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Agriculture and Environment
Where agriculture, development, and environmental sustainability meet

Food, water, and a healthy environment are essential to human well-being. They are also building blocks for more sustainable and equitable development. But these resources are threatened around the world—more so in developing countries.

IDRC’s Agriculture and Environment program recognizes that the key to providing these essentials is to increase agricultural productivity and food and water security, while ensuring environmental sustainability. We support research that fosters sound environmental management policies and long-term economic development that benefits local communities.

Agriculture and Food Security

Food demand is expected to double by 2050. We support research that will help meet this growing need. The focus: helping small-scale farmers in developing countries increase their production of healthy food, and get higher returns for their...

Canadian International Food Security Research Fund

Food security is a complex issue facing one billion undernourished people around the world. Through the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund, IDRC and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) work together to support...

Climate Change and Water

Climate change is affecting both water availability and quality. We support research to help the world’s most vulnerable people adapt to the water-related impacts of climate change, such as droughts, floods, landslides, and rising sea levels.

Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia

Certain areas of the world are especially vulnerable to extreme natural effects of climate change, such as sea level rise, changes in precipitation patterns, and glacial melt...

Ecosystems and Human Health

The world’s poor often live in degraded ecosystems that are both unproductive and harmful to health. Climate change, expanding agriculture, and increased industrialization are adding to the risk. We fund research in developing countries that tackles...

Environmental Economics

Attempts to address environmental problems in developing countries typically face cost constraints and other obstacles. We support regional networks that strengthen local capacity for the economic analysis of environmental problems, so that...

Latest Results

Researchers compared water quality available in two informal settlements in Lebanon and Jordan. Tests were conducted to compare water supplied by the municipality and bottled water. The results: tests showed that their quality is similar, although...
Bottled or tap? Testing perceptions about water in Lebanon and JordanSunshine and saris equals safe drinking water Sea level rise and land loss in the Nile Delta Action needed to help Cape Town adapt to climate changeInnovation to control dengue disease in Asia

Latest Results

Researchers from Canada and India funded by IDRC have found that filtering water through sari-cloth before purifying it in the sun’s heat makes polluted water safe to drink.    Polluted water is often the only source of drinking water for many...
Bottled or tap? Testing perceptions about water in Lebanon and Jordan Sunshine and saris equals safe drinking water Sea level rise and land loss in the Nile Delta Action needed to help Cape Town adapt to climate changeInnovation to control dengue disease in Asia

Latest Results

IDRC-funded researchers have identified coastal areas in the Nile Delta that may be vulnerable to sea level rise using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Results indicate that significant land loss may occur in that region by 2100. Using the...
Bottled or tap? Testing perceptions about water in Lebanon and JordanSunshine and saris equals safe drinking water Sea level rise and land loss in the Nile Delta Action needed to help Cape Town adapt to climate changeInnovation to control dengue disease in Asia

Latest Results

The impacts of climate change on the city of Cape Town, South Africa, are outlined in a new book, Climate Change at the City Scale.    IDRC-supported researchers Anton Cartwright, Susan Parnell, Gregg Oelofse, and Sarah Ward argue that local...
Bottled or tap? Testing perceptions about water in Lebanon and JordanSunshine and saris equals safe drinking water Sea level rise and land loss in the Nile Delta Action needed to help Cape Town adapt to climate changeInnovation to control dengue disease in Asia

Latest Results

Asian researchers have developed new environmental and community approaches to reduce the number of mosquitoes carrying dengue, the fastest-growing mosquito-borne viral disease. Dengue is a significant economic and social burden in many countries...
Bottled or tap? Testing perceptions about water in Lebanon and JordanSunshine and saris equals safe drinking water Sea level rise and land loss in the Nile Delta Action needed to help Cape Town adapt to climate change Innovation to control dengue disease in Asia
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IDRC funds researchers in the developing world so they can build healthier, more prosperous societies
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