Water, Land and Ecosystems |

Connected thinking, compelling solutions

WLE is a research-for-development program delivering agriculture solutions
that enhance natural resources and the well being of people in the Global South

Highlights

- Learning / Training
Culturally grounded indicators of resilience
Resilience
October 03, 2019
This tool provides case studies for building culturally grounded indicators of resilience for indigenous and local communities. Approaches can be applied to other places and cultural contexts within the geographic regions in which they were developed.
Blog Post
Blog Post
February 14, 2020
With technology and trust, we can move mountains
By reviving the landscape through ancient and new techniques – and trust, scientists help Ethiopia's Yewol community change their future.
- Adam Hunt
1 comment
Blog Post
Blog Post
April 17, 2020
Satellite maps can help nations make critical food production decisions amid coronavirus
How cloud technology is being used to innovate new globally applicable decision support tools to maintain food production and minimize large-scale food waste, while still maintaining social distancing practices.

News

Partner News
May 13, 2020
How Quito’s urban and peri-urban gardens contribute to the COVID-19 responseread original article on external website
The geographic information system (GIS) of Quito’s food system, generated with support from RUAF and WLE, helped form the basis of maps that allow the municipality to target assistance where it's needed most.
News
May 12, 2020
Resilient and participatory: How Quito’s setting the standard on urban food systems
The agri-food strategy, backed by an innovative city-wide food policy, continues to promote positive change in the way food is processed, transported and consumed, as well as how waste is handled.
- René van Veenhuizen
Lead Partner: RUAF Global Partnership
News
May 07, 2020
COVID-19 threatens agriculture, food, nutrition security: WLE Chair joins international call for action
WLE's Ann Tutwiler joins over 170 others as a signatory in an open letter calling for collective action to address global food systems under stress amid COVID-19.
- Francesca Billington

Thrive

Blog Post
Blog Post
May 14, 2020
Five stark COVID-19 warnings from the agriculture R4D sector
The coronavirus crises underscores the need for integrated research efforts combining human health, animal health, and ecosystems health, all while promoting inclusivity & innovation.
- Francesca Billington
Blog Post
Blog Post
May 13, 2020
Amidst food system shocks, we must ensure weather index insurance reaches the most vulnerable
The new framework assists insurers and implementers to reach disadvantaged groups, who are often overlooked in weather-based insurance schemes, to help those farmers recover and rebuild.
- Mohamed Aheeyar
- Carolyn Fry
Blog Post
Blog Post
May 04, 2020
Fixing the global food system after coronavirus
Op-Ed from the Chair of the CGIAR WLE-supported Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI) in The Hill. Coronavirus has demonstrated our ability to transform food-supply chains at short notice, but the strain on the global food system will extend beyond the pandemic. Here's what to do, from CoSAI Chair in The Hill.
- Ruben Echeverría

Publications

Journal Article
2020
Urbanisation and emerging economies: issues and potential solutions for water and food security
Kookana, R. S.; Drechsel, Pay; Jamwal, P.; Vanderzalm, J. 2020. Urbanisation and emerging economies: issues and potential solutions for water and food security. Science of the Total Environment, 732:139057. (Online first)
Conference Paper
2020
Endosulfan pesticide dissipation and residue levels in khat and onion in a sub-humid region of Ethiopia
Sishu, F. K.; Thegaye, E. K.; Schmitter, Petra; Habtu, N. G.; Tilahun, S. A.; Steenhuis, T. S. 2020. Endosulfan pesticide dissipation and residue levels in khat and onion in a sub-humid region of Ethiopia. In Habtu, N. G.; Ayele, D. W.; Fanta, S. W.; Admasu, B. T.; Bitew, M. A. (Eds.). Advances of science and technology. Proceedings of the 7th EAI International Conference on Advancement of Science and Technology (ICAST 2019), Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2-4 August 2019. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. pp.16-28. (Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering (LNICST) Volume 308)
Journal Article
2020
Sustainability of groundwater through community-driven distributed recharge: an analysis of arguments for water scarce regions of semi-arid India
Patel, Praharsh M.; Saha, D.; Shah, Tushaar. 2020. Sustainability of groundwater through community-driven distributed recharge: an analysis of arguments for water scarce regions of semi-arid India. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 29:100680. (Online first)

Conversation Starters

Research

120+ research projects in 79 countries carried out in collaboration with more than 350 partners

Solutions

Evidence-based land and water management innovations for sustainable intensification of agriculture at scale

Impact

333,000 farmers use new technologies and 2,9 million hectares are under improved use or management