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Investing in young scientists for climate-resilient agriculture
LEG4DEV-supported students attended an engagement meeting between the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), IITA–Zambia, the University of Zambia, and stakeholders from the Embassy of Sweden in Zambia and the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats). Read about the event in full on the IITA website: https://www.iita.org/news-item/investing-in-young-scientists-for-climate-resilient-agriculture/
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LEG4DEV Hosts Workshop on Climate Resilient Scaling of Legume Production and Consumption
LEG4DEV holds workshop with Addis Ababa stakeholders on research and innovations for climate resilient scaling of legume production and consumption in the region.
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LEG4DEV briefs Embassy of Ireland in Ethiopia
The University of Galway’s LEG4DEV team recently met with the Embassy of Ireland in Ethiopia.
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LEG4DEV researchers present legume-scaling research findings at Tropentag 2025
LEG4DEV PhD researchers Pacsu and Adam presented their latest findings on intercropping of soybean and maize at Tropentag 2025 in Bonn, Germany.
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New LEG4DEV Research Identifies Enterprise Pathways to Strengthen Legume Systems in Africa
A recent open-access study from the Leg4Dev project entitled “Entrepreneurship pathways for scaling legume-based agroecological intensification in Eastern and Southern Africa. A review’, published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research investigated how enterprise-driven approaches can support legume value chains in Eastern and Southern Africa.
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Reducing Labour Burdens in Zambia’s Maize-Legume Cropping Systems through Mechanisation
LEG4DEV is collaborating with SARO Agro Industrial and other national partners in Zambia to implement localised and stakeholder-informed mechanisation trials of maize-legume cropping systems.
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University of Galway’s LEG4DEV team brief Irish Embassy in Malawi
In June 2025, members of the LEG4DEV research team conducting research in Malawi joined the Head of Programmes for the Irish Embassy to Malawi at their headquarters in Lilongwe for a briefing on some of the latest developments in scaling innovations for legume-based agriculture and development in Malawi.
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LEG4DEV and AICCRA projects join forces to co-develop climate smart legume production manuals with government ministries to support smallholder farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa
As a partnership between the EU-funded LEG4DEV and World Bank-funded AICCRA research project, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is working with government stakeholders in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and other countries in Eastern and Southern Africa to co-develop a Climate-Smart Legume Production Manual for Smallholder Farmers. The findings from the consultative stakeholder workshops in each…
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University of Galway LEG4DEV team visit IITA research groups on the ICIPE campus in Nairobi
The LEG4DEV team recently visited IITA colleagues on the ICIPE campus in Nairobi, where the team met with the IITA groups of Dr. Dries Roobroeck and Dr. Danny Coyne.
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Legumes for Development (LEG4DEV) engages in CGIAR Science Week 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya
The University of Galway LEG4DEV project team recently wrapped up a week of presentations and meetings with partners at CGIAR Science Week 2025, held at the United Nations Africa Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
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LEG4DEV researcher Adam Muhammad Adam presents at AgMIP10 in Mexico
Adam Muhammad Adam, a LEG4DEV researcher based in Hohenheim University, attended AgMIP10.
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University of Galway & partners develop climate-smart legume manual for smallholder farmers in Africa
From March 17th – 19th 2025, the LEG4DEV project team ran the ‘Consultative Workshop Co-Designing the Ethiopia Climate Smart Legume Production Guide’ in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia which brought together key legume and agriculture experts from across Ethiopia and neighbouring countries to co-design a production manual that will ultimately be used by government extension systems to…
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University of Galway LEG4DEV delegation meet with Irish Ambassador to Ethiopia
The University of Galway team was delighted to be welcomed by H.E. Olivia Leslie, Ambassador of Ireland to Ethiopia and her team to discuss LEG4DEV research activities in the Addis Ababa city region, and across the country. Also invited to attend were the members of the parallel EU-funded DESIRA project EcoFoodSystems, also led by the…
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LEG4DEV partners with Ethiopian universities on nine legume-scaling research projects
The LEG4DEV project welcomed nine postgraduate researchers from Ethiopian universities to ILRI-Ethiopia to engage in planning for their legume-scaling research and innovation projects
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LEG4DEV and comparative agroecology: A paradigm to upscale climate-smart food and water system transformations
LEG4DEV affiliate researcher Dr Peter McKeown attended the Comparative Agroecology Conference in Alnarp last week, which was sponsored by the OECD’s Co-operative Research Programme: Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems.
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How grain legumes can enhance agricultural resilience to a changing climate in Africa
A recent study led by LEG4DEV finds that the integration of grain legumes into cropping systems is an effective strategy to enhance resilience against the effects of climate change.
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LEG4DEV publishes research on long-term soil moisture trends in Ethiopia
LEG4DEV Project Researcher Tamirat B. Jimma from the International Livestock Research Institute recently conducted a study examining the potential for soil moisture to enable more productive, resilient and climate smart agriculture in Ethiopia – Quantifying Residual Soil Moisture through Empirical Orthogonal Functions Analysis to Support Legume-Based Cropping Systems.
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Clean Energy and Sustainable Agriculture: Lessons from the 2024 Africa-EU Just Energy Transition Workshop
LEG4DEV share latest findings on rural energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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LEG4DEV researchers at Tropentag 2024
LEG4DEV PhD researchers attended Tropentag 2024. Researchers Emmanuel and Yannic presented some of thier research findings at the poster session.
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LEG4DEV partners with Tanzanian universities on 13 legume-scaling research projects
The LEG4DEV project welcomed 13 postgraduate researchers from Tanzania universities to IITA-Tanzania to engage in planning for their legume-scaling research and innovation projects
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LEG4DEV partners with Zambian universities on eight legume-scaling research projects
The LEG4DEV project welcomed eight postgraduate researchers from Zambian universities to IITA-Zambia to engage in planning for their legume-scaling research and innovation projects.
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LEG4DEV partners with Malawian universities on nine legume-scaling research projects
The LEG4DEV project welcomed nine postgraduate researchers from LUANAR to IITA-Malawi to engage in planning for their legume-scaling research and innovation projects.
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LEG4DEV researchers present at IITA Southern Africa Hub Retreat
LEG4DEV PhD researchers attended the Southern Africa Hub Retreat facilitated by IITA. Researchers met with IITA staff and students from WACCI and PAULESI to share research findings, network and discuss next steps for IITA Southern Africa Regional Hub’s 10 -year strategic plan.
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Insights from the 9th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture: A Focus on Sustainable Tillage Systems in Malawi
LEG4DEV PhD researcher Pacsu Simwaka (SLU) recently attended the 9th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture. Pacsu presented his research findings on the potential of Permanent Raised Beds for conservation agriculture in legume farming in Malawi.
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“A Shared Response to A Shared Responsibility” – LEG4DEV Researchers Attend 2024 Mary Robinson Climate Conference
LEG4DEV researcher Yared Tessema attended the second annual Mary Robinson Climate Conference between the 5th and 7th of June 2024 at the Mary Robinson Centre in Ballina, Co Mayo, Ireland.
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What’s new on Soil Health and Gender at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit 2024?
LEG4DEV PhD researcher Timalizge Munthali attended the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit’s session on Soil Health and Gender. Discussions at the event focused on the importance of womens’ land ownership and the key roles women farmers can play in informing and implementing policy.
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Participating in the 5th Global Food Security Conference: Poster presentation on legumes identification with remote sensing technologies
LEG4DEV researcher Thomas Delaune from the Plant Production Systems group at Wageningen University attended the 5th Global Food Security Conference in Leuven, Belgium, from April 9-12, 2024. The conference focused on addressing the challenges of creating equitable, sustainable, and resilient food systems in response to global pressures such as climate change, pandemics, and conflict.
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LEG4DEV conducts evidence-synthesis review of barriers, opportunities, and scaling options for high-quality legume seeds in sub-Saharan Africa
To inform scaling of high-quality legume, seeds the LEG4DEV project has conducted an evidence synthesis (Systematic Review) to (i) identify and categorize existing legume seed systems, (ii) map legume varieties available to smallholders, (iii) identify barriers hindering the adoption of various legume varieties, and (iv) identify potential strategies and opportunities for strengthening legume seed systems…
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Researcher meet-up & tour of LEG4DEV legume field trials underway in IITA Malawi
Dr. Marcos Lana, Affiliate Investigator on the LEG4DEV project from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), visited members of the LEG4DEV project team researchers who are conducting research out of the International Instituet for Tropical Agrocuilture (IITA) country station in Chitedze, Malawi.
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Crop modelling for climate-resilient scaling of legumes for development outcomes: LEG4DEV engagement in workshop in Ghana
The CGIAR’s Excellence in Agronomy (EIA) Initiative, with other partners, organized a crop modelling training workshop in Accra, Ghana, from February 19th to 23rd, 2024. Thirty-five participants from various countries and backgrounds attended, including Pacsu Simwaka, a LEG4DEV PhD student working on crop modelling for legume scaling.
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President of Ireland endorses the LEG4DEV project and calls for increased investment in scaling of pulses for sustainable development
On World Pulses Day 2024, the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, issued a statement highlighting the importance of pulses (legumes) for food security and sustainable development.
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Climate-Resilient Legume Intercropping Solutions: Insights from the Bio-Geosphere Africa (BioGARD) Conference 2023
LEG4DEV researcher Adam Muhammad Adam from the University of Hohenheim, Germany, attended the Bio-Geosphere Africa (BioGARD) Conference 2023 in Stuttgart-Hohenheim (Germany) between 14-15 September 2023. Adam presented his LEG4DEV research findings entitled “Meta-analysis: Integration of common bean in maize cropping system enhances resilience to rainfall variability in Africa” at the Conference.
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EU-funded LEG4DEV project hosts multi-stakeholder research prioritisation workshop on scaling legumes for development outcomes in Ethiopia
The EU funded Legumes for Development (or LEG4DEV) research project convened a range of Ethiopian stakeholders involved in legume cultivation and consumption systems, to work together to identify research priorities for scaling of legumes in Ethiopia.
News
Explore the latest news and insights from the LEG4DEV team on legume-based agroecological intensification of maize and cassava
cropping systems in Sub-Saharan Africa