Agriculture

Participants engaged in extensive discussions on the presentations and adopted various recommendations. (Image source: Ministry of Information Eritrea)

A meeting by the National Agricultural Research Institutions was held on 21 January at the Halhale Agricultural Research Centre to review the activities of 2024 and action plan for 2025

During the meeting, detailed briefings were provided on natural and transformative resources, crop improvement, livestock resources, agricultural engineering, food and biotechnology, ongoing research activities, and the challenges encountered.

Participants engaged in extensive discussions on the presentations and adopted various recommendations. These included publishing and distributing research outcomes, strengthening research on vegetables and fruits, reviving the research centre in Sheib, and reinforcing research on food technology.

Minister of Agriculture, Arefaine Berhe called for intensified research activities and urged a revision of policies to improve and renovate certain crops. He further emphasised the importance of engaging the public and local administrations in efforts to identify and hybridise animal types, recruiting young agricultural researchers, and reviving research activities in the eastern plains.

AGRA announced a three-year investment of up to US$3mn in Seeds2B Africa. (Image source: USAID)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently announced the contribution of US$9.95mn aimed at strengthening the Centre of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa (CESSA) to support the building of functional seed systems on the content

With a focus on forming strategic partnerships, CESSA serves as a one-stop centre to address challenges in African seed systems and accelerate the building of functional seed systems required for a food secure continent. The funding plays a key role in advancing the African Union's Seed Sector Action Plan (2020–2030).  

“Strengthening Africa’s seed systems is a fundamental component of the continental agenda in the newly endorsed Kampala Declaration and a priority for food security, resilience, and inclusive economic growth in African countries," said AGRA president, Dr Agnes Kalibata. "AGRA is pleased to deepen collaboration with USAID and other partners through CESSA, drawing on collective strengths, expertise, and portfolios to support this country-led agenda and develop the sector together.

AGRA announced a three-year investment of up to US$3mn in the Kenya-based enterprise Seeds2B Africa that will work to increase smallholder farmers’ resilience, incomes, food security, nutrition and ultimately improve their livelihoods in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania. 

Tony Gathungu, global head of Seeds2B and CEO of Seeds2B Africa Social Enterprise emphasised the vital role of resilient seed systems in improving agriculture across sub-Saharan Africa. “Seeds2B Africa will drive the commercialisation of stress-tolerant, nutrient-dense, and market-preferred seeds while building the capacity of seed companies to generate demand and expand access," said Gathungu. "By equipping farmers with high-quality seeds and innovative tools, this initiative will enhance resilience, boost productivity, and improve livelihoods across the region.”

The partnership will focus on implementing best-in-class agricultural practices, capacity building programmes as well as undertaking comprehensive vegetable seed trials. (Image source: Bayer)

Building on their successful collaboration announced in 2023, Silal and Bayer have expanded their strategic partnership through a detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in Dubai

The MoU outlines an ambitious programme of collaboration through 2028, focusing on four key initiatives designed to advance agricultural practices in arid environments around the world like the UAE, with both organisations aiming to contribute meaningfully to the region’s National Food Security, while also addressing climate change challenges.  

The partnership will also scale up agricultural capacity building through Bayer's BayG.A.P. programme, with particular emphasis on regenerative agriculture practices suitable for arid climates. A key innovation in this phase includes the implementation of digital monitoring and verification platforms to ensure the effective adoption of sustainable farming practices. Additionally, the collaboration encompasses the extension of comprehensive vegetable seed trials aimed at identifying crops better suited to local growing conditions and market demands.

Hugo Hagen, Senior Bayer Representative – Middle East at Bayer, stated: "The signing of this MoU represents a major step forward in our partnership with Silal. This detailed framework allows us to bring together Bayer's global expertise in sustainable agriculture with Silal's deep understanding of local agricultural challenges, advancing our mission of ‘Health for all, Hunger for none’ while addressing critical climate challenges."

The agreement will give Catona Climate customers access to credits generated by US farmers who adopt regenerative agricultural practices. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Leading sustainable agricultural solutions company Indigo Ag is helping to create a new market segment offering unprecedented opportunities for farmers and businesses to access the value of nature-based carbon credits

Indigo Ag’s scale and innovative, high-integrity approach has drawn the attention of global climate finance company Catona Climate which has consistently maintained a focus on sourcing, financing, and helping develop the highest-quality credits from nature-based climate solutions.

Through a strategic partnership, Indigo Ag has agreed to provide Catona Climate exclusive access to 250,000 credits from a highly-rated US-based regenerative agriculture soil carbon project. The agreement will give Catona Climate customers access to credits generated by US farmers who adopt regenerative agricultural practices — such as planting cover crops, diversifying crop rotation, and reducing tillage — that abate emissions and sequester carbon in the soil.

“We’re delighted that Catona Climate, known for their high-quality nature-based carbon credit portfolio, has chosen to work with us as we gear up to deliver our largest ever carbon crop,” said Indigo Ag CEO, Dean Banks. “This deal not only represents a strong vote of confidence in our thriving programme but also in soil carbon as an asset class. It reflects the increasing maturity of the market and will generate further confidence in the long-term durability of soil carbon projects, which is great news for the farmers and agribusinesses benefiting from this promising new revenue stream.”