Amplifying the Influence of Science

Despite the wealth of data available about agriculture and the environment, major gaps remain. Further effort is needed to curate, synthesize and make more accessible existing data and evidence, to turn it into useful knowledge that is available to different stakeholders who are working to solve problems in these fields. 

bwi uniquely combines original scientific research, scientific publishing, independent journalism on science for development, and practical expertise in using digital and other tools to reach farmers and other stakeholders with scientifically proven approaches.

Our Approach:

• We bridge the gap between scientific research and action, turning insights in agriculture and the environment into tangible policies and practices …
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Gender and youth

While women constitute 43% of the agricultural workforce, they produce 20%–30% smaller crop yields than men due to their lack of access to and control over resources, including land, labour, credit, agricultural information, inputs and market opportunities. Young people likewise struggle with low levels of access to farming finance, information and land, which limit their opportunities in rural areas.

Breaking down the barriers to women and young people’s employment in agriculture can benefit agriculture, food security, and communities. For example, if male–female differences in access and yields could be overcome, the number of undernourished and hungry people worldwide would fall by 100–150 million.

We use our understanding of how gender, social relations and underlying power …

Climate change

Climate change amplifies the impacts of other risks for smallholder farmers, such as extreme weather and pests and diseases. No longer regarded as a future challenge to be faced in the next few decades, climate disruption is already causing substantial losses to agriculture by speeding up biodiversity loss and the spread of crop pests and invasive species.

Invasive species have been estimated to cost Africa's agricultural sector $65.58bn per year. Taken together, the impacts of climate change undermine development gains and push people back into, or further into, poverty.

bwi empowers people with skills, tools and knowledge to adapt and become more resilient to the impacts of climate …