News from our Members
Pesticides and Cancer: A Study Reveals the Biological Mechanisms Behind an Environmental Health Risk
A new scientific study, published in Nature Health, reveals a strong link between exposure to agricultural pesticides in the environment and the risk of developing cancer. By combining environmental data, a nationwide cancer registry, and biological analyses, researchers from the IRD, the Institut Pasteur, the University of Toulouse, and the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases (INEN) in Peru have shed new light on the role of pesticide exposure in the development of certain cancers. More here.
FiBL Consolidates Swiss–Cameroonian Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture In Central Africa
FiBL has strengthened Swiss–Cameroonian cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Obala Agricultural Institute (IAO), building on over 20 years of collaboration.
The agreement aims to advance sustainable agriculture through research, training, and innovation.
The MoU was signed by IAO’s Founding Director, Louis Ndjie, and State Secretary Helene Budliger.
Swiss partners, including Agroscope and the Fondation Rurale Interjurassienne, are also involved.
The partnership positions IAO as Switzerland’s main research partner in Central Africa.
It focuses on strengthening training, scientific research, and agricultural extension.
FiBL will contribute its expertise in agroecology and organic agriculture across food systems.
Key actions include applied research, academic exchanges, and the creation of an agroecology platform at IAO.
This initiative aims to scale sustainable agricultural systems and create lasting impact in Cameroon and beyond. More here.
Strengthening FiBL in Brussels: New joint leadership
FiBL has strengthened its presence in Brussels by introducing a new joint leadership model for its European office. The office, which serves as a key interface between organic research and EU policymaking, is now co-directed by Steffen Reese and Carla Pinho, combining strong expertise in organic policy, research management, and stakeholder engagement. This new structure follows previous leadership arrangements and aims to enhance FiBL’s ability to influence European debates on sustainable food and farming systems. More here.
Poznań University of Life Sciences
Storks on the Move – From Tracking Technology to Protecting Bird Migration Routes
Is it possible to see the world from the perspective of a flying stork? Researchers from the Poznań University of Life Sciences prove that it is, and they are doing so in a way that could change the approach to protecting migratory birds. By attaching miniature cameras to the birds, the researchers have obtained for the first time a direct record of their journey across three continents.
Research by a team led by Prof. Piotr Tryjanowski confirms that the white stork is an indicator species; its behavior reflects the state of the environment across a vast area of Europe and Africa. Data from southern Europe are particularly alarming, where rising temperatures and changing environmental conditions are reducing the birds’ survival rates. More here.
Transforming food and farming systems
The University of Reading is internationally recognised for its leadership in agriculture, food, nutrition, and environmental science. It has a long-standing commitment to improving global food security and addressing malnutrition. Its research spans the entire food system, from sustainable production to consumer behaviour and social equity.
Today’s food systems face major challenges, including climate disruption, hunger, and resource degradation. Addressing these issues requires coordinated action across sectors and disciplines.
The University works closely with governments, industry, and communities to co-create solutions.
At the core of this effort is Agrifood Futures, its new research strategy. This initiative aims to transform how food is produced, consumed, and understood by 2050. It focuses on tackling food insecurity, malnutrition, and diet-related diseases. The approach also addresses climate change, biodiversity loss, and social and economic inequalities. More here.
Turning dairy emissions into opportunities: how climate finance can drive climate-smart dairy
The dairy sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, while global demand for dairy products is expected to increase significantly by 2050. Researchers at Wageningen University & Research explore how climate finance can help reduce these emissions in a cost-effective way. Although many technical solutions to lower emissions already exist, their adoption is often limited by high upfront costs for farmers. Climate finance mechanisms, such as incentives, carbon pricing, or premium payments for low-emission milk, can help overcome these barriers. Even relatively small financial incentives can encourage farmers to adopt more climate-friendly practices. The article also highlights the importance of robust Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems to accurately measure emission reductions. These systems can enable farmers to access results-based finance or carbon markets. However, the livestock sector currently receives limited climate finance, and measuring emissions at farm level remains challenging. Despite these obstacles, the article argues that better alignment of science, finance, and policy could transform dairy emissions into opportunities. In this way, climate finance could support a transition toward more sustainable and climate-smart dairy systems. More here.
Kenyan coffee: a product that is already exceptional, an economic strategy under construction
Kenya benefits from unique coffee-growing terroirs, ranging from the volcanic zones of Mount Kenya to those of the Rift Valley. Despite the excellent reputation of its coffee, the country’s value chain still faces challenges in marketing its products globally. However, in this highly competitive context, a solution is emerging: the use of geographical indications to structure the value chain and help Kenyan coffee stand out on the international market.
Kenya is currently undergoing a sectoral reform aimed at revitalising its coffee value chain, which already includes a large number of producers and roasters as well as long-standing expertise and distinct terroirs. Geographical indications (GIs) are one of the key tools supporting this dynamic.
The GI Support Fund (Facilité IG), an initiative implemented by CIRAD and the French Development Agency (AFD), is carrying out pilot projects in the country to test, adapt, and embed the GI model in the Kenyan context. Beyond labelling opportunities, one of the main advantages of GIs is their governance model: rules are defined collectively, which naturally fosters cooperation among stakeholders within the value chain. More here.
International Award for Forest Scientist at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Jens Peter Skovsgaard, Professor of Silviculture at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre in Alnarp), has been awarded the IUFRO Distinguished Service Award by International Union of Forest Research Organizations.
International Union of Forest Research Organizations, a global network for cooperation in forest research with more than 600 member organizations, connects over 15,000 scientists in 115 countries. Skovsgaard has been actively involved in IUFRO since 1987 and served as a member of its Board from 2006 to 2024.
The award recognizes his outstanding contributions as a coordinator of international collaboration in forest research. More here.
The consequences of international aid cuts
ECDPM examines the sharp recent cuts in international aid and their broader global implications. It notes that Official Development Assistance has declined significantly, including in humanitarian funding, affecting some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. Fragile and low-income countries are particularly exposed, as aid remains a key source of financing for essential services. The article stresses that abrupt reductions risk undermining trust in international cooperation. It also warns that Europe’s credibility as a development partner could be weakened. Beyond immediate budget impacts, the cuts may have serious consequences for health, education, and social protection systems. The authors highlight potential knock-on effects, including increased instability and migration pressures. They link these trends to shifting political priorities, with greater focus on domestic interests and security spending. While new approaches to “mutual benefit” in aid are emerging, they cannot fully replace long-term development support. Overall, the piece argues that unpredictable aid flows threaten global solidarity and long-term stability. More here.
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
CZU in Prague ranks among the world’s best in its key fields, as shown by the ranking
The international QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 confirms that the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU) belongs among the global leaders in fields related to nature and sustainability. In Agriculture & Forestry, it ranked 58th in the world, the best result among all Czech universities in this year’s evaluation. It is also the Czech leader in Environmental Sciences.
Compared with last year, CZU improved in Agriculture & Forestry from 66th place, confirming a long-term upward trend – as recently as 2020, it was ranked in the 101–150 band. The university also achieved a strong result in Environmental Sciences, ranking first in the Czech Republic and placing in the 251–300 band worldwide.
In the overall QS World University Rankings 2026, CZU is placed in the 761–770 band worldwide.
The ranking primarily serves prospective students.
Among other things, the QS ranking serves as an important source of information for prospective students. It evaluates universities based on several criteria, including academic reputation, employer reputation, the quality of scientific output, and internationalization. This year’s results also point to growing competition from foreign universities, especially from Asia. More here.
Resilient environments, healthier communities: Inside the NRI Annual Review 2025
The NRI Annual Review 2025 highlights a year of interdisciplinary research aimed at building more resilient environments and healthier communities. The Natural Resources Institute and its partners are working globally to turn scientific knowledge into practical, scalable solutions. In Ghana, specialised training supports efforts to eliminate river blindness. In Côte d’Ivoire, research on cashew anthracnose is improving disease management and strengthening cashew production systems. In Mongolia, work on the cashmere value chain helps balance environmental sustainability with livelihoods for herding communities. The Review also explores the links between nutrition, health, and livelihoods, including how livestock diversification in Nigeria can improve nutrition in conflict-affected areas. In Madagascar, new tools are being developed to better measure women’s empowerment in agriculture and nutrition programmes. Innovation is a key focus, with new technologies and community-based approaches improving pest control, pollination, and sustainable farming. The NRI also emphasizes capacity building through research-led teaching and entrepreneurship training. Overall, the Review shows how collaborative science is delivering real-world impact across food systems and natural resource management. More here.
Liège University – Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Rethinking crop rotations in light of food requirements and climate change
Two studies conducted by researchers at the University of Liège, in collaboration with the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and Michigan State University (USA), focusing on the design of crop rotations that combine environmental sustainability, healthy nutrition and adaptation to climate change, show that systems integrating crops and livestock increase the capacity for adaptation to climate change – notably through resilience to extreme weather events – but also for mitigation, through carbon sequestration and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. More here.
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