Transforming Farming Systems for Smallholders
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification (SIIL) aims to become the global leader in transdisciplinary research, knowledge sharing, and capacity building, using sustainable intensification as a way to improve global food and nutritional security. This vision is supported by the associated Digital and Geospatial Tools Consortium at Kansas State University, the Appropriate Scale Mechanization Consortium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Policy Research Consortium at Rutgers University, and the SOILS Consortium with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC).
The current focus countries are Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Senegal (past countries include Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi and Tanzania). Activities are focused on four core areas: to sustainably increase the production of nutritious food and encourage dietary diversity of smallholder and women farmers, to increase the involvement and empowerment of women in agricultural production and processing, to increase food production through improved crop-production technologies while minimizing environmental impact, and the prevention of food loss and waste and improving food safety.
Highlights & Announcements
SIIL Director Named in Top 1% of World's Most Influential and Highly Cited Researchers
P.V. Vara Prasad, director of the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, university distinguished professor, and R.O. Kruse Professor of Agriculture at Kansas State University has been listed in the Clarivate World’s Influential Researchers with Highly Cited Researchers 2022 List. Prasad is the only researcher named in the list from K-State for 2022.
SIIL Receives Outstanding Support for International Initiatives Award
The Office of International Programs recognizes Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification, or SIIL, for the 2022 Outstanding Support for International Initiatives Award as part of International Education Week at Kansas State University.
K-State Awarded $12M Grant to Lead Agricultural Growth in Haiti
The U.S. Agency for International Development has selected K-State's Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab to lead a project supporting agriculture-led growth in Haiti.
Feed the Future Policy Research Consortium Final Conference
In this conference to mark its end, consortium members will present the results of their research activities, important lessons learned and the implications they hold for USAID’s policy related work. The conference may be of interest not only to USAID staff working on food policy issues, but also to
implementing partners, development agencies, African policy makers and other researchers.
Prasad Highlights Innovation Investment Report on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification
A new innovation investment study from the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification finds that only 7% of current innovation spending in agricultural research actually targets environmental outcomes.
iREACH Holds Pioneer Advisory Committee Meeting
The first-ever Advisory Committee meeting of the Innovation, Research, Extension, and Advisory Coordination Hub (iREACH) was held on Wednesday, April 7, 2021.
SIIL Collaborator Appointed Advisor to the National Council of Cambodia
Lyda Hok, the director of the CE SAIN, established by the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, has been appointed as Advisor to the National Council of Science, Technology and Innovation.
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Agronomist receives $3M grant to develop digital geospatial tools for improving resilience of farming systems
A Kansas State University researcher received a $3 million grant from the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification, or SIIL, to improve the resilience of smallholder livelihoods through the application of digital and geospatial decision support tools under diverse farming systems.
Ignacio Ciampitti receives Agronomic Education and Extension Award from national agronomy society
Ignacio Ciampitti, associate professor in the agronomy department at Kansas State University, was awarded the Agronomic Education and Extension Award from the American Society of Agronomy — an award that acknowledges excellence in education and extension.
Vara Prasad awarded International Agronomy Award from American Society of Agronomy
Following years of dedication to the agriculture community and numerous contributions to research and development, university distinguished professor and director of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification at Kansas State University, P.V. Vara Prasad, received the International Agronomy Award from the American Society of Agronomy.
Jan Middendorf named Innovation Lab Council chair for Feed the Future Innovation Labs
Jan Middendorf, associate director of the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, or SIIL, has been elected to serve as the council chair of the Feed the Future Innovation Labs.
SI Assessment Framework and Training Video
The Sustainable Intensification (SI) Assessment Framework and Toolkit are live! Digital design was provided by New Boston Creative and Piestar, under the leadership of the SIIL Management Entity. The framework provides indicators in five domains: productivity, economic, environment, human condition and social, and allow researchers the ability to assess the performance of an innovation across many domains. The full Toolkit can be found here. Additional information on the framework can be found here.
K-State researcher awarded grant to sustainably intensify farming systems in Senegal
A Kansas State University researcher with the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification, or SIIL, has been awarded a $400,000 grant to sustainably intensify agro-pastoral farming systems in Senegal. Zachary Stewart is leading a four-year study on dual-purpose cowpea to increase food and fodder production in Senegal. This work is supported by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research managed by Michigan State University with funding through the United States Agency for International Development.
Vara Prasad to Serve on New International Commission on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification
Vara Prasad, university distinguished professor of agronomy and director of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification, or SIIL, at K-State, has been selected to serve on the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification, or CoSAI. The commission consists of scholars around the world with experience in the Global South. These scientists, experts and decision-makers are serving as CoSAI commissioners to collect and assess evidence to accelerate the urgently needed transformation of agriculture.
Two Professors Involved in Webinar Series Discussing Key Challenges Faced by Farmers in Providing Food
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, or SEARCA, hosted a webinar series covering a range of key challenges to our communities and farmers across the globe who provide us food. The center's Online Learning and Virtual Engagement, or SOLVE, webinar series is an immediate response to COVID-19 and the impacts on food security. Kansas State University's Vara Prasad and Manny Reyes were invited to speak for the sixth webinar, SOLVE Food and Nutrition Insecurity through Sustainable Agriculture Intensification.
