Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development (CIIFAD), with partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America, initiates and supports innovative programs that contribute to improved prospects for global food security, sustainable rural development and environmental conservation around the world.

Established in 1990 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, CIIFAD engages diverse disciplines, actors and institutions to advance knowledge and practice for sustainable agricultural and rural development. CIIFAD is a university-wide initiative operating through the International Programs office of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

CIIFAD NEWS:

Bahir Dar / Cornell MPS Program Accepts Applications for 2009
A new round of applications have been turned in for the Cornell / Barhir Dar MPS degree program which was initiatied last year at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. During 2007 CIIFAD participated in jointly developing the Master’s of Professional Studies degree program in International Agriculture and Rural Development with a specialization in Integrated Watershed Management. The degree is conferred by Cornell University (CU) and courses are led by Cornell faculty in collaboration with faculty at Bahir Dar University (BDU). All courses and research/development projects are undertaken in Ethiopia. To apply, read the requirements on the program announcement, fill out the Cornell application form and send in the letter of support. [more info...]

CIIFAD Launches Pulse CRSP Project in Kenya
CIIFAD recently received funding from Michigan State University/USAID’s Dry Grain Pulses Collaborative Research Support Program (Pulse CRSP) to support its project entitled “Using Improved Pulse Productivity to Reinvigorate Smallholder Mixed Farming Systems in Western Kenya.” The goal of the project, which is being conducted in collaboration with scientists from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute-Kakamega, CIAT and three Kenyan universities is to use improved pulse productivity to enhance household food and nutritional security and incomes in Western Kenya. Dr. Julie Lauren (CSS) is the lead PI from Cornell on the project, assisted by co-PI’s Drs. Christopher Barrett (AEM), John Duxbury (CSS),  Peter Hobbs (CSS), Beth Medvecky (CIIFAD), Alice Pell (CIIFAD) and Rebecca Stoltzfus (PIN).

Students from CIIFAD-Sponsored Course on Marketing Capacity-Building for Smallholder Farmers Return from Kenya (...tune in to group's blog)
• CIIFAD sponsored a 3-credit class/study group (IARD 694 sec 02) during Spring '08 to develop learning modules for use in smallholder farmer training programs of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in East Africa. The modules are designed to help groups acquire the knowledge and skills needed to take advantage of market-oriented development opportunities. Five students from the class (which is linked with a parallel group at a local African university) recently returned from conducting summer fieldwork in Kenya [for more info, see flyer or contact CIIFAD].

"Heal Kenya” Fundraising Campaign Addresses Kenyan Humanitarian Crisis
The Wananchi ("Citizens") Association (a Kenyan and East African students group), held a successful “Heal Kenya Campaign” together with CIIFAD and others at Cornell that included a month-long fund drive, a forum in partnership (NYASA) to discuss the underlying causes of the recent Kenyan election crisis, and a fund-raising dinner March 28, 2008 [...more info]

CIIFAD Expands Initiative Linking Nutrition and Agriculture
• FANG member Andy Jones recently returned from Bolivia where he was conducting research on integrating agronomic and nutrition in the Ande. Tune in to Andy in the Andes to read his blog from North Potosi... (See the FANG page for info on the recent "FANG Fair" and other 2008 activities.)