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TAAT convenes strategic meeting to accelerate agricultural transformation across Africa

Michael Simire
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TAAT convenes strategic meeting to accelerate agricultural transformation across Africa

The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) has convened a high-level Work Planning Meeting under its Phase II Addendum to strengthen the delivery of climate-smart agricultural technologies across Africa.

The meeting, which was held in Kigali, Rwanda, from March 23 to 24, 2026, with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), brought together key stakeholders, including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), CGIAR Centres, Advanced Agricultural Research Institutes (AARIs), National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES), government representatives, private-sector actors, and development partners.

TAAT
Signing the sub-grant agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda, the African Development Bank, and the TAAT Programme

A major highlight of this phase is the implementation of a €5 million grant from Germany, administered through the African Development Bank’s Transition Support Facility (TSF Pillar IV). The funding will support activities in Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, and Nigeria.

The Work Planning Meeting seeks to review and validate the Work Plan and Budget, finalise implementation arrangements, and strengthen collaboration among partners to ensure effective rollout of programme activities.

Key areas of focus include strengthening seed systems, building institutional and technical capacity, promoting youth engagement in agriculture, and expanding digital advisory solutions to enhance productivity and climate resilience.

Since its launch in 2018, TAAT has played a pivotal role in advancing Africa’s agricultural transformation by scaling proven technologies. The programme has supported the production of over 4,333 metric tonnes of breeder seeds, leading to more than 309,000 metric tonnes of certified seeds, significantly improving crop yields and farmer livelihoods across the continent.

The programme has integrated 71 cases of technologies into 14 large-scale projects and technical assistance into 21 projects across 24 countries, thereby influencing $857 million, and the integration of 136 cases of technologies into 18 large-scale projects across 21 countries, influencing $1.7 billion under the African Development Fund (ADF) concessional loans and grants window of the African Development Bank.

In his remarks at the opening and signing ceremonies, Mr. Innocent Musabyimana, the Chief Agricultural Technologies Officer at the African Development Bank, affirmed that TAAT remains central to delivering the African Development Bank Feed Africa vision.

“Strong partnerships are key to scaling agricultural transformation, and this meeting is about moving from planning to accelerated action,” Mr. Musabyimana said.

The representative of the IITA Management at the event and Country Representative for Rwanda, Mr. Matieyedou Konlambigue, applauded TAAT’s commitment to African food systems transformation, noting the production and dissemination of over 309,000 MT of certified seeds to millions of farmers across the continent.

“TAAT has demonstrated success in strengthening seed systems across Africa, and now we need to scale with speed, promote sustainability, and align implementation and accountability commitments to delivering measurable impact for farmers,” he added.

The acting Coordinator of the TAAT Programme Management Unit, Ms. Rachel Zozo, stated that the TAAT Phase II Addendum grant would focus on bolstering strategic investment in the six countries, with a view to building their capacity, resilience, and innovation, while addressing fragility concerns through strengthened food systems.

“Our priorities in this phase will be to strengthen seed systems and early generation seed (EGS) production, empower youth and institutions, scale digital agriculture solutions, and enhance collaboration across public and private sectors,” Ms. Zozo added.

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, stakeholders at the event emphasised that strengthening partnerships and investing in local capacity are critical to reducing Africa’s vulnerability to global agricultural shocks and ensuring long-term food security.

The meeting resulted in finalised implementation plans, strengthened partnerships, and a signed sub-grant agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda, the African Development Bank, and the TAAT Programme, represented by the IITA.

The agreement which seeks to facilitate rapid execution of activities across all four components of TAAT II, with a strong focus on capacity building for key stakeholders in the six countries, will support strengthening the seed systems in the target countries, capacity building for National Agricultural Research Systems and the private sector to produce early generation seeds, technical capacity building for young professionals in National Agricultural Research Extension Institutions, and build target countries capacity in digital advisory solutions for extension, climate information and input distribution. 

Dr Solange Uwituze, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, who signed on behalf of the government of Rwanda, welcomed the MoU, noting that it will help increase productivity through the Food Basket Sites initiated by the Ministry, as well as create youth employment in Rwanda.

“In line with our 2050 vision of Rwanda, which enhances food security among Rwandans, we should increase the agricultural productivity by 13 times from what we produce now. This requires us to adopt modern agronomic practices and improved technologies. That’s what this MoU is going to contribute to. Because it will help provide clean seeds and increase the capacities of local actors to practise agriculture on small lands but with increased productivity,” Dr Uwituze added.

Nigeria must build resource resilience, says Renaissance chairman

Michael Simire
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Nigeria must build resource resilience, says Renaissance chairman

Amid persistent volatility in global energy markets, the Chairman of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Dr Layi Fatona, has urged the Nigerian government and corporate leaders to strengthen national and corporate resilience by diversifying across oil, gas and mineral resources.

Speaking at the 61st Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Fatona, whose remarks were delivered on his behalf by Renaissance Vice-President for Exploration, Johnbosco Uche, warned that Nigeria must prepare for commodity cycles, shifting energy geopolitics, and rising security risks.

Dr Layi Fatona
Chairman of the Board of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Dr. Layi Fatona

“Infrastructure must be designed to withstand economic, environmental and security shocks,” he said, aligning his message with the conference’s theme: “Optimising Efficiency, Sustainability and Resilience in Resource Management and Infrastructure Development.”

According to Fatona, the conference theme reflects both Nigeria’s current predicament and the future it must build in the context of an accelerating global energy transition.

Fatona argued that improving efficiency across the entire resource value chain, from exploration and development to production and market access, remains essential. He called for eliminating redundancies, reducing cycle times, and improving recovery rates. “Data‑driven decision‑making is central to unlocking efficiency gains,” he noted, adding that infrastructure remains a decisive enabler of value creation.

Resource endowment, he cautioned, offers little benefit without the supporting networks to monetise it.

“Resource wealth without infrastructure is stranded potential,” he said, urging investment in transport systems, processing facilities, gas networks and export corridors. Integrated planning across the oil, gas and mining sectors, he added, would unlock scale, reduce costs and deepen domestic value capture.

On sustainability, the Renaissance chairman argued that it must evolve beyond a compliance exercise to become an embedded strategic principle. Environmental stewardship, host‑community inclusion and responsible resource utilisation, he said, should form the foundation of Nigeria’s extractive industries.

“We must ensure that today’s extraction does not compromise tomorrow’s prosperity,” he said.

Fatona highlighted the transformative potential of emerging technologies, including digital subsurface modelling, artificial intelligence and automation, to improve safety, efficiency and recovery. Real‑time monitoring of infrastructure, he said, enhances reliability and reduces losses. Nigeria, he warned, must accelerate technological adoption if it hopes to remain globally competitive.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for issuing executive orders aimed at improving the operating environment in the natural resources sector. These measures, he said, demonstrate a clear intent to prioritise the sustainable development of Nigeria’s resource base and strengthen the country’s industrialisation drive.

“In the sector in which I operate as Chairman of Renaissance, these actions continue to empower Nigerian operators and improve the ease of doing business,” he added. For a country with a rapidly growing population, abundant talent and vast natural resources, he described industrialisation as “a necessary vision.”

Fatona called on government, industry players and other stakeholders to intensify collaboration to ensure that Nigeria’s aspirations for industrial growth and economic diversification are fully realised.

Abuja technology forum to convene youth, CSOs, media

Michael Simire
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Abuja technology forum to convene youth, CSOs, media

PROMAD, a civic innovation organisation, says it will convene a one-day Hybrid Youth, CSO & Media Roundtable on Youth, Technology and Development in Abuja as part of the Strengthening Participation, Accountability and Transparency in States (SPATS) initiative in North Central Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Joseph Akujuobi, PROMAD’s Communications Officer, said the roundtable would bring together young leaders, civil society organisations, media practitioners, policymakers, students, and technology innovators to explore how youth-driven innovation and civic technology can strengthen participatory governance, promote transparency, and accelerate development outcomes across the region and the entire country.

International Youth Day
A cross section of youths during the cleanup at Plogging Nigeria, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

The organisation noted that as Nigeria continues to experience rapid digital transformation, the role of young people in shaping governance, policy innovation, and civic accountability has become increasingly critical.

“The roundtable aims to create a collaborative platform where youth voices, civic innovators, media professionals, and public institutions can jointly explore practical solutions that leverage technology for participatory governance and sustainable development.”

Speaking ahead of the event, the Founder and Executive Director of PROMAD, Daisi Omokungbe, noted that empowering young people with digital tools and platforms for civic participation is essential for strengthening participatory democratic governance and accountability in Nigeria.

“Young people are not just beneficiaries of development; they are drivers of innovation and transformation. Through this roundtable, we are bringing together youth leaders, civic actors, and the media to explore how technology can strengthen participatory, transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance across North Central Nigeria.”

The hybrid roundtable will feature keynote presentations, expert panel discussions, civic technology demonstrations, and collaborative breakout sessions designed to generate innovative ideas and practical recommendations for advancing youth participation and digital innovation in governance.

Omokungbe said PROMAD will launch its new AI-powered civic tech solutions aimed at promoting participatory and data-driven governance. According to him, participants will also have the opportunity to engage with civic technology solutions developed by PROMAD that enable citizens to participate in participatory budgeting, track public projects, strengthen transparency, and promote participatory governance.

The event is expected to attract participants from youth organisations, civil society groups, media institutions, government agencies, universities, and the technology ecosystem. Plans have been put in place for physical and virtual participation options to ensure broader inclusion and engagement.

The roundtable will further provide a platform for media professionals to deepen reporting on youth-led innovation, technology for development, and civic accountability, while fostering stronger partnerships between civil society organisations, innovators, and policymakers.

PROMAD Foundation invites youth leaders, journalists, civic tech innovators, development professionals, students, and public officials to register and participate in this important dialogue on the future of youth, technology, and development in Nigeria.

Nigeria unveils plan to lift 50m out of poverty by 2030

Michael Simire
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Nigeria unveils plan to lift 50m out of poverty by 2030

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, has inaugurated the “One Humanitarian-One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS)” aimed at lifting 50 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

Doro unveiled the initiative at a National Technical Workshop for stakeholders in the humanitarian sector at the UN House on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Abuja.

The minister explained that the OHOPRS was unified national architecture for ending poverty in Nigeria, adding that over 63 per cent of Nigerians faced multidimensional poverty.

Poverty
Participants at the National Technical Workshop for stakeholders in the humanitarian sector at the UN House

He itemised the challenges facing the humanitarian activities as, structural gap-chronic fragmentation across MDAs, states, and local governments, visibility crisis, and coordination conflict.

“Others include Siloed Data, uncoordinated beneficiary registers, inefficient funding, duplicated efforts that fail to reach the last mile, fragmentation, lack of synergy, limited social proof/impact, stagnation and lack of a unified ‘Poverty Exit’ pathway.

“We have been managing poverty, not ending it. It is time for a paradigm shift.

“To end poverty, Nigeria does not lack interventions, but lack the systems to facilitate the effective actualisation of the interventions.”

According to him, OHOPRS is the new national backbone designed to merge and integrate humanitarian relief, long-term development, and social protection.

He noted that the system also aligned MDAs, state governments, and development partners, but lacked individuals from vulnerability to support, exit and growth.

“There is a clear national direction on the OHOPRS; President Bola Tinubu ‘s vision is uncompromising. The mandate is to lift 50 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

“Also, to implement real-time, digital accountability, re-establish government-led coordination and align every stakeholder to a single national system.

“Meanwhile, the core principles are, one system, one register and one pathway; one National Data Backbone: the ‘Single Source of Truth’.

“One Unified Beneficiary System: No more “double-dipping” or exclusions, one Poverty Exit Pathway: A structured roadmap to self-reliance and one National Coordination Platform: Total alignment of all actors,” Doro said.

He further explained the OHOPRS’ architecture, poverty exit pathway, poverty intelligence lab, data-driven governance, evolution of the response, roles and responsibilities, expected national impact, and operationalisation of the vision.

“OHOPRS is more than a reform; it is Nigeria’s blueprint for lifting our people from poverty to prosperity.

“The focus is shifting from the ‘poverty line’ to the ‘prosperity ladder’. Yesterday, we managed the challenge. Today, we architect the end,” Doro said.

Also, the Minister of State, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Tanko Sununu, said the OHOPRS aimed to synergise efforts across various sectors and agencies to ensure a coordinated response.

“When we have one response plan, it means we are going to have a way that everyone can put effort together, so that we can have a proper plan, execution, tracing, tracking, and then measurement of internal outcomes.

“By allowing humanitarian aid with long-term development goals, the programme can address the immediate survival needs while also focusing on sustainable social mobility,” Sununu said.

The organisations in attendance include International NGO Forum, European Union, UNOCHA, IOM UNICEF, ECHO, World Bank and other stakeholders from the subnational.

The organisations in attendance pledged their commitments and supports to the successful implementation of the OHOPRS initiated by the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry.

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

Ikeja Electric cites generation drop for Lagos outages

Michael Simire
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Ikeja Electric cites generation drop for Lagos outages

Ikeja Electric (IE) says residents and businesses across Lagos are experiencing reduced electricity supply following a nationwide drop in power generation.

Mr. Kingsley Okotie, Head of Corporate Communications, IE, said this in an interview on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Lagos.

Okotie attributed the development to insufficient gas supply to thermal power plants, the country’s major source of electricity generation.

Power distribution
Power distribution infrastructure

“The ongoing reduction in electricity supply is largely due to a nationwide drop in power generation, caused by limited gas supply to thermal power plants.

“This has significantly reduced the energy available on the national grid and, consequently, the allocation to Ikeja Electric and other distribution companies,” he said.

He noted that the shortfall had affected electricity distribution to customers, resulting in intermittent outages and load shedding across its network.

Okotie, however, assured customers of the company’s commitment to equitable and efficient distribution of the limited power available.

“The management regrets the inconvenience caused and appreciates the patience and understanding of our customers during this period.

“We remain committed to distributing the available power as efficiently and equitably as possible,” he said.

The spokesman urged customers to remain patient as efforts continued at the national level to improve gas supply and stabilise power generation.

The development has worsened electricity challenges in Lagos, with residents and businesses lamenting poor supply.

Some residents, who spoke in separate interviews, said the situation had increased their dependence on generators and raised operating costs.

Mrs. Kemi Adebayo, a frozen food trader, said she relied heavily on generators to preserve her goods.

“I run my generator more than I use public power. If there is no light, my goods spoil. If I use fuel, I lose profit. Either way, I am losing,” she said.

Mr. Sani Ibrahim, a welder, described the situation as unsustainable.

“We spend more on diesel than on raw materials. Sometimes, customers leave because we cannot deliver on time,” he said.

Also, Mrs. Roseline George, a civil servant, said erratic power supply had worsened the impact of rising temperatures.

“It has been very hot, and there is no constant electricity supply. We rely on rechargeable fans and take plenty of water,” she said.

However, experts say persistent challenges, including gas supply shortages, recurring grid disturbances and sectoral debts, continue to limit electricity generation in the country.

They warn that unreliable power supply could further constrain productivity and economic growth if not urgently addressed.

By Yunus Yusuf

Kazakhstan to create protective forest belts to tackle desertification

Michael Simire
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Kazakhstan to create protective forest belts to tackle desertification

Authorities in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, said they would establish a system of protective forest belts to counter land degradation and prevent the deterioration of soil fertility.

This was announced by the country’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Yerlan Nyssanbayev, at a government meeting, according to Kazinform, a partner of TV BRICS.

“It is important to emphasise that the implementation of the task to plant 2 billion trees will not be limited to this number; the work will continue.

Yerlan Nyssanbayev
Kazakhstan Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Yerlan Nyssanbayev

“To prevent land degradation and counter desertification, work is beginning on the creation of a system of protective forest belts and barrier plantations,” the minister announced.

He emphasised that these tasks are particularly important in the context of climate change and the growing anthropogenic pressure on ecosystems.

According to Nyssanbayev, natural resources must be used with the long-term interests of society in mind; therefore, the ministry has adopted the comprehensive biodiversity conservation and sustainable use concept for 2026–2035.

Other countries and partners within the BRICS group are also taking measures to conserve green spaces and improve soil quality.

In Russia, since 2022, as part of the implementation of the Zemlya (Land) state programme, 3.3 million hectares of unused land have been brought into agricultural use.

According to the website of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, by the end of 2025, the total area of land preserved through land improvement measures had reached 4.9 million hectares.

State support enables farmers to more actively implement projects aimed at improving land use efficiency, preserving soil fertility and protecting agricultural land from degradation.

Almost 50 per cent of costs are reimbursed for hydromelioration and hydraulic engineering works, and up to 90 per cent for phytomelioration and afforestation.

In Inner Mongolia in northern China, where several deserts are located, work is regularly carried out on afforestation and preventing desertification.

One of the measures against the encroachment of sand has been the laying of straw barriers.

In the city of Nusantara, currently under construction on the island of Kalimantan, to which the Indonesian authorities plan to relocate the national capital, efforts are being made to restore tropical forests.

The authorities have imposed a restriction on developers: 65 per cent of the city’s territory must be covered by forest.

Lagos, WaterAid unveil $2.5m water project

Michael Simire
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Lagos, WaterAid unveil $2.5m water project

WaterAid Nigeria, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, has unveiled a five-year $2.5 million “TeamWater Nigeria” project to improve access to clean water in Lagos.

The initiative was part of the global TeamWater campaign, towards rehabilitation of the Ojokoro waterworks and expanding pipeline infrastructure in the Lagos Water Corporation’s Northern Business Region.

Speaking at the unveiling, Mrs. Titilola Oridami-Bright, the Head of Strategy and Transformation at Lagos Water Corporation, said the rehabilitation would restore the Ojokoro waterworks, providing clean water to about 72,000 customers.

Mukhtaar Tijani
Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Muktaar Tijani

Oridami-Bright said improvements to the Iju/Adiyan pipeline network would extend potable water supply to an additional 28,000 residents.

She noted that the project aligned with its goal of addressing water access challenges in rapidly urbanising areas.

According to her, Lagos, with over 22 million residents, faces significant water supply gaps, with only about 10 per cent accessing municipal water services.

She added that the project would expand equitable water services through infrastructure rehabilitation and network expansion.

In her remarks, the Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Ms. Evelyn Mere, said the project is government-led, with the Lagos Water Corporation providing primary leadership.

Mere described the initiative as a milestone in WaterAid’s urban water supply interventions in Lagos, building on previous successes such as the Akilo waterworks.

She noted that the project was developed through collaboration across WaterAid’s global network, including support from WaterAid UK and WaterAid America.

She said the funding was raised through crowdfunding efforts involving global creators and social media influencers under the TeamWater campaign.

She emphasised the need for transparency, accountability and adherence to best practices in project implementation.

Also speaking, Ms. Amaka Godfrey of WaterAid International, stressed the importance of sustainability and public participation in the success of the project.

Godfrey said residents must be willing to connect to the rehabilitated system and pay for services to enable the Lagos Water Corporation to maintain operations.

“If everyone expects free connections, the corporation will not have sufficient funds to sustain the infrastructure,” she said.

She called on the media and the public to play an active role in monitoring the project and holding stakeholders accountable.

According to her, accurate reporting is essential to avoid misinformation, especially in the era of social media.

Godfrey also urged journalists to educate residents on how to connect to the system and the importance of accessing clean water.

In her remarks, the Chairman of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, Mrs. Oluyemisi Rosiji, assured stakeholders of community support for the project.

Rosiji said local leaders, councillors and community development associations would mobilise residents to embrace the initiative.

She commended the Lagos State Government, the Lagos Water Corporation, and development partners for facilitating the project.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation, Mr. Mukhtar Tijani, described water as essential to health, dignity and productivity.

Tijani said the project would rehabilitate the Ojokoro waterworks and distribution network, improving efficiency, water quality and reducing losses.

He reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to maintaining and expanding the infrastructure, noting that the project would significantly improve water supply for residents.

He expressed appreciation to WaterAid, donors and partners, urging continued collaboration to bridge the water access gap in Lagos.

By Fabian Ekeruche

Oyo phases out waste bin on major roads, markets

Michael Simire
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Oyo phases out waste bin on major roads, markets

The Oyo State Government has phased out large waste bins placed along major roads and market places, as a measure to boost the image of the state.

Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Ademola Aderinto, made this known on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the inauguration of the Oyo SSS (Oyo Sọrọ Soke S’ita) whistle‑blower scheme in Oluyole Local Government Area.

Aderinto said that the bins, which are emptied daily at a cost running into millions of naira, had become permanent eyesore.

Seyi Makinde
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State

“It is not befitting for our image. The money spent evacuating them could fund infrastructural development, health and education,” he said.

The commissioner said that the new initiative would also reward anyone who reports indiscriminate refuse dumping with one‑fifth of the offender’s fine, which carries a minimum of ₦50,000.

“Reports are treated anonymously but must be backed by concrete evidence; sanctions include fines, community service and imprisonment,” Aderinto said.

Also, Mr. Adetunji Lam-Adesina, Chief Executive Officer, Alluvia Unique Concept and Consultant Waste Management System, Oluyole Local Government area, said that the scheme could be likened to community policing, “but in this case it is for sanitation.

“If we don’t want things to deteriorate further, we should take this seriously.

“Without a clean and tidy environment, we are joking with so many things; our health, socio-economic activities, people will not come and invest.

“We as pacesetters should lead by example. Ibadan is a major city, and we should be able to live by global standards.

“It is just like community policing. People should ensure their neighbours are doing the right thing by telling the government and the reporter would be kept anonymous.

“Everyone that decides to be a whistleblower can be guaranteed of safety,” Lam-Adesina said

He solicited for all hands to be on deck to ensure a clean and safe environment in Oyo State.

Also, Chief Adeyemi Ojo, Chairman, Community Development Committee, Oluyole LGA, and Mr. Saheed Bayonle Ayedade, Agric Supervisor in the LGA, called on residents to take ownership of a cleaner environment.

By Ibukun Emiola

Maize, rice, cassava driving deforestation globally – Researchers

Michael Simire
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Maize, rice, cassava driving deforestation globally – Researchers

Maize, rice and cassava drive more deforestation than major export-oriented crops like cocoa, coffee, and rubber.

This has been shown by researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, in the most comprehensive global survey of how different commodities are causing deforestation.

The study confirms the major impact of meat production but reveals several overlooked drivers of deforestation.

Maize and cassava plants
Maize and cassava plants

Food production is the main cause of deforestation in the world, but until now there has not been any detailed mapping of which crops affect deforestation in which countries.

Chandrakant Singh, researcher at Chalmers University of Technology, is the lead author of a new study that addresses this knowledge gap. He has developed the Deforestation Driver and Carbon Emissions (DeDuCE) model, together with his colleague Martin Persson, who has extensive experience researching which agricultural commodities drive deforestation. The model links agricultural products with data on deforestation globally.

“Deforestation’s links to food production have long been studied, but have often focused on some products, such as beef, soybeans and palm oil, which are well known in the context of deforestation; and some countries in the world, such as Brazil or Indonesia. In our study, we’ve combined extensive satellite data on land use with agriculture statistics in a way that gives us the most comprehensive and accurate picture yet of what is driving deforestation worldwide,” says Singh.

The model covers 179 countries and 184 commodities. It shows that a total of 122 million hectares of forest have disappeared due to agriculture-driven deforestation during the period 2001–2022, of which more than 80 per cent has been lost in the tropics. The study confirms what we previously knew about the main drivers of deforestation: clearing forests to create pasture for meat production, as well as producing major export commodities such as soybeans and palm oil. But the study also contributes some more unexpected results.

Staples a strong driver of deforestation

The mapping shows that locally produced and consumed staple crops have a greater impact on deforestation than many major export commodities. Staple crops such as maize, rice and cassava together are responsible for about 11 percent of all agriculture-driven deforestation, while the figure for cocoa, coffee and rubber combined is less than 5 per cent.

Unlike many other commodities, such as palm oil in South-East Asia and soybeans in South America, deforestation linked to staple crops is not concentrated to specific regions, but is distributed across large parts of the globe.

“The debate on deforestation has circulated a lot around how people in rich countries like ours cause deforestation with our commodities imports, and this is absolutely important to get to grips with. But we mustn’t forget that a large proportion of deforestation is driven by agricultural production for domestic markets. So to really reduce deforestation, we must also take action in the producer countries,” says Martin Persson.

The researchers hope that their results can provide important decision support for government agencies and companies wanting to take action to reduce deforestation.

“Our data shows where the risks are and where initiatives are needed most. The goal is for the model to connect researchers, decision-makers, companies and civil society,” says Singh.

Emissions from deforestation lower than anticipated

The study also provides a detailed picture of the carbon dioxide emissions that deforestation associated with agricultural and forestry products causes. Farmers and cattle ranchers often clear forested land by burning it, which means that the carbon stored in the vegetation is emitted as carbon dioxide.

These emissions are estimated at around 41 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide between 2001 and 2022, or on average close to 2 billion tonnes per year. This is a much lower figure than in previous global compilations, where annual carbon dioxide emissions have been estimated at more than twice these figures. According to Dr. Singh, the difference can be explained by the fact that their study has used a finer-scale attribution method than those used in the previous calculations.

“But even if the figure is lower than previous estimates, agriculture-driven deforestation still causes around 5 per cent of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions,” he says.

Improving the model further the goal

The researchers estimate that the model will be expanded to include non-food commodities in the future.

“We see a need to broaden the analysis beyond food and agriculture. One example is the mining and energy sector, which is a major driver of both direct and indirect deforestation. By broadening the analysis, we can get a more complete picture of which economic activities are putting pressure on forests around the world,” says Singh.

Warming coastal waters are primary drivers of large-scale humid heatwaves – Study

Michael Simire
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Warming coastal waters are primary drivers of large-scale humid heatwaves – Study

Rising sea surface temperatures in coastal waters are driving 50 to 64 percent of the increase in large-scale humid heatwaves, according to new research.

The study, from researchers at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Princeton University and Sun Yat-sen University, implies that coastal sea surface temperatures could be a potential early warning indicator for widespread humid heat extremes.

Humid heatwaves have intensified rapidly in recent decades and are projected to worsen, raising the risk of heat-related mortality. Previous research has indicated that even healthy people can succumb to wet bulb temperatures – a measure combining heat and humidity – above 31.5°C, when the body is no longer able to cool itself by sweating.

Coastal waters
Coastal waters

However, the widespread occurrence of humid heatwaves across large regions, like the 2023 heatwave in Asia, has so far remained poorly understood. 

“We see a strong link between warming coastal waters and clustered hot, humid extreme events, especially in the tropics, where oceans supply more moisture to the atmosphere, which is then transported to land, amplifying the heat,” says lead author and PIK scientist Fenying Cai. “In regions further from the equator, combined land-ocean warming, linked to large-scale atmospheric wave patterns, also plays an important role.”

Analysing climate data from 1982 to 2023 using a complex network approach, the international research team uncovered strong land-ocean linkages. For example, warming Indian Ocean waters are closely tied to rising humid heat risks in South Asia and the Middle East, while tropical North Atlantic Ocean warming intensifies risks in northern South America. The study also shows that these ocean influences are stronger for large-scale events than for isolated local heatwaves. 

“Better understanding these land-ocean interactions can help to improve climate adaptation strategies. Crucially, coastal sea surface temperatures emerge as a potential early warning indicator for widespread humid heat extremes,” says co-author and PIK scientist, Jürgen Kurths.

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