CRFS Technical Innovations Archive
Keywords
From Invisible Diversity to Targeted Interventions: A Gendered Participatory Diagnostic for Climate Resilience in Niger
This project develops a participatory and gender-sensitive diagnostic tool (DATAR) to document and analyze intraspecific agrobiodiversity (local crop varieties and animal breeds) in Niger and Bolivia. It highlights the importance of farmer-managed diversity for climate adaptation, reveals hidden gendered knowledge (especially among women), and produces standardized, comparable data to inform targeted agroecological interventions and seed system strategies.
Organisation: Raffaella Foundation / CRESA (Abdou Moumouni University) / McKnight Foundation / PROINPA
Author: Dr. Abdel Kader Naino Jika et al.
Maturity description: Advanced implementation with field data and outputs
Sorghum and Cowpea Dual-Purpose System for Sustainable Crop-Livestock Integration
This project promotes the diversification of legumes (cowpea, groundnut, soybean, mungbean) combined with dual-purpose sorghum to produce both human food and animal feed. It enhances soil fertility, optimizes resource use, and increases farmers’ income while strengthening crop-livestock integration in Mali. The approach includes intercropping, crop rotation, and organic-mineral fertilization, with demonstrated impacts on yields, biomass production, and farmer capacity building.
Organisation: IER; ICRISAT; McKnight Foundation (Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems)
Author: Karim Dagno; Assitan Daou
Maturity description: Advanced implementation with proven field results
Dougouyiriwa Dual-Purpose Sorghum Variety
Dougouyiriwa is an open-pollinated dual-purpose sorghum variety developed in Mali that provides both grain for human consumption and high-quality forage for livestock. It improves food and fodder security, enhances resilience to drought, and contributes to better soil fertility through increased manure availability. The variety is rich in micronutrients and adapted to Sudano-Sahelian conditions, offering higher productivity and better digestibility compared to traditional varieties.
Organisation: Research institutions and farmer organizations in Mali
Author: Karim Dagno
Maturity description: Validated and scaling
Municipal Cells of AMSP-Burkina: Local Governance and Learning Platform
This document presents the creation of municipal cells by AMSP-Burkina as local platforms bringing together farmers, processors, and value chain actors. These cells enhance coordination, peer learning, and collective action in rural areas, improving access to innovations, seed distribution, and capacity building. The initiative strengthens local governance, supports agricultural experimentation, and fosters collaboration with research and development actors.
Organisation: AMSP-Burkina
Author: Roger Kaboré
Maturity description: Recently implemented, operational in pilot communes
Compost from Millet and Fonio Crop Residues
This innovation involves producing compost using millet and fonio crop residues combined with organic activators. It provides a low-cost alternative to mineral fertilizers, improving soil fertility, increasing fonio yields by up to 46%, and supporting sustainable agriculture practices in Mali. The method enhances degraded soils while boosting productivity and farmer income, especially for women producers.
Organisation: Programme Mil, Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER), Mali
Author: Dr Ibrahima Zan Doumbia
Maturity description: Scaling and field adoption
Endogenous Data Collection Network (RECD)
A community-based monitoring and evaluation system where trained local farmers use smartphones and digital tools (KoboCollect, KoboToolbox) to collect agronomic, nutritional, and socio-economic data in insecure or hard-to-reach areas. The initiative enhances data reliability, local autonomy, and resilience while enabling real-time scientific tracking of agroecological practices.
Organisation: Consortium Groundswell International (GI), ANSD, AMSP, INERA
Author: INERA / AMSP
Maturity description: Operational and expanding
Co-composting of Organic Waste with Human Urine and Excreta
This document describes an agroecological innovation that transforms pre- and post-consumption organic waste combined with human urine and excreta into high-quality compost. It addresses soil infertility, high fertilizer costs, and poor waste management in Sahelian regions, offering a low-cost, sustainable solution that improves soil fertility, boosts crop yields, and reduces environmental pollution.
Organisation: Université Boubakar Bâ de Tillabéri (UBTi) and partners
Author: Dr Bachirou Seyni Bodo
Maturity description: Pilot phase, recently implemented (since 2023)
Village Agroecological Committee (CAE) Implementation
This document describes an endogenous approach to scaling agroecology in Burkina Faso through the creation of village-level agroecological committees. These committees strengthen local leadership, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and address the lack of extension services. The approach includes participatory diagnosis, organizational design, structuring, and continuous capacity building to ensure long-term sustainability and local ownership.
Organisation: INERA; AMSP Burkina; ANSD; Groundswell International Foundation McKnight (CRFS)
Author: Tsuamba Bourgou
Maturity description: Well established, ongoing scaling
Agroecological Waste Valorization Value Chain
This initiative analyzes and structures the agroecological waste valorization chain to improve coordination among stakeholders and promote circular economy practices. It addresses urban waste proliferation and soil degradation by transforming organic waste into agricultural inputs. The project uses data collection, stakeholder mapping, and SWOT analysis to inform public policy and strengthen governance.
Organisation: AgrOW Project with Federation of Agricultural Producers (MOOIBEN, FUMA GASKIA), Universities of Niamey, Tillabri, Maradi, INRAN
Author: Dr Seyni Bodo Bachirou
Maturity description: Pilot implementation with research backing
Niobougouma Dual-Purpose Sorghum Variety
Niobougouma is an open-pollinated dual-purpose sorghum variety co-developed by research institutions and farmer organizations in Mali. It provides both grain for human consumption and high-quality fodder for livestock, improving food security, livestock feeding, and resilience to drought. The variety enhances agricultural productivity and supports integration between crop and livestock systems.
Organisation: IER / ICRISAT / Farmer Organizations
Author: Karim Dagno; Assitan Daou
Maturity description: Validated and being scaled
Dual-purpose sorghum and legume residues for livestock feeding in Mali
This project evaluates the use of sorghum straw combined with cowpea and groundnut residues as an alternative livestock feed during the dry season in Mali. Through feeding trials on sheep, it demonstrates that legume residues can partially replace wheat bran without reducing animal performance, thereby lowering feeding costs and improving resource use efficiency.
Organisation: IER / ICRISAT / McKnight Foundation
Author: Karim Dagno
Maturity description: Field-tested and validated
Integrating GIS and Collaborative Databases to Boost Circular Economy in Ouagadougou
This document presents a study (2022–2024) on optimizing organic waste recycling in Ouagadougou באמצעות GIS and collaborative databases. It identifies organic waste sources, proposes ideal locations for recycling units, and promotes circular economy initiatives such as Bokashi fertilizer production. The project also emphasizes youth and women entrepreneurship, improved waste management logistics, and digital monitoring platforms.
Organisation: Université Joseph Ki Zerbo; INSS/CNRST; McKnight Foundation (CRFS Project)
Author: Bibata Derra; Adama Hilou; Aude Nikiema
Maturity description: Advanced pilot with field results