Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:23:02 +0200https://www.cirad.fr/en/press-area/press-releases/2026/natural-recovery-of-mangrovesA study spanning nearly six decades shows that naturally regenerated mangroves can regain levels of biodiversity similar to those of natural forests, while surviving mature trees act as “biological legacies” that help rebuild ecological complexity.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:23:02 +0200https://www.cirad.fr/en/press-area/press-releases/2026/french-west-indies-pesticide-reductionThe ECOPHYTO PUMAT project to build an attractive market gardening sector in Martinique has studied the conditions for making the market gardening sector in the West Indies dependent on phytosanitary products, while preserving the economic viability of the farms concerned. The project is led by CIRAD with its partners, and has served to analyse producer practices, consumer expectations and the dynamics that structure market garden value chains. Following field surveys of more than 400 farmers and more than 500 consumers in Martinique, the project has just reported its conclusions, which highlight the possibilities of agroecological transition, provided all the players in the value chain are involved to overcome the current obstacles.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:01:50 +0200https://www.cirad.fr/en/press-area/press-releases/2026/scientists-in-plic-debate-and-societal-controversiesIn response to the polarisation of the debate around agricultural and food issues, an article pulished in Nature Food calls for scientists to engage more in societal controversies. The team of authors calls for researchers to engage in order to boost capacity for dialogue between producers, consumers, civil society players and businesses, and the authorities, to speed up transformation of food systems.Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:04:50 +0200https://www.cirad.fr/en/press-area/press-releases/2026/agroecological-practices-limited-by-high-labour-requirementsA study conducted in Rwanda by the NGO One Acre Fund and in partnership with the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and CIRAD has been published in Agronomy for Sustainable Development. Rwanda faces major food security challenges, and row intercropping has emerged as a promising sustainable solution compared to current sole crops or broadcasting intercropping systems. Researchers show that row intercropping outperforms current cropping systems. Yet its adoption is constrained by the labour required inherent to row-cropping to implement the practice. Following on-farm trials involving 225 farms, only 30% of farmers continued to use the technique, despite its ability to improve yields and economic returns.Thu, 03 Sep 2026 09:20:04 +0200https://www.cirad.fr/en/press-area/press-releases/2026/cop17-desertification-recognising-the-role-of-pastoralismCOP17 on combating desertification will be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is gradually recognising the role of pastoralism in sustainable land management. CIRAD will be at COP17 to call for greater recognition of pastoral social-ecological systems, which are a real asset for the planet.Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:09:08 +0200