📅 June 2025 📍 Republic du Benin 🤝 URBANE project & CIRAD (Centre de coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le développement) We are pleased to announce we had fruitful discussions between URBANE partners and CIRAD which aimed at enhancing agroecological research and innovation in Africa. These discussions will leverage real-time plant health monitoring technologies…
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Greetings from Benin! URBANE’s M36 Consortium meeting is taking place in Cotonou, Benin. Important updates from our 6 Case Studies delivered with excellent results from the work on #synbiotics and #agroecological interventions, the work on the URBANE alternative business models and the interplay factors of disease emergence within the #OneHealth framework. ✔️ Day 1 was…
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Gregoire Bio Allagbe, a farmer in Guessou (Benin), has been practicing agroecology for two years. He implements techniques to combat soil erosion and improve irrigation management. His goals include increasing yields with adapted seeds, developing beekeeping and market gardening, as well as launching a sheep and goat farming project. 🌿 He maintains soil fertility through…
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In Benin, some farmers are adopting agroecological practices by intercropping food crops (cassava, maize, tomato, pineapple) with oil palm. This approach is rooted in local traditions while meeting modern needs. ♻️These practices, tailored to the agricultural context of each region, optimize land use during the early years of palm growth. They generate income for families…
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Dr Vasileios Gkisakis (ELGO) participated at the 5th ESP Conference by organized by the Ecosystems Services Partnership and Wageningen University. The Conference’s theme aim was to highlight the relevance of the ecosystem services concept for solving global issues, driving transformative change and achieving a healthy planet. Dr. Gkisakis presented on the framework and first outcomes…
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To optimize his dairy production while preserving the environment, Antoine Chabi, a farmer in Benin, has embraced agroecological practices. These include rotating pastures and managing grazing to prevent overgrazing and support pasture regeneration. Antoine uses cow manure and poultry droppings 💩 to enrich the soil, boosting land fertility and structure. To combat erosion in his…
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Windbreaks are linear structures made up of trees and shrubs, used to protect agricultural areas, homes, and infrastructure from prevailing winds. They reduce wind speed, wind erosion, evapotranspiration, and improve agricultural yields in the protected area. Their effectiveness depends on their height, density, and orientation in relation to the winds. They create a favorable microclimate…
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Attended by the University of Ibadan who presented #urbane and some of the initial results, the conference focused on facilitating discussions on the Okra improvement status. Nigeria is the second largest producer of okra globally and discussions revolved around best practices, research findings, and innovations in okra cultivation, breeding, genomics, agronomy, IPM, nutritional quality, socioeconomic…
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by returning crop residues to the soil.. The Monrado consultancy has established an experimental farm in Benin, where they cultivate their land and raise their animals according to agroecological principles. ♻️ The practices they have implemented include the integration of a legume in crop rotation 🥜, the establishment of 3-year fallows 🌿, stopping the use…
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Francis Tei, is a farmer in Ghana, with a strong interest in agroecology. Francis already uses cover crops in crop rotation and companion planting to protect his crops, maximize biomass production, and reduce the use of chemical inputs (notably nitrogen fertilization). He also practices no-till farming, crop diversification, agroforestry, and adjusts the planting density and…
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