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- ICARDA Annual Report 2025Author(s): (ICARDA), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2026-09-15)Date: 2026-09-15Type: Internal ReportStatus: Open accessThe ICARDA 2025 Annual Report provides a comprehensive overview of how ICARDA’s research, partnerships, and innovations are addressing significant challenges in dryland agriculture and the communities that rely on it. We extend our profound gratitude for the continued support and collaboration from our partners. Through our joint efforts, we are enhancing livelihoods, fostering resilience, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and developing solutions to address the impacts of climate change. We encourage you to review the ICARDA 2025 Annual Report to learn about the progress made over the past year.
- Exploring the Seasonal Variability of the Ecosystem Quality in the Sagar Islands of the Indian SundarbansAuthor(s): Singh, Anandita; Maity, Subrata; Sahoo, Satiprasad; Govind, Ajit; Das, Jayanta; Biswas, Brototi (Springer)Date: 2026-05-28Type: Book ChapterStatus: Timeless limited accessThe natural ecosystem of Sagar Island in the Indian Sundarbans determines coastal resilience by affecting seasonal transformations. The study tracks ecosystem quality patterns through geo-environmental indices including VCI, TCI, VHI, WCI, SCI, and SAVCI based on remote sensing data. EDAS model processing produces Ecosystem Quality Index (EQI) measurements throughout pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons from 2014 to 2023. A joint application of simple moving averages combined with Mann–Kendall tests confirms ecosystem quality declined constantly until it hit its maximum decline in 2018 due to cyclonic events. The data indicates that pre-monsoon period EQI values decline as environmental stress improves during the post-monsoon season. The study reveals an ecosystem sensitive zone (ESZ) combining all modeling output, about 27.37% of the area is highly sensitive, and 9.01% of the area is under a very highly sensitive zone of the island. The study found that ecosystem quality on Sagar Island declines significantly during pre-monsoon seasons, with 2018 being the worst year due to cyclones. A decade-long negative trend was confirmed, with over 36% of the island classified as ecologically sensitive. These findings prove that efficient management systems should unite improved water resource control measures with mangrove restoration projects to overcome climate change impacts. Knowledge obtained through investigations enables sustainable management of sensitive coastal environments across different time intervals.
- Robust greenhouse evapotranspiration modeling for sustainable multi-sectoral assessmentDate: 2026-05-27Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessTraditional greenhouse crop evapotranspiration (ET) models rely heavily on post-installation operational data, limiting their utility for pre-construction planning and design. This study developed a greenhouse-coupled ET model that integrates crop biophysical characteristics directly into a thermal model to overcome this barrier. By utilizing only local environmental data, the model quantifies cooling, heating, dehumidification, and irrigation requirements for selected crops prior to construction. Validation against experimental data demonstrated high reliability, with a normalized Root-Mean-Square Error (nRMSE) below 9% and R² exceeding 0.93. Simulations in the arid conditions of Minya, Egypt, revealed that crops significantly impact the microclimate, reducing peak internal temperatures by 11 °C in summer and 7°C in winter compared to an unplanted greenhouse. Additionally, the model quantified crop-induced humidity increases, allowing for the development of targeted climate control strategies. This integrated modelling approach optimizes resource management and energy efficiency, offering a robust tool for sustainable greenhouse design and multisectoral applications in precision agriculture.
- Genome-wide association study identifies candidate genes for agronomic traits under heat- and combined recurrent drought-and heat-stress in wheatAuthor(s): KebedeB, Amare; Mohammed, Wassu; Keneni, Gemechu; Stephen, Jones Christopher; Paul, Alok; Al-Shamaa, Khaled; Tadesse, Wuletaw (nature portfolio, 2026-08-28)Date: 2026-08-28Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessCombined heat and drought stress, mainly during sensitive growth stages, considerably limits wheat yields. Herein, we report on an experiment conducted to analyze and predict the phenology, architecture, and kernel yield component (PAKyC) traits of a diverse bread wheat population grown under heat stress and fully irrigated conditions (HSFIC), and combined recurrent drought and heat stress (CRDHS). 17,711 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to perform a GWAS for 13 PAKyC traits on 187 genotypes, a subset of 234 genotypes, using the BLINK model. Nine constitutive SNPs, 24 marker-trait associations (MTAs), broad-effect pleiotropic SNPs, conditional pleiotropic SNPs, adaptive pleiotropic SNPs under CRDHS, and two robust SNPs were identified. Furthermore, 35 candidate genes were associated with cellular components, biological processes, and molecular functions under CRDHS and HSFIC. Among these genes, 12 were highly expressed (> 0.5 TPM) in response to drought, heat, and combined stresses. Nine genes were identified to be transcription factors regulating drought and heat responses, while the functions of the other three genes remain unclear. Overall, HSFIC and CRDHS environments enabled the dissection of heritable and strongly correlated traits, MTAs, and pleiotropy types: constitutive, adaptive, and conditional. They also helped identify robust SNPs and candidate genes that are important for bread wheat breeding.
- Consumer preferences and business model innovation in women-led agri-food systems: Evidence from MoroccoAuthor(s): Rossi, Eleonora Sofia; Najjar, Dina; Oueslati, Dorsaf; Visioni, Andrea; Emanuele, Blasi (Elsevier Masson, 2026-05-31)Date: 2026-05-31Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessCONTEXT: Transforming agri-food systems requires innovation pathways that are socially embedded, genderresponsive, and capable of scaling without reproducing existing inequalities. In low- and middle-income countries, women's cooperatives play a strategic role in linking traditional food systems with emerging markets, yet the mechanisms through which product and organisational innovations jointly create economic and social value remain insufficiently understood. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates how product innovation and organisational innovation interact within a women-led agri-food cooperative in Morocco, and whether consumer demand can support responsible scaling while enhancing women's empowerment. METHODS: The analysis combines a qualitative Business Model Canvas (BMC) with a quantitative Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE). The BMC assesses changes in the cooperative's value proposition, resources, and market orientation before and after targeted innovation support. The DCE evaluates consumer preferences and willingness to pay for product attributes, including artisanal production, ingredient blending, labelling, and price.