Decades of innovation and impact to share skills, train and mentor students and young scientists

On November 11, 2022, Leigh Ann Winowiecki, a systems scientist and leader of the soil and land health theme at the Center for International Forestry Research and the WorldAgroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), had just wrapped up a side event on soil health at the COP27 summit in Al-Sheikh. Her passion had been palpable, her words resonating with urgency and hope. As the event concluded, a young woman approached, making her way through the crowd.  She introduced herself as Veronica Vasilica, a master’s student from the University of Bayreuth in Germany. She spoke earnestly, seeking mentorship and a chance to dive deeper into the field of soil health.

Six months later, Veronica found herself under the vast, open skies of Siaya County in Western Kenya. She had joined CIFOR-ICRAF Soil and Land Health for a three-month internship. Here, she would study how compost applications could change the physical, chemical and biological properties of agricultural soils—a key question for her MSc programme in Global Change Ecology..  

Veronica was not alone in her journey. Over the past four years, CIFOR-ICRAF’s Soil and Land Health Laboratory has welcomed more than fifty interns—students from all over the world, united by their shared passion for soil science. In 2023, a record fourteen students walked through the doors of this global hub for soil research.

A hub of innovation and learning

The Soil and Land Health Laboratory has been a leader in transforming land and soil health assessments over the last two decades. As a global facility, it is renowned for its robust, cost-efficient, and rapid analysis of soils, plants, and agricultural inputs such as manure and fertilizers using dry spectral methods. 

Beyond its technical achievements, the laboratory has scaled its spectroscopy technology globally through capacity-building initiatives and partnerships. Today, it is the key reference laboratory for more than twenty regional spectroscopy laboratories. It also plays a crucial role in the Global Soil Laboratory Network global spectral library initiative with the Food and Agriculture Organisation. 

Yet, amid all this progress, CIFOR-ICRAF remains dedicated to nurturing young talents. “We’re here to support the ambitions of young scientists at an individual level,” says Dickens Ateku, CIFOR-ICRAF senior laboratory manager. “The laboratory allows them to practice modern analytical methods for soil health assessments and learn from scientists with different expertise.”

Hands-on experience and personal growth

Interns at the Soil and Land Health Laboratory are immersed in modern analytical methods for soil health assessment. From their first day, they learn standard processes such as soil sampling, processing, and data analysis, which familiarizes them with the basics of spectroscopy. Working closely with diverse scientists—from chemists and statisticians to agroecologists—provides the students with one-on-one mentorship, deepening their understanding of technical skills and real-world applications.

As they progress, each student receives tailored training and mentorship focusing on their academic background and specific areas of interest. 

“We have had students doing a myriad of topics for their master’s and PhD studies ranging from salinity, biochar, compost and many others,” adds Ateku. “Here, they are exposed to cutting-edge technology, professional support and practical analysis of their samples.” 

“I’ve gained a newfound appreciation for the spectra of soils and plants and how crucial this data is to help farmers across the globe,” reflects Joel Harawa, a data analyst intern and computer science student from New York University.

A two-way learning process

The internship programme benefits both the students and the laboratory. “We ask each student to highlight any gaps they may have noticed and recommend areas of improvement,” says Ateku. “This feedback ensures we are continually improving and developing innovations.” 

For instance, Soliver Che Fusi, an environmental engineering PhD student from the University of California, Berkeley, worked on using mid- and near-infrared spectra for assessing biochar physicochemical properties—an area the laboratory had not previously explored. This collaboration allowed the lab to co-develop a new measurement method, opening new avenues in biochar and soil health research.

“CIFOR-ICRAF is a unique hub, hosting multiple research organizations,” shares Fusi. “As a young researcher, exposure to various projects on this campus has been invaluable in helping me better understand international development and my role in it. I’ve learned the importance of defining my place as a researcher and citizen within the global environment.”

Veronica’s fellowship, like those of her fellow interns, was transformative. “My time has been enriching”, she says. “I have gained important technical and soft skills and had the chance to experience a vibrant international working environment. I am grateful for all the support I received and the opportunity to work alongside such inspiring colleagues.” 

Read more:

• Soil And Land Health Laboratory at CIFOR-ICRAF: A Global Leader 
• Living dirt: Why microorganisms matter for healthy soil
• Establishing a soil spectral laboratory in Rwanda
• Expanding soil spectroscopy across Africa

Ceremony recognizes long-term commitment to the organization and its mission

On 4 July 2024, 20 staff members in the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)’s Cameroon division were awarded Medals of Honour for Work in a ceremony at the organization’s country office at Usine Bastos.

The medals were given for ten, 15 and 25-year periods of service, and awardees included scientists, administrators, drivers, finance officers and more.

“These medals are a testimony to the excellence and exceptional commitment of the women and men who make our organization strong,” said CIFOR-ICRAF’s country coordinator Ann Degrande during the presentation. “I would like to thank each and every one of them for the determination and passion they show towards the organization, and especially the rural communities we serve.”

She outlined CIFOR-ICRAF’s thirty-year track record of service in Cameroon, which has focused on leveraging the powerful potential of trees, forests and agroforestry landscapes to combat the planet’s most pressing challenges — biodiversity loss, climate change, food security, inequity, and living standards — by conducting innovative research, building partner capacity, and actively engaging all stakeholders to provide new knowledge for better decision-making.

“It is thanks to our dedicated staff, who we honour today, that we have been so successful in accomplishing our mission to date,” Degrande said. “Their skills, creativity and scientific rigour have enabled major advances in areas of research and development. Their discoveries have nourished our knowledge, fueled our thinking and inspired innovative solutions for a more sustainable and prosperous world.”

High-level attendees of the event included the Minister of Labour and Social Security, the Governor of the Central Region, the Prefect of Mfoundi, the Sub-Prefect of Yaounde, the Regional Delegate for Labour and Social Security, representatives of various other ministries and departments in the Cameroonian government and partners of CIFOR-ICRAF.

Following opening remarks by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Grégoire Owona, staff representative Ttibi Olu praised staff members’ achievements.

“We all know how difficult it has always been to find a job, and especially to keep it for a long time,” he said. “So when a person manages to find one — and keep it for long enough to receive recognition from the State — they simply deserve to be congratulated.”

CEO Éliane Ubalijoro promotes future of sustainable forests in Stockholm address
Senior Associate Carol Colfer receives IUFRO Scientific Achievement Award

Stockholm, 24 June 2024 – The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) featured prominently at today’s opening session of the 26th World Congress of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) in Stockholm, where more than 4,000 delegates from over 110 countries gathered to showcase solutions for a sustainable future led by forests.

CIFOR-ICRAF Chief Executive Officer Éliane Ubalijoro joined King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, IUFRO President John Parrotta and other dignitaries at the opening ceremony to begin the weeklong event under this year’s theme: Forests & Society Towards 2050.

“To manage forests sustainably,” King Carl XVI Gustaf said in his welcome address, “we need certain basics in place to create resilient systems. These include stable institutions – like government agencies – stable markets and solid research to help us make smart decisions supporting the green future.”

Over the next 25 years, climate change, biodiversity loss, agriculture and a growing world economy are expected to exert huge pressure on forests and the societies that depend on them. 2050 is a landmark year to achieve the vision of Living in Harmony With Nature of the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as the target of net zero emissions, according to IUFRO.

“The actions we take now will decide the fate of our forests in 2050,” said CIFOR-ICRAF CEO Ubalijoro in her address. “Fortunately, science can give us the tools to succeed, interconnecting all perspectives and navigating the often conflicting, multiple demands on forests.”

Following the opening ceremony, CIFOR-ICRAF Senior Associate Carol Colfer received an IUFRO World Congress Scientific Achievement Award of 2024 for her work on Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), Adaptive Collaborative Management (ACM), health and forests, landscape mosaics, micro-scale governance, gender and other critical topics.

This year, CIFOR-ICRAF is an organizational partner of the quinquennial event and will co-host the next IUFRO World Congress in Nairobi in 2029.

The two research organizations enjoy a long-standing partnership, cooperating on many initiatives over recent decades.

Starting in 2007, they worked together to stage annual “Forest Days” in parallel with the UN Climate Change Conferences. These ground-breaking side events – which later became known as the International Day of Forests – helped raise the profile of trees and put them firmly on the climate change agenda.

In 2012, ICRAF collaborated on IUFRO’s first-ever regional congress organized on the African continent, co-hosting the event in Nairobi and drawing attention to the vital role that the Global South plays in the fight against climate change.

“Our IUFRO family tree has very deep roots, extending back to the union’s founding in 1892,” said IUFRO President Parrotta. “Over the years, we have grown steadily in terms of the geographic extent of our membership, in the range of forest-related disciplines that we work on, and the diversity of our leadership at all levels.”

CIFOR-ICRAF scientists are scheduled to participate in more than 25 sessions at the congress, including a sub-plenary meeting on 28 June organized by the Forests, Trees and Agroforestry Partnership (FTAP), where scientists will aim to reconcile the trends and perspectives that are at odds with forest health by mid-century. CIFOR-ICRAF supports FTAP as a core partner.

As forests and society strive to secure a net zero future by 2050, forest research provides a scientific knowledge base for sustainable solutions to the intersecting crises of poverty, hunger, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

“As we look to 2050, let us embrace the spirit of innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration,” CEO Ubalijoro said during today’s opening ceremony. “The future of our forests and society depends on our ability to think beyond the present, to anticipate the challenges ahead, and to work together towards sustainable solutions.”

CIFOR-ICRAF has been leveraging its scientific expertise and know-how to produce some of the technological innovations needed over the next 25 years.

Its scientists developed the Regreening App, an Android-based application that allows users to collect data at the farm level on a range of land restoration practices.

Its state-of-the-art laboratories enable scientists to analyze the organic content of soil, or study tree rings to reconstruct past climate patterns, helping predict climate impacts.

And the CIFOR-ICRAF tree genebank safeguards the diversity of trees across Africa by storing and sharing seeds from a vast array of species.

CIFOR-ICRAF also recognizes that forest research must have a global focus. This means dedicating sufficient resources to studying the tropical forests of the Global South, where almost a third of all forest area on the planet is located.

And it means harnessing the potential of youth, women and Indigenous Peoples to protect, restore and responsibly harness forests.

“The one question that you need to ask yourself during this congress is: What can I do to help the future leaders of forestry?” said Isabelle Claire Dela Paz, president of the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA). “You – as one of the current leaders in the sector – must become an instrument to building up the youth. Talk to us, listen to us, collaborate with us, and most importantly, invest in us.”

To address the pressing challenges facing global food systems, CGIAR and The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) have announced enhanced collaboration aimed at accelerating the transformation of food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis.

This newly strengthened unified effort will leverage the expertise of both entities, and advance ambitious joint programming to tackle issues like land degradation, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water resource depletion.

Central to the collaboration is the recognition of the indispensable role of forests and trees in addressing global challenges. The agreement ensures agri-food system transformation encompasses all relevant sectors, including forestry, hunting, fishing, crop cultivation, and livestock production.

The collaboration was solidified on June 7, 2024, when the parties aligned on their commitment to a landscape and ecosystems approach through a Joint Communique.

Both parties to the communique will work towards formalizing an optimal relationship. One CGIAR leadership welcomes CIFOR-ICRAF’s continued, close engagement in the process to design CGIAR’s 2025—30 Research Portfolio.

CIFOR and ICRAF are CGIAR Research Centers, working to support biodiverse landscapes made resilient through healthy forests, trees and soils.

Read the Joint Communique: CIFOR-ICRAF and the Integrated Partnership (signed)