new Collaborative Effort Aims to revolutionize Crop Nutrition and farm Resilience
A diverse coalition of researchers and organizations-spanning institutions from the University of Copenhagen to the World Bank-are intensifying efforts to develop agricultural approaches focused on crops that concurrently enhance nutrition, soil health, resilience, and farmer prosperity. This collaborative push recognizes the interconnectedness of these factors as crucial for building lasting food systems,notably in the face of climate change and growing global food insecurity.
The initiative draws expertise from organizations including the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), led by Mduduzi N. N.Mbuya; Washington State University’s Crop & soil sciences and breadlab, with contributions from Kevin murphy; Food Security Leadership Council, spearheaded by Anna Nelson; and FoodTank, with Danielle Nierenberg at the helm. Academic partners include Spelman College’s Department of Biology (tiffany Oliver), the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences (Fred Rattunde & Eva Weltzien), and the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (Laura Vang Rasmussen & Emilie Vansant).
Funding and strategic support are provided by The McKnight Foundation (Paul Rogé), while implementation and analysis benefit from the involvement of the International Maize and Wheat improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Nairobi (Julia Sibiya), Michigan State University’s Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (Melinda Smale & Ayala wineman), the World bank’s Agriculture and Food Department (Martin Paul Tabe-Ojong Jr.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Andrew L. Thorne-Lyman), and the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (Ayala Wineman).
The core strategy centers on integrated research approaches that move beyond solely maximizing yields. This includes prioritizing biofortification-breeding crops to increase thier nutritional value-alongside practices that build soil health, such as cover cropping and reduced tillage. Resilience to climate shocks, including drought and extreme weather events, is also a key focus, alongside economic viability for farmers.The collaborative aims to translate research findings into practical solutions that improve both human health and the livelihoods of agricultural communities.
