News & Events

On 7–8 May 2014, Ann Waters-Bayer of the Prolinnova International Support Team took part in the final workshop on the assessment study of demand for and supply of agricultural innovations for smallholder farming, hosted by the German International Cooperation (GIZ) and ICIPE (African Insect Science for Food and Health) in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants included farmer …

Prolinnova option for bridging gap between research & farmers Read More »

In a lively blog (www.agroinsight.com/blog/?cat=3), Agro-Insight is highlighting stories – sometimes with video films – of innovation by creative farmers in different parts of the world. An example is the work of a farmer in Thailand, who has been successful in developing an extract from bananas plants to control mealybugs in cassava. The mix also …

Agro-Insight blog on local innovation Read More »

In April 2014 in Berlin, Germany, Prolinnova’s approach in piloting Local Innovation Support Funds (LISFs) was presented at the 11th European IFSA (International Farming Systems Association) symposium on “Farming systems facing global challenges”. The event was hosted by Humboldt University and attracted 280 people from 35 countries, including some from Africa, Asia and Latin America. …

Learning about LISF at European IFSA symposium Read More »

At the 2014 IFSA (International Farming Systems Association) Symposium in Berlin, Prolinnova joined a contact group for continuing and deepening collaboration between IFSA and the CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs) on agricultural systems. During a Global Issues session in Berlin, participants re-examined Farming Systems Research (FSR) in the context of reform in the CGIAR system. The …

Enhancing systemic research & development in agriculture Read More »

In March 2014, two staff members from the Prolinnova International Secretariat attended a workshop on “Innovation in the System CRPs”, organised by the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS). The workshop was hosted by the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam and brought together mainly people from the CRPs but also a few …

Enhancing & measuring capacity to innovate Read More »

The Sahel is an environmentally sensitive region and climate change is likely to worsen the situation. Farmers therefore need to adapt their agricultural methods and practices to the changing climatic conditions and their effects. Agro-ecological intensification leads to higher productivity and improved food and nutrition security without having negative environmental impacts. Formal ARD gives little …

Strengthening Farmer-led Research Networks in the Sahel Read More »

At the workshop on “The Innovation System of Demand-Driven Agricultural Research – Bridging the Implementation Gap” in Feldafing, Germany, in November 2013, Ann Waters-Bayer from the Prolinnova International Secretariat gave a presentation about  “Linking farmer innovation with formal research”, based on the experiences of Prolinnova partners worldwide. The workshop was organised by the GIZ (German …

Linking farmer innovation with formal research: GIZ/CGIAR workshop Read More »

Experiences and policy messages from Prolinnova and various other initiatives – including JOLISAA (Joint Learning in Innovation Systems in African Agriculture) and CoS-SIS (Convergence of Sciences: Strengthening Innovation Systems) – were presented at the CTA Brussels Briefing on “Farmer-driven research to improve food and nutrition security” on 14 November 2013. This was co-organised by the …

Brussels Briefing 34: Farmer-driven research Read More »

In late October 2013, two members of the Prolinnova International Secretariat joined the reflection workshop of PAEPARD (Platform for African-European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development), when the partners drew lessons from the current project phase (up to end of 2013). PAEPARD is funded by the European Commission and is coordinated by the Forum for …

Prolinnova participation in PAEPARD reflection workshop Read More »

In October 2013, at the Agrecol seminar on “Strengthening the efforts of smallholder farmers to adapt to climate change”, Prolinnova presented its experience in using locally managed innovation funds in Eastern Africa to stimulate farmer-led experimentation. The workshop – held in Germerode, Germany – focused on initiatives to strengthen rural people’s resilience to change by …

Smallholders adapting to climate change: German seminar Read More »