Knowledge Management Portal

In the field of agriculture and rural development, knowledge sharing (KS) and management for public institutions, as well as NGOs, community-based organizations and the private sector, is a key element to ensuring appropriate dissemination and maintenance of information, and to building capacities and development effectiveness. In 2018, the SKIM project launched a Capacity Needs Assessment to determine to identify knowledge management (KM)-related gaps in institutions engaged in the initial steps of the project. The major purpose of the activity was to undertake an assessment and determine baselines for the current state of KM, knowledge sharing, and learning needs in target organizations in Moldova, Morocco and Sudan. The assessment allowed for a diagnosis of present KM- related practices and benchmarks for improvement.

On November 29th and 30th, 2019, the Selectia Research Institute for Field Crops organized an international conference in Balti, Moldova, titled "Towards Sustainable Agriculture - What's missing? What do we still need to know?" This blog summarizes key activities that took place and outcomes from the conference, including perspectives from participants.

Stewardships like organic farming certification systems or fair production schemes are market-based instruments for better social and environmental standards. The planned stewardship for pollinator protecting agriculture can additionally create synergies with other labels, in particular with certification systems for organic farming. We would appreciate your participation in this first consultation round. Please feel encouraged to further circulate this blog for wide participation by different stakeholder groups and from all continents. Support us by your feed back to develop a good certification scheme.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) is an integrated and adaptable online platform for projects, activities and knowledge management, performance measurement, communication and dissemination of research findings. Its multifaceted and modular structure allows customization and remodelling to meet ever-changing demands. Given these qualities, MEL was adopted by the CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy 2030 (EiA) initiative and the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), joining three CGIAR CRPs and four Centers in the MEL Team.

WorldFish scientists contributed FISH (and AAS CRP) research to a Compendium on Gender Transformative Approaches through a joint European Union funded program with FAO, IFAD and WFP

Youth increased the fattening weights of rams from 56-122g/day to 94-198g/day (44-67%) and were able to sell sheep at a higher price, from ETB 1200-2500 to ETB 2200-4000 (45-70%) after receiving training on improved sheep practices and entrepreneurship, and a basic start-up package. These youth went on to influence farmers in their communities by hosting open field days to disseminate improved practices and provide basic veterinary services.

Based on 410 ex-ante assessments with farmers and our daily collaboration with smallholders taking part in the trials, the project team has good insight in farmers’ knowledge on pollinators, pollination, threats to pollinators and low-cost action to better conserve them. So ICARDA, INRA and ONCA developed this field guide for farmers, which is readable also for illiterate farmers.

Have a little insight in my 3 months travel in Morocco to do 1000 interviews assessing how much Moroccan consumers and farmers would be willing to pay for the conservation of pollinators. Pollination is a very important ecosystem service for the well-being of farmers and consumers in Morocco. However, pollinators are facing multiple threats that make them fall in abundance and diversity. Use of agro-chemicals, monocultures, loss of field edges, urbanization and pollution threaten pollinators. Climate change increasingly causes additional risks by disrupting the timely match of plants and pollinators. Hence, pollinators need to be protected. An economic assessment can convince farmers, consumers and policymakers to take action for protection.