In Benin, a New Stove Turns Rice Waste into Clean Fuel
Researchers at AfricaRice are developing a stove that’s fed by a solar-powered fan and is designed to burn off most of the gas released by the burning rice husks, a byproduct abundantly available in Benin. Compared with a wood-burning stove, the clean stove produces fewer emissions and heats water faster. Using rice husks also helps farmers deal with the waste and pollution that comes with disposing of the husks.
 
Meet the Site That Is Like Uber – but for Tractors
On the farm, equipment is often the second-largest expense after land—and there is a lot of it out there. Farmers have long shared or rented out equipment locally, but the tight timelines of a growing season make that hard because almost everyone in the same area needs the same equipment at the same time. MachineryLink Sharing lets people look outside their neighborhood to exchange equipment.
 
India’s Answer to Global Warming: Cows that Belch Less
Let no one say that India isn’t doing its bit to fight global climate change: Government scientists are working hard to reduce carbon emissions by making cows less flatulent. Consider the numbers: India is home to more than 280 million cows, and 200 million more ruminant animals like sheep, goats, yaks and buffalo. So reducing animal flatulence might actually do some good—especially in India, where there is little chance of cutting back the use of fossil fuels anytime soon.
 
Lab-Grown Meat Is in Your Future, and It May Be Healthier Than the Real Stuff
Scientists and businesses working to produce lab-created meat claim it will be healthier than conventional meat and more environmentally friendly. For some people there’s an ick factor to the idea of lab-grown meat, but its backers say that cultured meat may help alleviate the environmental and health challenges posed by the world’s growing appetite for conventional meats.
 
Helping Smallholder Farmers Build Stronger Businesses with Information and Communication Technology
Smallholder farmers often live in remote rural areas far from cities, markets, and sometimes even roads. Today, farmers are connecting with one another across vast distances with apps to improve their planting and harvesting skills. They receive weather and market price information through SMS messages directly on their phones. And they are able to use mobile phones to send and receive payments more quickly and securely.