Updates & Events

On 01 November 2023 in Yaoundé, Cameroon in the margins of the 19th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), the GRA-RUFORUM Alumni Network in Africa was launched by a group of Alumni (participants from the first round of the GRA-GRG).  The Network, named GRAN-Afrique will promote networking among the Alumni, promote the development of their professional careers, build their involvement and commitment in GRA and RUFORUM activities and facilitate cooperate on agricultural GHG research and development, including through community projects.

Dr Kingsley Etchu (GRA National Focal Point, Cameroon), who attended the event to celebrate and support the Network’s launch, commended the representatives of the Alumni for establishing the Network. He stressed the need for the Network to be an inclusive platform for interaction, information exchange and exploiting opportunities to make significant business and social impact.

The newly launched GRAN Afrique provides yet another avenue for strengthening research collaboration on climate change and agriculture within Africa, and to highlight the ongoing work that GRA member states are undertaking to build the capability of African scientists. The GRA will remain supportive of the Network including through professional development opportunities such as thematic workshops, short-term training, and small grants to support network activities.

Video available HERE.

Closing date: 26 April 2024
Location: AgResearch, Palmerston North, New Zealand

This post-doctoral fellowship offers an exciting opportunity to work on an international joint project between Ireland and New Zealand (BNIPASTURES), addressing  research gaps and creating knowledge to expedite the advancement of biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) as a natural, plant-based way of mitigating N2O in grass-based livestock systems.

For more information please click HERE.

Get ready to explore new perspectives, expand your knowledge, and network with fellow enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or starting out, International Fugitive Emissions Abatement Association’s (IFEAA) Deep Dive has something for everyone.

Bristol – 16 May 2024

Morning session – How much methane is there?

• George Eustice MP, former Defra Minister – Introduction
• Andy Atkins – How much methane does slurry emit
• Laura Cardenas, Rothamsted – Methane, Agriculture and the National Inventory
• David Lowry, Royal Holloway College – can we distinguish manure emissions

Afternoon Session – What should we do with it?

• Neil Ward, AFN Network – Roadmap for Decarbonisation in agriculture
• Caroline Carroll, Cornwall LEP – Regional circular economies and net zero
• James Rundell, Qube Renewables – Methane Capture from Existing Slurry Stores
• Chris Mann, Bennamann – Industrialising Methane Capture
• Penny Atkins, IFEAA – Net Zero Methane Hub
• Richard Gueterbock, Food Chains

There is online access to presentations should you wish to join: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/deep-dive-manure-and-methane-what-should-we-do-with-it-tickets-844770660787?aff=oddtdtcreator

Closing date: 08 April 2024
Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Applications are invited for a fixed-term, full-time Post-doctoral Research Officer post in the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University to work on the HABITAT project funded by the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Full details are available HERE.

New newsletter out now.

Click HERE to see the March 2024 Issue.

At the Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University (Denmark)

Closing date: 22 April 2024
Location: Viborg, Denmark

The research area of this position is soil structure interactions with biological and chemical properties, and plant growth. Potential candidates are required to submit a 2-3 page plan for research over the next 3-5 years within focused parts of the research area and have a clear potential to perform ground-breaking research as well as attract external funding.

The full announcement is available here. 

COP28 and Food Trade – SECOND EDITION – Wednesday 20 March – 14:00-15:30 (C.E.T.)

Please note that there is no registration required for this event.  You can follow the event live on the WTO YouTube Channel.

Please click for our Catalogue of Trade Dialogues on Food and Big Take-Aways Volume I and Volume II.

Remember: You can send your questions to Dialogues@wto.org either before or during the dialogue.  We count on your active participation!

ILRI Vacancy: Post Doctoral Scientist – Ruminant Nutrition & Enteric Methane Emissions (open until filled)

Closing date: Open until filled
Location: Nairobi, Kenya

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a dynamic and dedicated Postdoctoral Researcher with a specialization in Ruminant Nutrition, particularly with experience in enteric methane emissions.

This position will be based at the Mazingira Centre, a leading research facility renowned for its work in environmental research in livestock systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Details of the position and guide to applying can be found HERE.

Yasuhito Shirato is a Japanese soil scientist mainly working on soil carbon sequestration dynamics and modeling, and serving as Director, Division of Climate Change Mitigation Research, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences from 2021. He was a member of scientific and technical committee of the 4/1000 initiative for soil carbon sequestration from 2016.

Dr. Yasuhito Shirato joins Ndeye Code Laure Tall of the Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research (ISRA) and Dr Álvaro Roel of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA).

New newsletter is out now

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition has launched a call for proposals seeking solutions to pressing challenges for short-lived climate pollutant mitigation in key emitting sectors sector. 

This call aims to bridge critical information, implementation, and finance gaps in the sector to create enabling environments for SLCP mitigation. 

Solutions supported by this call are expected to help sector stakeholders and governments implement and scale up mitigation action in line with the CCAC’s 2030 objectives. 

The call is open for 8 weeks, closing on 30, April 2024.

This call will follow a two-stage application process, consisting of a project concept note and full funding proposal. 

The first stage is this call for proposals, in which applicants are invited to submit project concept note. Applicant eligibility and project feasibility will be considered based on the concept notes submitted, and a selection of longlisted applicants will be made. 

Longlisted applicants will be invited to complete the second stage of the application process, in which they will have one (1) month to develop a full funding proposal. 

Select a sector to learn more and apply.

FONTAGRO/ MPI project ‘Soil carbon sequestration opportunities in LAC’

In the framework of the project “Carbon Sequestration Opportunities in Latin American and Caribbean Soils,” a workshop is being held in Guápiles, Costa Rica, to develop capacities for long-term monitoring of soil organic carbon stocks. From February 28th to March 1st, scientists from Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Costa Rica are gathering to discuss project advancements and the latest methodologies in geospatial sampling of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC).

This project is funded by FONTAGRO and the Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand through the Global Research Alliance, as part of a longstanding partnership. The project aims to identify and evaluate different strategies for intensifying agricultural and livestock production systems in LAC with potential for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Its focus is on strengthening countries’ capacities to design appropriate mitigation actions through carbon sequestration in agricultural soils.