|
 |
 |
|
HORTICULTURE INNOVATION LAB | QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER | Fall 2024 |
|
|
Horticulture Innovation and Scaling |
|
East Africa | Regional Hub based at International Center for Evaluation and Development NC State researcher breeds Indigenous vegetables to combat food insecurity in Kenya |
|
 |
Gladys Wanja Njeri, a graduate student at NC State University from Kenya, is conducting research on African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) to improve food security in East Africa. Growing up in a farming family in Kenya inspired her to study horticulture, and now she's working to breed these traditional vegetables for better nutritional value and climate adaptation as part of a joint project with Kenyan Agriculture Livestock Research Organizations, the University of Nairobi, and USAID. Her research aims to combat malnutrition and create economic opportunities by promoting AIVs, which are nutrient-rich, easy to grow, and can provide income for local communities. Read the full story. |
|
|
West Africa | Regional Hub based at University of Ghana Ghana's women and youth master food preservation: Training transforms Indigenous crop value chain |
|
 |
Through hands-on training in Ghana's Bono East and Ahafo regions, over 120 agricultural entrepreneurs - mostly women and youth - mastered innovative food preservation techniques and business strategies to reduce waste and boost incomes from indigenous crops. Read more. |
|
Nigerian youth embrace digital agriculture: Climate-smart training bridges traditional and modern farming |
|
 |
In a pioneering initiative across Southwest Nigeria, young farmers are bridging tradition with technology as they master digital tools and climate-smart techniques for growing indigenous crops, combining ancestral farming wisdom with modern innovations like crop monitoring apps and climate data analysis to build a more sustainable agricultural future. Read more. |
|
|
Central America | Regional Hub based at Zamorano University Local led innovation in Guatemala's Indigenous communities: Building climate resilience together |
|
 |
Indigenous farmers in Guatemala's highlands are successfully combining traditional agricultural knowledge with innovative floating cover structures to build climate resilience and ensure sustainable food production. Read more. |
|
|
South Asia | Regional Hub based at FORWARD Nepal Traditional wisdom meets modern innovation |
|
 |
An initiative led by FORWARD Nepal is improving food preservation through a solar drying technology that speeds up drying and protects products from dust and insects. The locally-led project is not only helping farmers reduce postharvest losses, but also creating new economic opportunities for women and youth entrepreneurs across three districts, with promising results for crops like radish and bitter gourd. Read more. |
|
|
Trellis Fellowship Fund Program | Implemented by Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) Congratulations to FAMU-Led 2024 inaugural Trellis Fund Fellows! |
|
 |
In a fellowship led by Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, nine exceptional graduate students from five 1890 Land Grant Universities have shown remarkable leadership. From Nepal to Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, and Guatemala, our distinguished fellows – Joshua Asiamah, Jacob Annan, Beatrice Obungu, William Larbi, Josephine Nyame, Peter Owolabi, Tsegenesh Sete, Kiara Ivy, and Erasmus Aduteye – have made significant contributions through their locally-led projects. This pioneering cohort demonstrated the powerful impact of international collaboration, combining academic excellence with practical field experience while strengthening partnerships between U.S. universities and international institutions. Congratulations to each of our fellows on completing this transformative journey! More about the program. |
|
Trellis Fellow champions Indigenous crops for West African food security |
|
 |
Through her fellowship with the Horticulture Innovation Lab, Josephine Nyame advanced research on traditional West African vegetables to enhance regional nutrition and food security. Read more. |
|
Global Dialogue and Research |
|
Global study maps path to quick win, high impact investments in fruit and vegetables |
|
 |
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture leads an international study spanning nine countries, from Nepal to Guatemala, analyzing global investment patterns in fruit and vegetable research and development. The project brings together hundreds of global horticulture experts, and utilizes innovative research methods to quantify R&D investments and identify critical funding gaps in horticultural research. The findings will provide an investment roadmap for research entities, national governments, multilateral funding agencies, and private donors. The research will be presented in a joint report launched in early 2025. |
|
Africa Food System Forum: Horticulture Innovation Lab receives SDG grant to bring together global horticulture research for development actors |
|
 |
The Horticulture Innovation Lab hosted a 'Horticulture and Nutrition Systems Research Portfolio Workshop' at the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum, bringing together experts in horticulture, indigenous crops, hydroponics, agricultural extension, and gender issues. The workshop generated brought together experts from WorldVeg, African Universities, and UC Davis faculty to discuss a research portfolio necessary to drive innovative solutions for improving post-harvest practices, agricultural technology, nutrition related behavior change, and capacity strengthening efforts. Read more. |
|
A colorful revolution: Global food security leaders discuss the why and how to invest in fruits and vegetables for the biggest impact at the Borlaug Dialogue |
|
 |
During the 2024 Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, the Horticulture Innovation Lab and the Food Systems for Nutrition Innovation Lab led a side-session bringing together global food security experts. The discussion focused on the research and development investment landscape and emphasized the urgent need to invest in fruit and vegetable value chains and demand-driven approaches for more equitable global health. Read more. |
|
Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture leads Global Ag Day, "Building Food Systems Resilience" at UC Davis |
|
 |
Inaugural event launches global research dialogue going into the World Food Prize. Dignitaries from USAID, FAO, CGIAR, and Gates Foundation, joined UC Davis researchers engaged in agriculture research for development (AR4D). The day-long discussion advanced dialogue on complicated AR4D topics such as trends in cutting edge agricultural research, aligning food systems for improved nutritional outcomes, designing livestock systems for climate change, financial interventions promote resilience, promoting social equity through AR4D, and scaling for broad collaborative impacts. Read more. |
|
|
|
|
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This newsletter and its contents are the responsibility of the Horticulture Innovation Lab and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. |
|
 |