For the full and original blog, please see here

By Vuong Tuyet Nhung, Communications Officer in Vietnam

 

From January 14 to 16, 2025, the EcoFoodSystems project proudly participated in the DeSIRA Connect Days: Asia and the Pacific, hosted in Hanoi, Vietnam. This event, part of the European Union’s Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA) initiative, served as a platform to exchange lessons learned from project implementation and identify critical factors to sustain and scale innovation trajectories.

The DeSIRA Connect Days event showcased the institutional strengthening potential of its projects by bringing together diverse stakeholders, including research organizations, farmer-led initiatives, policymakers, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Key activities included a project fair for showcasing initiatives, thematic workshops for inter-project learning, and stakeholder round tables to drive ongoing innovation efforts.

At the project fair, Hoang The Ky, a Vietnamese researcher with the EcoFoodSystems project, highlighted the project’s objectives, key stakeholders, research priorities, and partnership-based approach. Ky underscored the project’s alignment with the event’s central themes:

“Our EcoFoodSystems project aligns closely with several key themes emphasized at this event. Firstly, our project fosters collaboration with local farmers and communities to advance sustainable food systems innovations. Secondly, by exploring agricultural practices and market linkages, EcoFoodSystems contributes to discussions on how food systems can drive innovation and ecological transitions. Lastly, the project aims to inform policymaking by building partnerships across regions, aligning with sessions on scaling innovation, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and policy development. This event provides an invaluable opportunity to share insights, learn from other DESIRA initiative projects, and work together to enhance efforts toward more sustainable food systems in the Hanoi city region.”

Another significant contribution was made by Duong Thu Hang, Good Food for Cities (GF4C) programme officer at Rikolto, who participated in Panel 3 of the event, exploring food systems as catalysts for innovation. The panel delved into the trade, processing, and consumption of agricultural produce, examining their economic and social dimensions to identify pathways for scaling DeSIRA innovations. In particular, Hang shared insights on promoting consumer access to healthy food in wet markets and schools in city regions.

She noted: “I think what the EcoFoodSystems Project and the overall DeSIRA programme emphasise is diversity. Embracing diversity in actors, key themes, and perspectives. People from different backgrounds and sectors come together to discuss shared topics related to health, agriculture, environment, diets, gender, equity, and more. The EcoFoodSystems project can contribute meaningfully to DeSIRA, moving closer to the goal of transitioning towards sustainable, affordable, and healthier diets in city regions.”

The EcoFoodSystems project, funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) under the DeSIRA Initiative (Grant Ref: FOOD/2021/428-851), is managed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through a grant agreement with the University of Galway. The project is implemented in collaboration with Rikolto (Vietnam) and Wageningen University and Research(WUR), with support from the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) and the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA).

The DeSIRA Connect Days event offered a dynamic platform for the EcoFoodSystems project to connect with other projects and food systems stakeholders, share knowledge, and explore opportunities to scale innovative solutions for more sustainable food systems in Vietnam and beyond.

English translation

This morning, a training workshop on ”  Collective Action and NUS  ” was launched in the PSUT videoconference room of Joseph KI-ZERBO University. This training, which is organized as part of the SUSTLIVES project ( https://www.sustlives.eu ), will bring together for 3 days about forty students, researchers, teacher-researchers, farmers’ organizations, NGOs and CSOs working in the agricultural field, experts in biodiversity conservation, etc. and will raise awareness of the need for collective action on the conservation and enhancement of NUS, especially in the context of climate change.

The training program will also see the participation of members of the SUSTLIVES project from Joseph Ki-Zerbo University (Burkina Faso), the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and Afrique Verte Burkina.

Several training modules will be covered and will cover various aspects such as:

• (i) role of collective organizations for the inclusive transformation of the rural world; 
• (ii) collective organizations, empowerment and transformative action; 
• (iii) how to build/support/create more powerful and effective producer organisations; 
• (iv) participatory methods to assess producer organizations and strengthen collective objectives and goals;
• Others

On the last day of the training, a field trip will take place in  Koubri  and will offer participants the opportunity to discuss with the leaders of the Watinoma Association on the issue of promoting NUS in Burkina Faso.

English translation:

The national workshop on the theme “From practice to innovation: Extension and agricultural advice for relevant innovations for the benefit of family farms in Madagascar”

The national workshop on the theme “From practice to innovation: Extension and agricultural advice for relevant innovations for the benefit of family farms in Madagascar” was held in Ambatobe on January 16, 2025, bringing together nearly 50 participants. Organized in collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MINAE), the MAKIS project and the ProSilience project (GIZ), this event aimed to enrich and promote the National Strategy for Extension and Agricultural Advice (SNVCA).

The main objective of the workshop was to inform participants about the content of the SNVCA, recently technically validated at the MINAE level and awaiting approval. It was also a question of sharing the achievements of the MAKIS projects and the ProSilience action (GIZ) which could enrich the activities planned in the SNVCA. In particular, the diversity of factors that influence the adoption of agricultural innovations and the place of agricultural advice and extension to improve the advice and extension systems.

The preliminary results of the MAKIS project were presented and showed that the needs in extension and agricultural advice must diversify to meet the new challenges and areas of activity that are emerging (organic farming, digitalization of certain services, inclusion, etc.). These changes imply an evolution of the profiles of extension and advice agents, via revised training courses, particularly for agricultural advice. Furthermore, agricultural advice will not be able to cover all the support needs necessary for the development of agricultural innovations; other types of support must be provided (such as access to markets, resources, institutional support, networking, capacity building, etc.). Thus, complementarities must be built with local and regional structures (whether public, private, mixed, associative or cooperative) to complete the offer of services to producers.

The presentation of the ProSol project focused on the role of relay farmers and the prospects for their recognition and local mobilization (via certification). Relay farmers have a key role to play in the dynamics of agricultural innovation and contribute to circulating and perpetuating new agricultural practices tested.

The group work that followed these presentations aimed to enrich three of the strategic axes of the SNVCA: (i) strengthening the agricultural extension and advisory system, (ii) improving service offerings (in two distinct sub-themes), (iii) promoting the integration of research and innovation results into agricultural advisory systems.

The recommendations from this workshop will contribute to the effective implementation of the SNVCA. They will strengthen synergies between stakeholders and ensure better adaptation of extension systems to the real needs of family farms.

This workshop illustrates an important step in the vision of supporting agricultural innovation in Madagascar. The MAKIS project continues to play a key role in these dynamics, contributing to strategic discussions related to agricultural innovations, and articulating its actions on the challenges and opportunities identified during this event.

English translation:

Last week, a rice husk gasification power plant was commissioned on the site of the pilot SME DB Foods, as well as staff training in its use and management. Several tests were carried out in preparation for the next rice processing season, which will begin in June 2025. This bioenergy equipment will make it possible to recover agro-food residues from rice processing to meet the electricity needs of the rice mill.

English translation:

On December 19 and 20, 2024, the AcceSS project organized in Bobo-Dioulasso, in the IRSS meeting room, a workshop to revitalize the Union of Simplified Cooperative Societies of Bama Rice Parboilers (USCOSER-B).

For the full post, please see here

English translation:

Three Researchers from the Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT Interviewed by Anecacao – Ecuador

In December 2024, three researchers from the Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT, collaborators on the Clima-Loca project, were interviewed by the National Association of Cocoa Exporters of Ecuador – Anecacao. The interview featured Julien Simonis, leader of the Cocoa of Excellence program, along with Christian Bunn and Paul Günther, who are responsible for the aClimatar tool (https://adaptation.aclimatar.org/).

This edition of Anecacao’s magazine, released in December, also highlights the success of the Chokao Cocoa and Chocolate Fair held from September 10 to 12 in Samborondón, Ecuador.

Here’s the link to the online magazine for your reading pleasure (in Spanish): https://climaloca.org/es/expertos-colaboradores-de-clima-loca-son-entrevistados-por-en-anecacao-ecuador/ 

English translation:

CATIE and Transforma-Innova Program Partners Host a Successful Field Day for Coffee Growers in Costa Rica

Event Highlights Advances from the KoLFACI Coffee Project in Costa Rica

More than 55 coffee producers from the Western Valley of Costa Rica gathered at Finca Santa Anita in Naranjo de Palmares for a field day focused on adaptive capacity and mitigation strategies in coffee farms. Organized by the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), the event provided a platform to exchange information and knowledge on innovative practices in Costa Rica’s coffee sector.

The event was held as part of the KoLFACI project and the Transforma-Innova Program, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), GIZ, ICAFE, and cooperatives CoopeIndia RL, CoopePalmares RL, Café de Altura, and Agrícola El Cántaro-Beneficio Santa Anita.

Innovative Practices Presented

Throughout the morning, participants explored research findings and innovative practices, including:

• Coffee pruning systems: Techniques focused on plant regeneration and pest control to improve productivity.
• Agroforestry systems: Integration of trees and coffee crops to conserve natural resources, enhance biodiversity, and sequester carbon.
• Drip irrigation systems: Solutions designed to ensure efficient water use, a critical resource amid climate change.

Dr. Elías de Melo, a coffee specialist at CATIE, and students from the Master’s Program in Agroforestry and Sustainable Agriculture shared findings from surveys on the impacts of climate change conducted with members of participating cooperatives. This collaborative exchange fosters practical and tailored solutions to the sector’s challenges. Additionally, Banco Popular de Palmares provided information on financial instruments to enhance farm productivity.

Transforma-Innova Program Projections

Aligned with the Transforma-Innova Program’s strategy and in collaboration with cooperatives and partner organizations, such activities aim to promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. These practices enable coffee producers to increase adaptive capacity and contribute to climate change mitigation.

The program prioritizes sustainable and regenerative practices to optimize resources, strengthen farm resilience, and reduce the environmental impact of coffee farming. Plans are underway to expand field days to other regions of the country next year.

The Transforma-Innova Program is coordinated by MAG, co-financed by the European Union, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). It is implemented by GIZ in collaboration with CATIE, Conservation International (CI), the Costa Rica-United States Foundation for Cooperation (CRUSA), the Environmental Bank Foundation (FUNBAM), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Key Contributions of the KoLFACI Coffee Project

The field day also highlighted progress in the KoLFACI Coffee Project for Costa Rica, which evaluates pruning technologies and identifies promising coffee varieties to address climate change in Latin America. Supported by the Korea-Latin America Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KoLFACI) and the Korean Rural Development Administration (RDA), the project has positively impacted local producers.

Ing. Diana Espinoza (ICAFE) and M.Sc. Chelsia Moraes (CATIE) presented preliminary results on pruning techniques and coffee varieties at two of the four farms under study. Key achievements include:

• Knowledge transfer: Producers have adopted various pruning systems, with some practices spreading to neighboring farms.
• Improved production: Cycle-based pruning optimizes crop health and simplifies tasks like fertilization, reducing operational complexity.
• Tailored adaptation: Farm-specific conditions—such as topography, altitude, climate, and coffee varieties—highlight the importance of adaptive, non-generalized approaches.

“Pruning is essential for maintaining consistent harvests and reducing biennial production cycles by renewing old growth each year,” explained Chelsia Moraes, CATIE researcher.

English translation:

Competition to Reward 20 Initiatives Linked to the Value Chain of the Banana and Musaceae Sector

Participants Will Receive Mentorship and Training from ACTIVA-CATIE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab

Around 20 innovative ideas related to the production of musaceae crops (such as bananas, plantains, and abacá) will receive non-reimbursable funding along with mentorship and support as part of the third edition of the INNOVA-VERDE ideas competition.

The goal of the competition is to promote diversification and productive efficiency in small and medium-sized musaceae production units, as well as in the various associated value chain links.

These innovative ideas aim to replicate measures with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with a special focus on proposals oriented toward the replication and scaling of Costa Rica’s Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) for musaceae.

“With the support of international cooperation resources, we continue to drive efforts to transform production systems to make them more sustainable and environmentally friendly. This competition is an excellent opportunity to identify and support innovative ideas with positive impacts that contribute to the development of musaceae production, which is vital in several rural areas of the country,” highlighted Fernando Vargas Pérez, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.

“We have already held two competitions, one for coffee and another for livestock. For this third edition, we are seeking innovations for the musaceae sector to enhance climate adaptation, foster more resilient production, and scale up proven solutions for small and medium-sized producers,” added Sylvanie Jardinet, Development Cooperation Officer for the European Union Delegation in Costa Rica.

The call is open to small and medium-sized producers across Costa Rica who are directly linked to musaceae value chains. Special consideration will be given to women, students, young people, and individuals from Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.

Vladimir Valera, Director of ACTIVA-CATIE, explained, “As part of the competition process, virtual and in-person workshops will be held across Costa Rica to explain the competition guidelines and proposal format. Most importantly, these workshops will motivate individuals—especially young people, women, Indigenous communities, and others—to submit initiatives that strengthen livelihoods while enhancing the potential for GHG mitigation or sequestration, climate resilience, and sustainable biodiversity conservation and use.”

Winners will receive a cash prize equivalent to €7,500 (in Costa Rican colones) to develop their ideas. Additionally, they will receive mentorship from ACTIVA-CATIE, the innovation and entrepreneurship lab of CATIE’s Forests and Biodiversity in Productive Landscapes Unit, which has extensive experience in idea development and prototyping.

“We are thrilled to launch this third edition of the INNOVA-VERDE Competition, which promotes low-carbon agricultural production. We invite small and medium-sized businesses in the banana, plantain, and abacá sectors to submit their innovative ideas, especially those led by young people, women, and Indigenous communities, who aim to transform musaceae production in Costa Rica,” said Alberto Vega, Director of the TRANSFORMA-INNOVA Program for GIZ.

How to Participate

Initiatives can be submitted from November 29, 2024, to January 17, 2025, via the website: activa.catie.ac.cr/web/innova-verde. Following a process of training and proposal evaluation, the winning projects will be announced at an awards event in March 2025.

For more information about the competition and requirements, email: activa@catie.ac.cr.

About the Competition

This competition is part of the actions under the TRANSFORMA-INNOVA Program: “Transformative Low-Emission and Climate-Resilient Pathways in Costa Rica: Climate-Smart Agriculture and Value Chains.” Through INNOVA-VERDE, 44 initiatives in the coffee and livestock sectors have been funded in previous editions.

This edition is executed by the ACTIVA-CATIE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, part of the Forests and Biodiversity in Productive Landscapes Unit at CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), and coordinated by German Development Cooperation (GIZ).

The TRANSFORMA-INNOVA Program is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and co-financed by the European Union, Germany’s Federal Ministries for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). It is implemented by GIZ in partnership with CATIE, Conservation International (CI), the Costa Rica – United States Foundation for Cooperation (CRUSA), the Environmental Bank Foundation (FUNBAM), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).