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Navigating COP16’s digital sequence information outcomes: What researchers need to do in practice
(Journal Article, 2025-03-14) Muñoz-García, M.; Bansal, K.C.; Bao, Y.; Brinkley, S.C.; Buzan, E.; Castle, D.; Cepeda-Hernández, M.L.; Correard, S.; Crawford, A.J.; Silva, J.M. da; Silva, M. da; Ekpe, S.; El Fahime, E.; Engelhardt, A.; Faggionato, D.; Haas, A.S.; Hautea, D.M.; Hossaert-McKey, M.; Mazzoni, C.J.; Jaspars, M.; Katee, Sally; Kress, J.; Kwarteng, A.; Lijtmaer, D.A.; Lee, S.; Noriega, I.L.; Lyal, C.; Maharaj, G.; McCartney, A.M.; Miano, D.; Mulema, J.; Oliveira, G.; Omesa, F.O.; Orozco, P.; Overmann, J.; Poetsch, A.; Prat, C.; Raposo, D.S.; Restrepo, S.; Rhoden, F.; Rouard, M.; Serepa-Dlamini, M.H.; Aguilera, M.A.S.; Suzuki, M.; Tiambo, Christian K.; Wiemers, M.; Wong, L.; Yu, E.; Zambrano, M.M.; Zhou, J.; Scholz, A.H.
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity adopted new rules for sharing benefits from publicly available genetic sequence data, also known as digital sequence information (DSI). In this Opinion, the authors describe the key elements researchers need to be aware of, address real-life questions, and explain the practical implications of these rules for research and development.
Pedigree and performance records and maintaining herd books in dairy cattle farming
(Presentation, 2025-05-29) Gebreyohanes, Gebregziabher; Ekine-Dzivenu, Chinyere C.; Ojango, Julie M.K.; Mrode, Raphael A.
Integrating environmental, socio-economic, and biological data in a farmer-led potato trial for enhanced varietal assessment in Rwanda
(Journal Article, 2025-07-07) Kang, Geon; De Sousa, Kaue; Manners, Rhys; Van Etten, Jacob; Backes, Gunter; Rukundo, Placide; Nduwumuremyi, Athanase; Ellison, James; Tuyishime, Elyse; Mendes, Thiago; Griebel, Stefanie
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is crucial for food security in Rwanda, but its production growth has slowed. Improved potato varieties are urgently needed for Rwanda potato farmers. Crop breeding can effectively support smallholder farmers when it aligns with their environmental conditions and preferences. Additionally, integrating citizen science into variety development can enhance variety adoption and suitability for smallholder farmers. We assessed the insights from a crop trial following a triadic comparison of technology options (tricot) approach, linking the results with environmental, socio-economic, and on-station trial data. Under a tricot trial, 460 farmers tested eleven potato varieties, randomly allocated in incomplete blocks of three, allowing each farmer to test and compare three varieties. Biological data, reflecting breeding and variety genotypic values, were generated from multi-environmental tests conducted during 2018–2019 to evaluate the adaptability of new varieties. This research revealed that Rwandan farmers preferred the pre-1990 varieties (Cruza and Kirundo), while Gisubizo and Kazeneza, post-2018 varieties, were also considered competitive. Farmers’ preferences were influenced by diverse environmental and socio-economic conditions, with taste being crucial for home consumption and yield prioritized for market sales. Additionally, seasonal temperatures influenced the yield performance ranking of potato varieties across regions, while economic considerations and gender dynamics shaped different patterns of variety preferences. Despite challenges in aligning on-station and on-farm data, our integrated approach provides actionable insights for breeding programmes to develop potato varieties that better align with farmers’ needs, as well as environmental and socio-economic conditions. This innovative method can enhance breeding efficiency, variety adoption, and potato productivity, contributing to food security and agricultural sustainability.
Farmers’ perception and management of water scarcity in irrigated rice-based systems in dry climatic zones of West Africa
(Journal Article, 2023-03-31) Johnson, Jean-Martial; Becker, Mathias; Dossou-Yovo, Elliott Ronald; Saito, Kazuki
Water scarcity threatens irrigated agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Knowledge of farmers’ perceptions and drivers for decision-making in view of coping with water scarcity is so far lacking but needed to improve local technologies and frame policies fostering their adoption. Here, for the first time, we investigated farmers’ perception of water scarcity, key adaptation strategies, and the determinants of their adoption in irrigated rice schemes in dry climatic zones of West Africa. We surveyed 572 farming households and conducted expert interviews with key informants in four contrasting irrigated rice schemes in Burkina Faso between April 2018 and August 2019. Information was gathered on biophysical field characteristics, grain yields, agronomic and water management practices, farmers’ perception of water scarcity, their adaptive responses, and social-economic attributes of adopting households. Nearly 80% of the respondents reported having experienced water scarcity during the past 5 years. To cope with the adverse effect of water scarcity, farmers implemented seventeen different adaptation strategies that could be categorized into seven groups. Most popular among those were “water and soil conservation practices” (consisting mainly of field bunding and leveling), “no rice cultivation,” and “crop rotation.” Farmers in drier areas (Sudano-Sahelian zone) were less likely to adopt and implement several adaptation strategies to water scarcity compared to farmers in wetter areas (Sudanian zone). Belonging to farming associations increased the probability of implementing several strategies to alleviate water scarcity, while female-headed households tended to have a lower propensity to adopt and implement concomitantly several adaptation strategies in comparison with their male counterpart. The dissemination of scheme- and household-specific technology options could contribute to mitigating water scarcity in irrigated rice-based systems in the dry climatic zones of West Africa, thus contributing to rural livelihood and food security.
Advancing water adaptation indicators by bridging global ambitions and local realities in the UAE–Belém Work Programme
(Opinion Piece, 2025-06) Attoh, Emmanuel; Osei-Amponsah, Charity; Akpoti, Komlavi; Alegbeleye, Oluwadara; Seidou, O.; Okem, A. E.; Adhiambo, P.; Kimanzi, M.; Denje, T.; Kung’u, F.; Naalamiley, C.; Awolala, D.; Wamukoya, G.
The escalating climate crisis demands a reimagining of how the world measures and achieves water-related adaptation, particularly in regions most vulnerable to hydrological extremes. The operationalization of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) through the UAE–Belém Work Programme, marks a critical step toward systematizing global adaptation tracking. This opinion paper critiques the Programme’s progress as of June 2025, highlighting gaps in equity, data readiness, and contextual relevance. It underscores that the reliance on standardized, biophysical metrics risks is perpetuating the very inequalities it seeks to resolve. We argue that Africa’s emerging leadership in blending indigenous knowledge, community-driven innovation, and robust regional frameworks presents a transformative opportunity to reshape these indicators into tools of equity and resilience. The paper also provides actionable recommendations to align global ambitions with local realities, ensuring water adaptation indicators empower vulnerable communities and drive transformative resilience.