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Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification

Author: Zach Stewart

Strengthening Synergies Between Sustainable Intensification, Postharvest Loss and Mechanization

Posted on by Zach Stewart

Dr. HansenDr. Prasanta Kalita, director of the ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss (ADMI), and Dr. Alan Hansen, director of the Appropriate Scale Mechanization Consortium (ASMC), highlighted how mechanization and postharvest technologies are critical components for the sustainable intensification of agricultural production during their welcoming address for the Mechanization and Postharvest Opportunities for Smallholders in Sustainable Agriculture Symposium, held July 22 at the University of Illinois. This symposium brought together researchers from around the world working on mechanization and postharvest loss-reducing technologies to strengthen synergistic partnerships between ADMI housed at the University of Illinois and two Feed the Future Innovation labs; the Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification and the Reduction of Post-Harvest Loss (PHL) Lab housed at Kansas State University.

At the symposium, the ASMC led discussions on appropriate scale mechanization in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. The ADMI highlighted their work in Bangladesh and India including a new initiative in the Bihar region of India. This project focuses on implementing postharvest loss-reducing technologies that match Bihar’s specific challenges related to drying, cleaning, storage, transportation and milling of crops.

This project focus is very similar to the activities being pursued by the ASMC, and thus there is opportunity to share resources and lessons learned. Given that both programs are housed at the University of Illinois and hold similar goals, the ADMI and ASMC are able to collaborate on research that focuses on reducing PHL. In a joint effort, the entities have been developing small-scale dryers to reduce the amount of postharvest loss in countries that rely on high-yielding agricultural practices like Bihar. Symposium attendees had the opportunity to examine one of these dryers first-hand and engage with ADMI and ASMC researchers that developed it. Strengthening the synergies between sustainable intensification, postharvest loss and mechanization, the two groups will continue to engage in projects that aim to ultimately reduce global hunger and poverty.

 

Mentoring the Future Generation: Looking Beyond the Bubble

Posted on by Zach Stewart
Former IRRI scientist Liz Humphreys guides Nibir Saha for his PhD thesis.
Former IRRI scientist Liz Humphreys guides Nibir Saha for his PhD thesis.

Agricultural students involved in research activities are constantly testing and fine tuning new technologies. The improvements they have observed are shared with the public through research papers, posters, feature articles or news items. Although they contribute to the advancement of knowledge, only a few of these can be applied to solving problems in the real world because their research objectives are defined by boundaries similar to a bubble. Improving farming productivity, however, is a far more complex undertaking and involves multiple interacting factors that almost always do not provide the right platform to integrate research conducted within artificial boundaries.

Adaptive research is a concept that looks beyond the bubble. It allows opportunities for researchers with multiple disciplines to converge and address a complex challenge in situ to increase the probability of improving the situation on the ground. Continue reading “Mentoring the Future Generation: Looking Beyond the Bubble” →

K-State Faculty Participate in White House Summit on Global Development

Posted on by Zach Stewart
From left: Jesse Poland, Vara Prasad and Jagger Harvey recently attended the White House Summit on Global Development
From left: Jesse Poland, Vara Prasad and Jagger Harvey recently attended the White House Summit on Global Development

Three Kansas State University faculty members recently were invited by President Barack Obama to participate in the White House Summit on Global Development.

The trio — Jesse Poland, Vara Prasad and Jagger Harvey — attended the July 20 event because they lead programs at the university that provide solutions to world hunger and nutrition.

The summit highlighted the government’s progress in global development initiatives, which include such programs as Feed the Future, Power Africa and Open Government Partnership.

Those programs have taken aim at reducing poverty, malnutrition and infant and maternal mortality, while encouraging entrepreneurship and economic growth; increasing the number of young women in school; and building more stable and inclusive societies. In 2015, Feed the Future alone helped 9 million small-scale farmers and provided nutritious food to millions of children. Continue reading “K-State Faculty Participate in White House Summit on Global Development” →

Empowering Women Farmers in the Polder Communities of Bangladesh

Posted on by Zach Stewart

Women coCapture1nstitute half of Bangladesh’s 160 million human resources. About two-thirds (53 million) of them live in rural areas and eke out livelihoods from agriculture. More than half of the country’s agricultural labor force are women. They are involved in all agricultural activities, although the most common activities are postharvest operations, homestead production and livestock and poultry raising.

With growing rural outmigration, women’s role in agriculture is increasing. They contribute significantly to rural economy, and their empowerment is crucial to minimizing poverty and hunger.

Compared to men, women farmers face many obstacles. Empowering women farmers requires an understanding of their constraints and implementing targeted interventions for addressing these restrictions. These include land ownership and rights, access to improved varieties and technologies, extension and credit services, inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, farm machines and mechanization services, and knowledge and information. They also have limited decision-making power and participation in economic opportunities. These obstacles not only limit their productivity but also prevent women from achieving their full potential. As a result, women suffer more from poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. Continue reading “Empowering Women Farmers in the Polder Communities of Bangladesh” →