Kansas State University

Dr. Vara Prasad, Director of Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification & University Distinguished Professor, discusses the importance of collaboration to the SIIL and the process of building the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification (SIIL) from the ground up. Dr. Prasad mentions the importance of gaining buy in from private industry in order to enhance sustainability of large system wide research. Collaboration between multiple organizations: NARES, CGIAR, private industry, donors, public and academic institutions, have all come together for one very important goal of addressing the needs of smallholder farmers. Through these collaborations, smallholder farmers have been able to greatly benefit from SIIL research activities, demonstration plots, cite specific management recommendations, and trainings.