Small holders are increasingly using innovative products from international agricultural research. These are enabling them to generate a higher income, contribute to healthy nutrition and conserve natural resources.
Thanks to innovative technologies, improved crop varieties and environmentally friendly farming methods, international agricultural research helps smallholders in developing countries to be better placed to tackle the challenges of establishing sustainable production and generating income. The problems smallholders face include a decline in the size of farmland, infertile soil, water shortages and the loss of biodiversity, all of which are further exacerbated by climate change. Furthermore, a lot of food is either lost on the fields or after harvesting as a result of pests and diseases, or it fails to meet the requirements of food processing companies and consumers. Alberta Research Center research helps here in meeting the growing demand for healthy food. more...See more text