New tools provide agricultural insights

New analytical tools to help governments design their agriculture policies to address poverty, nutrition, and climate change concerns were unveiled by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) at the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) in Abu Dhabi in March 2015.

The tools, the AgriTech Toolbox and the African Agricultural Research and Development Atlas, offer economic and geospatial analysis as well as technological and bio-physical parameters—such as nutritional value, carbon footprint and likely yield—of various crops.

The AgriTech Toolbox

With the AgriTech Toolbox it is possible to examine how alternative agricultural practices and technologies can impact farm yields, food prices, natural resource use, hunger, malnutrition, land use and global trade in 2050, when climate change impacts may be severe.

The online database models the yield impacts generated by 2050 from the adoption of 10 key technologies for maize, wheat and rice, as well as related changes in harvested area, food production, trade, global food prices, hunger and malnutrition.

By selecting a country or region along with a technology, climate scenario, crop and water management practice – users can explore how key agricultural and food security parameters will change in 2050.

The African Agricultural Research and Development Atlas

The e-Atlas is based on the contributions of over 50 researchers from many organisations. It covers seven themes: political, demographic, and institutional classifications; footprint of agriculture; growing conditions; role of water; drivers of change; access to trade; and human welfare and includes more than 30 topics.

Maps illustrate each topic, complemented by supporting text that discusses the content and relevance of the maps, the underlying source data, and where to learn more. The maps and analysis in the e-Atlas present a broad range of geospatial data of relevance to an equally broad range of strategic agriculture policy, investment and planning issues. The e-Atlas helps illustrate how African farmers and those who strive to serve them simultaneously face large and diverse challenges as well as abundant opportunity.

Visit the Websites:

AgriTech-Toolbox

The Agricultural Research and Development Atlas

(IFPRI/ile)