Farmers need access to cutting-edge research and technology

Photo credit: About Health

Global Horticultural Knowledge Bank Emphasizes Farmer-Led Innovations

By Danielle Nierenberg

Food Policy & Safety Expert

Valuable specialty crops including fruits, nuts, and vegetables are key to both the economic progress of developing countries and the nutrition of local populations. However, specialty crops are also knowledge-intensive. The preservation of traditional knowledge in developing countries is vital, but farmers also need access to cutting-edge research and technology from the developed world. The newly created Global Horticulture Knowledge Bank is collaborating with extension and development workers in low-income nations to transfer relevant research and technology to farmers.

The project is a program of the International Programs of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis. Scientists and students at the knowledge bank are creating interrelated websites that respond to the needs of small farmers. The websites improve financial literacy, provide technical information, and offer project evaluation tools. The researchers are identifying next steps for testing knowledge with end-users, and figuring out how to best apply knowledge in developing nations through partnerships with existing development organizations.

Read the full article: About Health