contributing to sustainable intensification, soil conservation, and climate-resilient agriculture in dryland systems
Stakeholder WEFE Efficiency Evaluation Tool (SWEET)
No full textThis document presents screenshots of web-app tool called Stakeholder WEFE Efficiency Evaluation Tool (SWEET). This is a flexible Multi-Criteria Analysis tool that allows the user to creates its own MCA structure. Additionally, financial-economics are included as well, for more realistic scenario comparisons. The tool shows different results such as stakeholder to stakeholder comparisons of weights, which could reveal conflicting interesting and priorities. The main result is a trade-off graph where the user of SWEET can select the reference baseline and different alternatives as well as changing axes. This identifies alternatives (i.e., decision) that could lead to win-win, or lose-lose, or trade-offs. The Tool interface also generates interpretation of these different points on the trade-off graphs. SWEET is well suited for support decision-making by structuring it in MCA. Its easy to use interface and flexibility make it well suited for stakeholder engagement and social learning
Plot-level Fertilizer Recommendation Tool for Major Dryland Crops
No full textThis report presents the evidence based and scalable, plot-specific ‘Fertilizer Advisory’ Tool for major Dryland crops that enhances crop yield and farm profitability while minimizing nutrient losses and environmental impacts. ICARDA developed and validated Excel-based Fertilizer Advisor Tool, which integrates—soil properties, climate/weather data, and farmers provided management practices—to establish a realistic yield target, estimate indigenous nutrient supply, and generate nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) recommendations aligned with 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles (right source, rate, time, and place). The tool has been validated against survey dataset of 2,042 wheat fields in Egypt demonstrates tool’s superior performance compared to farmers’ practices. Tool-generated rates show strong alignment with observed yields (R² = 0.89 for N; 0.69 for P₂O₅; and 0.39 for K₂O), while farmers’ rates exhibit near-zero correlation (R² = 0.009, 0.008, and 0.02, respectively). For wheat in Egypt, on average, the tool recommends 176 kg N/ha versus average farmers’ 246 kg N/ha, indicating potential to reduce N overuse by approximately 28% without yield penalty, alongside more targeted P and K applications that address both overuse and underuse. Expected outcomes include improved nutrient-use efficiency, reduced input costs, more stable yield under variable conditions, and scalable decision support tool for broader deployment. This tool directly supports enhanced productivity, resource efficiency, climate resilience, and reduced environmental footprints in intensified cropping systems
Cropping Systems Design under Different Climate Change Scenarios in Non-Tropical Drylands: A Case Study from Morocco
No full textDryland agriculture in many countries faces increasing exposure to extreme temperatures, more frequent droughts, and greater rainfall variability, which reduces yield and increases production risk. This report synthesizes evidence on climate impacts and adaptation options in non-tropical drylands and derives climate-resilient cropping system designs considering Morocco as a case study. The cropping system design conceptual framework includes: i) a digital twin that combines harmonized inputs (climate, soils, management, and socio-economic constraints), ii) standardized indicators, iii) process-based crop simulation (APSIM) with climate ensembles, and iv) a decision-support layer that selects optimal cropping system designs, considering multi-criteria performance and robustness. Across crops, projections under the high-emissions pathway (RCP8.5) using APSIM Classic indicate larger yield losses in rainfed systems than irrigated; irrigation mitigates but does not eliminate climate-driven yield penalties. The Morocco case study (Settat-semi favorable rainfed) evaluated factorial combinations of (i) diversified rotations, (ii) conventional versus conservation tillage, and (iii) rainfed versus supplementary irrigation, including future climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5) for Settat. Simulation results show that diversified rotations outperform cereal (wheat and barley)-dominated sequences by increasing biomass production, improving soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, and raising median wheat yields. conservation-tillage enhances soil water conservation and yield stability, with largest benefits in dry seasons. Supplementary irrigation reduced interannual yield variability, especially in the more climate-variable Settat environment, and interacts positively with soil improvements that reduce irrigation needs. Highest resilience arises by combining diversified rotations, no-tillage with residue retention, and targeted supplementary irrigation at critical growth stages—an evidence-based bundle for climate-resilient system design in Moroccan drylands
D4.3.1- b Cooperatives express their preferences for practices and cultivars
No full textWithin the MountainHer project and under the work package four, the transition to agro ecological practices and adoption of new cultivars were assessed related to two surveys: S2
on farmers preferences for variety (Annex 1- Preferences for varieties) targeting the traits
related to yield, quality, precocity, tolerance to drought, heat, diseases and pests in the
highlight of climate change and S3 (Annex -2-Preference for practices) targeting all production
chain from seed bed preparation, sowing, seeds availability, type of fertilization, harvesting
and yield, with farmer cooperative members and farmers based on gender disaggregation
approach. Only Preferences for varieties will be presented here. The S3 survey with regards
to practices is ongoing and will be analysed at a later stage. The S2 with regards to trait
preferences study was carried out in six countries and a summary of the number of
respondents is shown in Figure 1. Farmers were asked as individuals or in groups to select
their preferred varieties and narrate the underlying reasons for that