Researchers from across the globe converged in Atlanta, Georgia from May 24-25, 2023 to share their work in progress at this year’s MRR Innovation Lab Technical meeting.
In this Q&A, MRR Innovation Lab associate director Tara Chiu outlines some of the key ideas that underpin a powerful business case for insurance companies and microfinance institutions to invest in the future of risk-management tools for smallholder farmers.
New MRR research in Zambia shows that a budgeting activity can stretch maize-farming families' savings, reducing the severity and duration of the hungry season while also unlocking the means to invest more in generating larger crop yields the following year.
Research in Kenya is generating insights on practical ways to encourage farmers to learn about the condition of their soils and appropriate amendments that can increase yields.
Women are at the heart of agriculture but often face a number of challenges that keep them having from full control over their lives. Learn how MRR Innovation Lab researchers are testing ways to spark transformational and lasting women’s empowerment in rural communities.
MRR Innovation Lab director Michael Carter was awarded the 2022 Chancellor’s Award for International Engagement at UC Davis in recognition of his research and outreach on poverty reduction and food security as well as his teaching with UC Davis students at the start of their research careers.
In this Q&A, MRR principal investigator Agnes Quisumbing discusses how shocks affect women, how development programming can increase women’s empowerment and what women in rural communities need to improve their lives.
Information and learning can empower rural families to increase their food security and resilience. MRR Innovation Lab research teams are testing ways to fill information gaps and spark learning across smallholder farming communities.
A MRR Innovation Lab research team is leveraging the strengths of small agrodealers in Mozambique to scale an innovative bundle of stress-tolerant maize and insurance in remote small-scale farming communities.
Market systems are critical for rural households in developing countries who rely on agriculture for food and income. MRR Innovation Lab research teams are developing and testing ways to strengthen market systems, which will provide insights on how to make markets work better for all and to spur inclusive agriculture-led growth.
