The Seeds of Tropical Fodder Grass Development
Bajra–Napier Hybrids (BNH) combine pearl millet and Napier grass to deliver 200–300 tonnes of green fodder per hectare, far exceeding typical tropical forages. Their high biomass, perennial growth and 8–14% crude protein make them a premium feed for smallholder dairy systems. Traditional BNH are sterile and must be vegetatively propagated, creating supply‑chain bottlenecks. ICRISAT is now testing seed‑propagated, partially fertile lines to simplify distribution and scale adoption.
Brainfood: Animal Diversity Edition
Recent research underscores the dual role of livestock in both supporting ecosystem health and preserving animal genetic resources. A study in the Greater Serengeti‑Mara shows that controlled grazing can boost plant species richness, while a suite of genetic investigations—from golden...
We Need Diverse Farms, and Genebanks Can Help
A new Nature Communications meta‑analysis of 184 prior studies covering 120 years finds that farm diversification—through intercropping, organic practices and other agrobiodiversity strategies—significantly raises financial profitability, biodiversity, pollination, soil quality and carbon sequestration over a 20‑year horizon, without any measurable...
Brainfood: Diversification Edition
A growing body of research underscores agrobiodiversity as a low‑risk strategy for climate‑resilient agriculture, linking greater crop variety to stable yields, natural pest regulation, and improved nutrition. Studies show that expanding undervalued crops can cut greenhouse‑gas emissions while boosting farmer...
Brainfood: Rice Breeding, Cowpea Diversity, Sorghum Pangenome, Faba Bean Genome, Banana Wild Relative, Cassava Breeding, Seed Laws, Microbiome Double
Recent studies highlight how advanced genomics and breeding strategies are reshaping food security across major and orphan crops. IRRI’s rice breeding in the Philippines and Indonesia shows measurable yield gains, while large‑scale sequencing of cowpea, sorghum pangenomes, and faba bean...