Land blog posts | Water, Land and Ecosystems

Blog Post
Blog Post
December 03, 2021
How healthy soils can address the climate crisis
On World Soil Day, we argue that healthy and productive soils should be at the center of solutions targeting food system transformation, climate action and ecosystem restoration.
- Leigh Ann Winowiecki
Blog Post
Blog Post
September 21, 2021
Laying the groundwork for change - from the soil up
The Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health – or Global Soil Hub – has been inspired by the UN Food Systems Summit and brings together countries, research organizations, farmers, the private sector and others to improve soil health.
- Leigh Ann Winowiecki
- Sarah Park
Blog Post
Blog Post
September 21, 2021
Managing soil organic carbon and nitrogen in African grazing land
Scientists say organic carbon and nitrogen not changed following long-term prescribed burning and livestock exclusion in the Sudan savanna woodlands of Burkina Faso and the Ethiopian rangelands.
- Ann Wavinya
Blog Post
Blog Post
October 20, 2020
Five lessons on how to encourage open sharing of standardized data for sustainable agricultural growth
These lessons will help avoid the "one-size-fits" pitfall in achieving a sustainable agricultural transformation agenda at the national level, and at the grass-root level in making meaningful recommendations to farmers for better yields.
- Lulseged Tamene
- Wuletawu Abera
Blog Post
Blog Post
September 24, 2020
Knowledge brokers as a bridge between research and policy
Policy makers must look at the broader implications while researchers by nature zoom in on narrow issues, resulting in a communications malfunction between them. A recent paper on a framework for knowledge brokering aptly addresses this issue.
- Daniel McGonigle
Blog Post
Blog Post
August 28, 2020
How contour bunding and other technologies can reduce soil erosion and raise productivity in African watersheds
The six year project demonstrated immediate results of contour bunding and benefitted more than 2,500 farmers across the two study sites.
Blog Post
Blog Post
June 17, 2020
It's time to take a business model approach to restore Ethiopia's lands
Using smart business models, restoring degraded ecosystems through exclosures -- areas that are excluded from woodcutting, grazing and agricultural activities -- can be turned into a win-win.
- Wolde Mekuria
Blog Post
Blog Post
May 13, 2020
Amidst food system shocks, we must ensure weather index insurance reaches the most vulnerable
The new framework assists insurers and implementers to reach disadvantaged groups, who are often overlooked in weather-based insurance schemes, to help those farmers recover and rebuild.
- Mohamed Aheeyar
- Carolyn Fry
Blog Post
Blog Post
February 14, 2020
With technology and trust, we can move mountains
By reviving the landscape through ancient and new techniques – and trust, scientists help Ethiopia's Yewol community change their future.
- Adam Hunt
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Blog Post
Blog Post
October 28, 2019
How do we scale solar irrigation? Here’s what the experts think
Identifying the right mix of strategies for scaling solar irrigation could help support livelihoods of millions of smallholders, whilst protecting the environment.
- Adam Hunt
- Petra Schmitter
5th Global Science Conference on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)
Blog Post
Blog Post
September 19, 2019
Benefits of interconnectedness: How addressing climate change can foster sustainable land and food security
While climate change action is the need of the hour, it’s also important to pay close attention to the trade-offs in each of those action. The recent IPCC 6th assessment report on Climate Change and Land suggests that some responses may have benefits beyond reducing carbon footprints, and result in zero or limited tradeoffs.
- Ephraim Nkonya
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Blog Post
Blog Post
July 29, 2019
Investing in soil health key to closing the yield gaps
Even without climate change, there is an enormous challenge to meet the growing demand for food with the current status of soil health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Closing this yield gap is possible - with the right technology and best practices - but represents a herculean task.
- Keith Shepherd
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