A man covers harvested rice in a rice field in Nanan, Yamoussoukro. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon

Report Reveals Groundbreaking Results for Rice Farming
Rice is an important crop in West and Central Africa—most of the 430 million people living in the region depend on it as a staple—but West Africa currently consumes more than it produces and has been importing rice from other parts of the world. But a new farming technique, SRI, is promising higher yields while reducing the need for inputs

Climate Solutions, Economic Growth, Global Stability? Rural Girls Hold the Key
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is thrilled to announce a new blog series, Stakeholder Girls, which highlights the central role that rural girls must play in consideration of the 2018 G7 priority theme areas. If leaders do not consider the unique strengthens and concerns of rural girls, progress on each of these themes will be curtailed.

World Bank Urges Africa to Embrace Technology to Transform Agriculture
The World Bank says that the continent stands a better chance of advancing food security through accurate climate data received from cutting edge innovations. While agricultural productivity in the continent has picked up in recent years, it still lags behind other regions. Throughout Africa, start-ups and other institutions are leveraging digital technology in transformative ways.

A Spud is Born: UMaine Unveils Gourmet ‘Pinto Gold’ Potato
The new spud, released by the University of Maine, is called the "Pinto Gold" and the university's potato breeding program leader describes it as a high-yielding, yellow-fleshed specialty variety. The new variety is adapted to cool, northern growing areas. The Pinto Gold is the fourth potato variety released by University of Maine since 2014.

Climate-Proofing Indian Agriculture
Climate change is posed to be the most extreme challenge to agriculture in India. Farmers must gain access to the rich scientific knowledge developed by research institutions through efficient dissemination of climate-smart technologies. Additionally, simple and affordable insurance products should be properly implemented to create safety net for the farmers.