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CLIFF-GRADS awardees 2021

We are excited to announce that 57 PhD candidates from 20 developing countries will receive scholarships in Round 4 of the Climate, Food and Farming – Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Development Scholarships programme (CLIFF-GRADS).

Increasing interest in the CLIFF-GRADS Programme has seen the number of recipients in this scholarship Round double after hundreds of applications were received.

The full list of awardees, their research projects and the 34 host institutes that they will be hosted by can be found below.

CLIFF-GRADS offers short research visits of up to 6 months providing opportunities for early-career scientists to gain exposure to equipment, software and expertise that they would not otherwise have access to at their home institute.

During their research visit CLIFF-GRADS recipients will research rumen microbiology, rice production, soil emissions, and pasture management, among other topics.

We’d especially like to acknowledge the support of fellow GRA country members and international partners, particularly CCAFS, for supporting these technical training opportunities for students.

The Round 4 awardees are:

Keep an eye out for further information about the awardees coming soon.

Listed by Name, Nationality, Host Organisation and Project Topic

Abdoulaye Tyano, Burkina Faso*
National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Spain
Agricultural management’s potential effect on soil carbon sequestration at national level

*Reallocated to a Round 6 project in 2023-2024. For updated project information, go to R6 announcement.
Abdulkareem Raheem, Nigeria
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Thailand
Evaluation of field measurements, focussing on the impact of rice varieties on greenhouse gas emissions in combination with advanced mitigation technologies
Abera Assefa Biratu, Ethiopia
Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Ethiopia
Modelling and predicting SOC sequestration potentials of Sustainable Land Management Program (SLMP) watersheds in Ethiopia
Addis Tadesse Tekle, Ethiopia
Columbia University, USA
Modelling adaptation co-benefits of mitigation in regional farming systems
Adnan Arshad, Pakistan
Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA
Greenhouse gas emissions from dryland cropping systems under two tillage and crop rotations
Ahmed Olanrewaju Aliyu, Nigeria
Bangor University, Wales, UK
Greenhouse gas mitigation from dairy and beef systems across a development gradient
Alex Zizinga, Uganda
Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya
Increasing farm productivity and carbon sinks on sandy soils
Ana Veronica Juarez Sequeira, Argentina
National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Chile
Directed evolution of rumen microbial cultures towards the identification and stimulation of electron sinks alternative to methanogenesis
Anabella Lozza, Argentina
La Molina National Agrarian University, Peru
Quantification of enteric methane (CH4) emissions and carbon footprint of silvopastoral systems in the Peruvian Amazon Region
Andrés García, Argentina
Veterinary Institute for Tropical and Altitude Research (IVITA), Peru
Defining the most fit dairy cattle genetics for high altitude Andean small-holder systems: Determining feed energy partitioning to methane (CH4), stress response, energy expenditure and their ratios to milk energy
Armwell Shumba, Zimbabwe
National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina
Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture through the use of alternative fertilizers
Azamat Suleymanov, Russia
ISRIC, World Soil Information, Netherlands
Improved soil carbon mapping in sub-Saharan Africa to support soil fertility and climate mitigation studies
Beatriz Elisa Bizzuti, Brazil
National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina
Energy use efficiency of dairy cows fed by-products in early lactation
Beshea Abdissa Chemeda, Ethiopia
Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Improving productivity and adaptive capacity of coffee-based agroforestry systems for enhancing food security in a changing climate in Ethiopia
Boma Victor Iriso, Nigeria
National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Chile
Effects of inhibiting methanogenesis on propionate production in the rumen
Catriel Mateo Espinosa, Argentina
Massey University, New Zealand
Assessment of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate leaching in pasture soils modified with the addition of woodchips
Der Dabire, Burkina Faso
French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), France
Co-design and dissemination of options to mitigate the impact of livestock on Climate Change
Endale Balcha Gurmu, Ethiopia
National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Chile
Directed evolution of rumen microbial cultures towards the identification and stimulation of electron sinks alternative to methanogenesis
Eyerus Muleta Fatula, Ethiopia
National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Uruguay
Development of nitrogen-urea-milk content as an indicator of temporal and spatial distribution of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions
Flavia Yesica Olguin, Argentina
Jimma University, Ethiopia
Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from coffee production systems through shade management
Florence Akwatulira, Uganda
University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
Soil organic carbon sequestration potential for different management options in silvopastoral ecosystems in Latin America
Fredrick Agutu, Kenya
Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kenya
Feed gaps and associated greenhouse gas emission intensities of smallholder dairy systems in Tanzania and Rwanda
Funmilola Adebisi Oluwafemi, Nigeria
Hawassa University, Ethiopia
Application of biochar and co-composted biochar from urban, agricultural and agro-industrial processing organic wastes: promising tool for climate smart agriculture 
Project report here                                                       
Habtamu Degefa Debelie, Ethiopia            
Research Center for the Management of Environmental and Agricultural Risks (CEIGRAM), Spain
Greenhouse gas emissions from extensive livestock systems under Mediterranean conditions: On-site nitrous oxide (N2O) quantification and carbon budget estimations by LCA
Haftay Hailu Gebremedhn, Ethiopia                          
French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), France                  
Co-design and dissemination of options to mitigate the impact of livestock on Climate Change livestock 
Janeth Chepkemoi, Kenya
Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kenya
Assessing the soil organic carbon sequestration potential of planted forages in Rwanda and Kenya
Josias Steve Adjassin, Benin
Natural Research Institute Finland (Luke), Finland
Quantifying methane (CH4) conversion rate (Ym) from Finnish lactating dairy cows
Juan Pablo Inamagua Uyaguari, Ecuador
La Molina National Agrarian University, Peru
Quantification of enteric methane (CH4) emissions and carbon footprint of silvopastoral systems in the Peruvian Amazon Region
Kpante Koutando, Togo
Climate and Agriculture Group, Agroscope, Switzerland
Nitrous oxide (N2O) mitigation from agriculturally managed organic soils
Laure Lysette Chimi Nkombo, Cameroon
Massey University, New Zealand
Assessment of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate leaching in pasture soils modified with the addition of woodchips
Leonardo Fernandes Sarkis, Brazil
Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA
Greenhouse gas emissions from dryland cropping systems under two tillage and crop rotations
Luis Antonio Milesi Delaye, Argentina
Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA
Using a tier II model (CQESTR) to predict soil organic carbon storage and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
Lumena Souza Takahashi, Brazil
National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA); National Technological University, Argentina
Mitigation strategies to decrease methane (CH4) emissions of Argentina pastoral livestock systems
Maduabuchi Iboko, Nigeria
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines
Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in diversified rice systems
Manuel Camilo Valencia Molina, Colombia
Salta Experimental Station, National Institute of Agricultural Technology (EEA Salta INTA), Argentina
Nitrogen management to mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in sugarcane
Maxwell Adebayo Adeyemi, Nigeria
National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina
Greenhouse gas emission mitigation options for different productive strategies in dairy production systems of Argentina
Merabtene Mohammed Djemel Elddine, Algeria
Bangor University, Wales, UK
Managing nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) through improved agricultural liming practices
Meseret Teweldebrihan, Ethiopia
Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Ethiopia
Modelling and predicting SOC sequestration potentials of Sustainable Land Management Program (SLMP) watersheds in Ethiopia
Moyosore Joseph Adegbeye, Nigeria
Agrosavia, Colombia
Validation of active principles from trees and shrubs implemented as an integrated strategy to rumen ecosystem and its eco-systemic services in Cundinamarca-Colombia dairy systems
Nelly Blondelle Momo Wobeng, Cameroon
Soils and Ecosystems Research Group, Bangor University, Wales, UK
Managing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from small-scale farm features
Paula Re, Argentina
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain
Combining mitigation strategies to enhance soil carbon sequestration without compromising yields in Mediterranean woody cropping systems
Priscila Matos, Brazil
Embrapa Rice and Beans, Brazil
Technologies and practices to increase carbon sequestration in integrated crop-livestock system on humid tropical Savannah
Rafael Jiménez Ocampo, Mexico
Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia
Effects of essential oils on rumen fermentation, microbial diversity in the rumen and methane (CH4) emissions in tropical systems
Rayanne Viana Costa, Brazil
Queens University, Northern Ireland, UK
Evaluating innovative strategies for ruminant methane (CH4) abatement
Rui Zhao, China
National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Spain
Agricultural management’s potential effect on soil carbon sequestration at national level
Sandra Patricia Loaiza Mera, Colombia
University of California, Davis, USA
Methane (CH4) mitigation in rice systems – from field research to supply chain initiatives
Solomon Ayele, Ethiopia
Veterinary Institute for Tropical and Altitude Research (IVITA), Peru
Defining the most fit dairy cattle genetics for high altitude Andean small-holder systems: Reducing methane (CH4) emission intensity by efficient feeding and rumen function management
Stephan van der Westhuizen, South Africa
ISRIC, World Soil Information, Netherlands
Advances in global mapping of soil carbon sequestration potential and links with drought conditions
Susan Nguku, Kenya
National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Chile
Effect of legumes on reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) losses following application of faeces and urine to soil from cows fed with legume diet
Tajamul Hussain, Pakistan
Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA
Using a tier II model (CQESTR) to predict soil organic carbon storage and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
Thiago Pinto, Brazil
Ecology Department, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden
Bayesian estimation of greenhouse gas emissions and SOC stocks from man-managed systems through application of first-order compartimental decomposition models
Tulasi Prasad Paudel, Nepal*
Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Cameroon
Modelling greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farms

*Reallocated to a Round 6 project in 2023-2024. For updated project information, go to R6 announcement.
Valeria Esther Alvarez, Argentina
Bangor University, Wales, UK
What is the contribution of microbial necromass to soil carbon storage?
Wadson de Menezes Santos, Brazil
Soil and Water Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA
Improved quantification and modelling of nitrogen transformation and loss pathways in ‘hot spots’ following urine deposition and fertilizer application
Winnie Ntinyari, Kenya
Bangor University, Wales, UK
Managing nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) through improved agricultural liming practices
Yericho Berhanu Meshesha, Ethiopia
Jimma University, Ethiopia
Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from coffee production systems through shade management

About CLIFF-GRADS: CLIFF-GRADS is a joint initiative of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) low emissions development flagship. CLIFF-GRADS aims to build the capability of early career agricultural students in developing countries to conduct applied research on climate change mitigation in agriculture.  Funding is provided by the New Zealand Government, the CGIAR Trust Fund and bilateral agreements in support of CCAFS.