From September 10-14, IFRI postdoctoral researcher Pete Newton attended a workshop jointly organized by the CGIAR programs on Collective Action and Property Rights (CAPRi) and on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) to discuss ‘Institutions for Climate Smart Agriculture’. Approximately 20 people engaged in three days of talks, working groups and discussion to learn and share information about programs and mechanisms which aim to develop “climate-smart agriculture” – defined as agriculture that simultaneously: 1) increases global food security, 2) enhances farmers’ ability to adapt to a changing climate, and 3) mitigates emissions of greenhouse gases. A fourth day was spent on a field visit to witness first-hand the inspirational work done by GROOTS Kenya– a grassroots network of women’s self-help groups and community organizations.

Workshop attendees visiting a community where GROOTS Kenya has been helping women to develop organic ‘kitchen gardens.’

Pete presented a paper that develops a framework for analyzing interventions that act to build sustainable commodity supply chains. Large-scale production of beef, soy, palm oil and other agricultural commodities is a key driver of deforestation in the tropics, and innovative strategies for reducing the impact of this production are critically needed. The paper is part of a research collaboration between IFRI and CCAFS that hopes to identify generalizable lessons from the experiences of programs employed in different countries and for different commodities.