Blog

January 2012

Kenyan Farmers Share Their Priorities in Life – In Pictures

Submitted by Vanessa on 31st January 2012
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What really matters to farmers?

Our researchers have been learning about farmers' priorities in life to better understand their climate adaptation needs, using an innovative methodology called Social Return on Investment. Last year, Neil Palmer (International Center for Tropical Agriculture - CIAT) went to Othidhe village, in Nyanza province, south west Kenya to meet the farmers and document this work.

You may have seen the photos on display at Agriculture and Rural Development Day in December; they were also featured on the Guardian Global Development Blog.

Read more about our work on Adaptation to Progressive Climate change.

Live video seminar: Assessing Climate Models for Agricultural Impacts

Submitted by Vanessa on 26th January 2012
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How well can we predict how associated crops might grow under future climate con

How good are current climate models for predicting agricultural impacts in Africa and South Asia?

Join us to learn about recent trends, current projections, crop-climate suitability, and prospects for improved climate model information.

Mark your calendars!
Date: 21 February 2012
Time: 14:30 - 15:30 Central European Time. [Convert time zone]

Soon-to-be-released studies assess the performance of climate models in representing the current and future climate of East Africa, West Africa and South Asia, with a particular emphasis on the models’ ability to assess impacts of climate change on the major crops currently grown in each region.
 
The studies, coordinated by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), investigated the the ability of General Circulation Models (GCMs) to reproduce already observed climates, in order to establish the reliability of future climate projections, as well as projections of how associated crops might grow under future conditions.

 Professor Richard Washington (University of Oxford) and Professor Mark New (University of Cape Town) will discuss recent trends, current projections, crop-climate suitability, and prospects for improved climate model information over the next 10 years, and answer questions from viewers.

Click to be notified when the videostream begins!

 

Climate change threatens humanity's greatest accomplishment: farming

Submitted by Vanessa on 24th January 2012
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Agricultural research can raise stabilize crop yields, increase farmers' incomes

Yesterday we highlighted a new analysis that maps out how science can help put agriculture on the climate agenda. The analysis was published in Science and was co-authored by members of the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change. The authors highlight specific actions for the research world including clarifying definitions of climate-smart agriculture, and more knowledge of adaptation strategies that span agriculture and forestry.

Now TIME has picked up these messages, noting that the most important reason to act on climate change is to counter "the impact that climate change might have on the most vital function of any species: feeding itself." Read more »

What next for agriculture after Durban climate talks?

Submitted by Vanessa on 23rd January 2012
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After minor progress in Durban, top agricultural scientists have outlined how re

Last month’s UN climate conference in Durban achieved only modest progress for food and farming. Now, a group of international agriculture experts say this is is not enough, given the crucial role of agriculture in feeding people and sustaining livelihoods and economies worldwide, not to mention helping millions to adapt to a changing climate. 

In an article published last Friday in Science, top agricultural scientists have outlined how the research world can develop the knowledge needed to support inclusion of agriculture and food security in climate change policies, and get agriculture at the top of the climate agenda.

The analysis, What Next for Agriculture After Durban?, was co-authored by a group that includes members of the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change, chaired by Sir John Beddington; many of the recommendations are informed by the Commission’s seven key actions for Achieving Food Security in the Face of Climate Change released in November. The Commission was set up by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS - that's us) to provide concrete policy options for food security in a changing climate. Read more »

Is it climate or weather?

Submitted by Vanessa on 12th January 2012
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One of the challenges researchers face when communicating climate science is the distinction between climate and weather. The public and the media are often quick to conflate the two, resulting in confusion or worse, misinformation. Last year we covered the drought in the Horn of Africa, and highlighted the problems with attributing a single weather event to climate change.

The distinction between weather and climate is also important when communicating with farmers about the changes they can expect and plan for. In our work on Adaptation through Managing Climate Risk, we've been training farmers to read seasonal climate forecasts, to help them plan for longer term changes (as compared to weather forecasts which only predict a few days ahead).

This short video from the Norwegian TV program Siffer helps illustrate the difference between weather and climate simply and clearly.

The video was featured in a recent New York Times blog Can Better Communication of Climate Science Cut Climate Risks? by Andrew Revkin

Science Officer Gopal Bhatta talks to the President of Nepal about climate-smart agriculture

Submitted by Cecilia on 3rd January 2012
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Science Officer for CCAFS Indo-Gangetic Plains Dr. Gopal Datt Bhatta recently met with his Excellency the President of Nepal, Dr. Rambaran Yadav for an interesting conversation about CCAFS activities in Nepal. Here is a blog post about the meeting, written by Gopal Datt Bhatta.

In December of last year I got the opportunity to meet with the President of Nepal to tell him about CCAFS and our activities in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. Dr Rambaran Yadav really wanted to know more in detail of each intervention that are being implemented, especially in his own home country Nepal. I therefore mentioned different projects that are being undertaken and particularly emphasized climate smart village activities and what CCAFS aims to obtain with these models. Interestingly, His Excellency interconnected each and every activities of CCAFS climate smart village model with his childhood experiences. He gave lots of examples of what is happening in the nature and particularly in the terai and hill areas of Nepal. He observed: ‘’Some two or three decades before, the terai area used to have clear sky and luminous winter but now winter is very gloomy and there is no sign of sunshine throughout most of the winter season. This has resulted in several deaths in terai in recent years". Read more »