Mucuna (velvetbean) is a regenerative plant that was introduced in Southern Benin in the late 1980s. Interplanted with corn and used as green manure, Mucuna fixes nitrogen, adds biomass to the soil, prevents erosion, and helps reduce weeds. Mucuna was successfully incorporated into farm systems in Benin through education of...

To address food insecurity in Rwanda, NGOs and government bodies are collaborating on the Support Project for the Strategic Transformation of Agriculture Initiative to promote integrated garden-livestock systems to scale-up milk and vegetable production for sale and home consumption

Unlike conventional “top down” technology transfer extension models, the success of this legume diversification project underscores the importance of participatory research and extension methodologies to address the complex social factors—community needs, gender dynamics, access—that influence new technology adoption in agriculture

Successful implementation of field-based learning in Farmer Field Schools (FFS) has facilitated ecologically resilient farming systems in West Africa. By creating a knowledge base of locally adapted best practices and revitalizing farmer and agricultural extension networks, the West African Integrated Production and Pest Management Program improves regional food security, while...

Malawi faces myriad of environmental, social, and human health challenges, including food insecurity, land degradation and deforestation. An agroforestry program promotes tree planting to increase crop yields in previously depleted soils, reverse deforestation, and empower women.

Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO) has helped people address the challenges of food insecurity and environmental degradation while conserving wildlife and other natural resources. COMACO is one of the few programs that operate at the scale of an entire ecosystem—contributing to increased wildlife numbers, better protected habitats, improved food security,...