Current fellowships

Reducing the impact of cassava brown streak disease

Ravi ANJANAPPA
Cassava is ranked amongst the top five staple crops in global production, however, pests and diseases are still a major construction to cassava production. This project aims to contribute to protecting cassava from the devastating effects of viral diseases and to improve food security for the poor in Africa. Details

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from paddy farming by intercropping with other economically useful plants

Gurbir Singh BHULLAR
Rice is a major staple food crop and a significant natural source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.This project explores the potential for developing new rice based cropping system integrated with novel strategies to mitigate GHG emissions. Details

Contribution to food security by improving farmers' responses to climate change in northern and central areas of Côte d'Ivoire

Hermann COMOÉ
Côte d’Ivoire experiences an increase in climatic variability since the late 1960s. However, scientific knowledge on viable adaptation strategies for farmers in Côte d’Ivoire is still quite scarce. This project aims at filling this knowledge gap by investigating farmers’ decision-making process related to climate change and
their risk management strategies. Details

Views of the rural poor: Understanding their perceptions, resources and constraints in two territories in Honduras

Sandra CONTZEN
In rural areas of Honduras, the poverty rate is very high. The Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) introduced in 2001 aims at improving the situation of these small scale farmers, however, no substantial change has been achieved yet. The project tries to identify the reasons for this mismatch with the aim to provide a basis for future development policies. Details

Impact of organic amendments on the phosphate nutrition of crops and on phosphate transformations in lixisols from semi-arid West Africa

Innocent Delwendé KIBA
Organic matter and phosphate (P) inputs are essential to restore the fertility of the fragile soils in West Africa and improve crop production. However, there is a lack of information on how organic amendments affect P availability to crops in these lixisols. This project will evaluate the short, medium and long term effects of organic amendments on soil P dynamics, crop N and P nutrition and crop productivity. Details

Exploration of the effects of anti-tick vaccines on transmission of Theileria parva, the causative agent of East Coast fever

Cassandra OLDS
Livestock plays a key role in subsistence farming communities, particularly in Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, tick-borne diseases are considered to be amongst the most important constraints to livestock production. The project explores ways to avoid the transmission of such diseases through a new vaccine. Details

The REDD mechanism and «fragile states». Politicaleconomy of avoided deforestation in forested countries of Central Africa andrelated challenges.

Symphorien ONGOLO
REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) is an incentive mechanism to reward developing states for what they achieve in the fight against Deforestation and forest Degradation. Our main research question aims to understand how REDD could be efficiency implemented in the Congo Basin, especially in the context of population growth and commercial pressures on the land (for their conversion to other land uses such as agro-business and mining extractions or locally for slash and burn farming). Details

Uncovering the genetic pathways involved in staygreen cassava phenotype and development of subsequent markers for drought tolerance in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Charles OREK
Cassava is one of the most important sources of food globally and performs better than most other crops on low fertility soils and in areas with prolonged dry periods. Drought tolerance research in cassava in East Africa is still at its beginning. This project will generate pioneering molecular data on cassava drought mechanisms. Details

Ancient genes for future rice

Jonghwa PARK
Most of the rice farmers and consumers live in Asia and Africa with a large proportion of urban and rural poor. In light of the growing population and climatic changes that increasingly threaten rice production, it is critically important to develop rice that maintains high yield and good grain quality under adverse conditions. Details

Forest dwellers and biodiversity in the context of industrial forestry: looking for a win-win collaboration

Olivia RICKENBACH
If responsibly managed, production forests have been shown to have the potential to make important contributions to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. But sustainable management of production forest in the tropics remains an enormous challenge. Details

Exploiting beneficial insects and defensive plant traits to limit pest damage and support growth of native timber trees

Judith RIEDEL
Reforestation projects are recognized in the agreement of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto-Protocol. The use of CDM projects as a development tool for the rural poor is currently being considered in many Latin American countries since planting native timber trees on deforested land such as cattle pastures in Central- and South America can protect remaining forests and sustain local communities by generating income and restoring degraded land. Details

Linking smallholders to high-value supply chains: Collective organizations and development interventions in vegetable value chains in Tanzania

Marc ZOSS
High-value agriculture including products such as meat or fish is the fastest growing agricultural sector. Participating in these value chains offers considerable opportunities to smallholders. Based on vegetable production in Tanzania, the project aims to analyse the existing value chains as well as to assess the opportunities and constraints for smallholder integration. Details