Nourishing the PlanetWorldwatch Institute Project on Hunger and Poverty Alleviation

Danielle NierenbergSenior Researcher, Worldwatch Institute

dnierenberg@worldwatch.org http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/

www.worldwatch.org

Nourishing the Planet Part V:Sharing Innovations, Where

Worldwatch Comes In

Source: Bernard Pollack

Nourishing the Planet: Project Goals

• Collect the research and analysis that suggests how to:

• strengthen the agricultural sector in poor countries • improve the surrounding landscape

• By working with groups on the ground (NGOs, aid agencies, and research centers), we will objectively access recent experiences and suggest strategies to pursue in the future—for the Gates Foundation and other international funders

State of the World 2011: Nourishing the Planet

Partnering with Groups On the Ground

We will combine forces with various stakeholders who have a strong interest and expertise in hunger and the environment, including:

– Cornell Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development (CIIFAD)

– Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research Centers (CGIARs)

– EcoAgriculture Partners – Heifer International– International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)– National Agriculture Research Centers (NARs)– Rodale Institute– World Neighbors

Lessons Learned from Asia and Latin America

Example: Sustainable Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Philippines and Thailand:

• Increased yields• Uses water more efficiently• But, its labor requirements are

sometimes prohibitive Research on how to reduce those

requirements could boost the number of rice farmers and communities benefiting from the system

Although our project will focus specifically on sub-Saharan Africa, we’ll draw on innovations and success

stories from other parts of the world

Source: World Bank

Africans Learning from Africans to Grow Food that Nourishes

People and the Planet

Source: Bernard Pollack

A Roadmap for Funders, Donors, and Policymakers

Source: World Bank

Stories of Hope and Success in African Agriculture

• We will tell the stories that aren’t being told. Often, the only news we hear from Africa is about famine, war, and HIV/AIDS

• This project will highlight successful and emerging agricultural innovations for alleviating hunger and poverty in Eastern, Western, and Southern Africa

Source: Bernard Pollack

Research and Data Collection

Agricultural Innovations Survey • We are distributing a survey to our partners in the

field to get both quantitative and qualitative data regarding different agricultural innovations

Research Trips • Over the next year, we’ll be traveling throughout

sub-Saharan Africa to collect stories, data, and other research for our video blogs, Eye on Earth news stories, magazine, outside publications, and State of the World 2011: Nourishing the Planet

www.worldwatch.org