Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development (CIIFAD), with partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America, initiates and supports innovative programs that contribute to improved prospects for global food security, sustainable rural development and environmental conservation around the world.

Established in 1990 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, CIIFAD engages diverse disciplines, actors and institutions to advance knowledge and practice for sustainable agricultural and rural development. CIIFAD is a university-wide initiative operating through the International Programs office of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

CIIFAD NEWS:

CIIFAD Launches Pulse CRSP Project in Kenya
CIIFAD recently received funding from Michigan State University/USAID’s Dry Grain Pulses Collaborative Research Support Program (Pulse CRSP) to support its project entitled “Using Improved Pulse Productivity to Reinvigorate Smallholder Mixed Farming Systems in Western Kenya.” The goal of the project, which is being conducted in collaboration with scientists from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute-Kakamega, CIAT and three Kenyan universities is to use improved pulse productivity to enhance household food and nutritional security and incomes in Western Kenya. Dr. Julie Lauren (CSS) is the lead PI from Cornell on the project, assisted by co-PI’s Drs. Christopher Barrett (AEM), John Duxbury (CSS),  Peter Hobbs (CSS), Beth Medvecky (CIIFAD), Alice Pell (CIIFAD) and Rebecca Stoltzfus (PIN).

Students from CIIFAD-Sponsored Course on Marketing Capacity-Building for Smallholder Farmers to Depart for Kenya
• CIIFAD sponsored a 3-credit class/study group (IARD 694 sec 02) during Spring '08 to develop learning modules for use in smallholder farmer training programs of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in East Africa. The modules are designed to help groups acquire the knowledge and skills needed to take advantage of market-oriented development opportunities. Five students from the class (which is linked with a parallel group at a local African university) are headed to Kenya on May 30, 2008, to conduct summer fieldwork [for more info, see flyer or contact CIIFAD].

"Heal Kenya” Fundraising Campaign at Cornell Addresses Kenyan Humanitarian Crisis
Although Kenyan government agencies, the Kenya Red Cross Society, UN World Food Program, churches and other NGOs are providing relief services to the many internally displaced persons (IDPs) resulting from the recent Kenyan election dispute, additional support is still needed. The Wananchi ("Citizens") Association (a Kenyan and East African students group), embarked on a successful “Heal Kenya Campaign” together with CIIFAD and others at Cornell that included a month-long fund drive, a forum in partnership (NYASA) to discuss the underlying causes of the current crisis, and a fund-raising dinner March 28, 2008 [...more info]

CIIFAD Expands Initiative Linking Nutrition and Agriculture
• A successful "FANG Fair" was held March 27, 2008, to promote participation in research related to food, agriculture and nutrition.
• In conjunction with CIIFAD's Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Group (FANG) eleven students attended The Third Annual University Hunger Summit to be held February 29 - March 2, 2008, in Washington, D.C.
• During Fall '07, FANG co-sponsored a Nov. 15 Symposium on the African Food System and its Interactions with Health and Nutrition and a six-week seminar series together with the Program in International Nutrition (PIN) (see PowerPoints)

Bahir Dar / Cornell MPS Program Receives Funds from Ithaca Donor
(see Cornell Chronicle article)
The Council of First Congregational Church of Ithaca recently approved a contribution of endowment income of $7,500 to fund scholarships for the new Bahir Dar / Cornell MPS Program. The new Cornell MPS degree program began November 1, 2007, at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. CIIFAD has been active in jointly developing this new Cornell University / Bahir Dar University (Ethiopia) Master’s of Professional Studies degree program in International Agriculture and Rural Development with a specialization in Integrated Watershed Management. The degree will be conferred by Cornell University (CU) and courses will be led by Cornell faculty in collaboration with faculty at Bahir Dar University (BDU). All courses and research/development projects will be undertaken in Ethiopia.