As Brazil prepares to host COP30 in Belém, CGIAR Climate Action, together with the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Ministerio da Agricultura - MAPA), Embrapa, and CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes, are convening a series of high-level dialogues to put biological solutions at the center of climate action in agriculture.

This webinar showcased how biological nutrient management technologies can be mainstreamed across cropping systems through evidence-based solutions that align science, policy, and practice. By highlighting innovations in phosphorus solubilization, microbial inoculants, and integrated crop-livestock-agroforestry systems, the session aimed to catalyze increased investment from governments, private sector actors, and development partners while demonstrating concrete pathways for farmers to reduce input dependency and enhance soil health at scale.

CIFOR-ICRAF has been conducting a series of trainings on Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) in forest and landscape restoration for Community Forest Associations (CFAs) in Makueni County, Kenya as part of the UK PACT project.

To date, the trainings have reached more than 600 individuals, emphasizing the importance of gender equity in achieving sustainable restoration outcomes. Over the past two years of implementation, some common themes have emerged, highlighting that many CFA members feel held back by their current level of skill in agroforestry practices and soil conservation techniques. In response, CIFOR-ICRAF followed up with technical, on-farm training in sustainable agroforestry practices and composting for soil conservation.

Through Sustainable Harvest International’s (SHI) program, farmers learn how to cultivate food in ways that protect and regenerate forests. They plant trees in previously degraded areas, harnessing their benefits—like improved water retention, wind protection, and soil enrichment—to boost food production. Over the past 28 years, SHI farmers have been at the heart of reforestation efforts, helping degraded ecosystems come back to life. 

“Soils are not just a support: they have to be in good health for agricultural activities to be established and prosper. In Ivory Coast, the Ministry of Agriculture has brought together farmers, policymakers and scientists to work on practical operations aimed at guaranteeing the long-term future of soils in the forest landscapes of West Africa. The participants have made a series of recommendations, including controlling deforestation, reducing pesticide use and extending agroforestry.”

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Image Caption: Field study on soil health in the Téné Classified Forest, Ivory Coast © CIRAD