Global Objectives

Research projects led by the Horticulture Innovation Lab network contribute to major objectives of the U.S. government's global hunger and food security initiative, called Feed the Future. Explore projects below, to see how research can advance inclusive agricultural growth, strengthen resilience and improve nutrition for women and children.

Feed the Future

Learn more about the U.S. government's global hunger and food security initiative

Inclusive Agricultural Growth Projects

Inclusive Agricultural Growth

Growth in the agriculture sector has been shown in some areas to be more effective than growth in other sectors at lifting men and women out of poverty — increasing food availability, generating income from production, creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities throughout value chains, and spurring growth in rural and urban economies. Fruit and vegetable production and markets have a big impact, as these crops generate high economic returns per unit of land. Farmers who grow high-value horticulture crops consistently earn more than those who grow other commodities, allowing smallholder farmers to derive additional income and driving agricultural and economic diversification. Innovation in horticulture crops, including postharvest entrepreneurial opportunities, offer increased production, value-added income, and long-term investment opportunities.

Young woman interviewing old woman in sparse room in light from doorway

Empowering women through horticulture in Honduras

Led by Janelle Larson, The Pennsylvania State University

In the Western Highlands of Honduras, families struggle to survive on subsistence agriculture. Poverty and malnutrition rates are high, and take a particularly heavy toll on women and children.

Honduras

Representative shows jar of seeds and drying beads to television reporter in Thailand.

Implementing drying beads for seeds in Asia and Africa

Led by Kent Bradford, University of California, Davis

Improving the ability of smallholder farmers to access high-quality seeds of improved varieties of horticultural crops is fundamental to increasing farmer productivity and incomes.

Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda

Strengthening the value chain for African indigenous vegetables in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia

Led by Stephen Weller, Purdue University

This research project seeks to support and strengthen the African indigenous vegetable industry using a market-first approach to overcoming constraints along the value chain, leading to improved pr

Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia

Man holds up drying beads to teach crowd with banner DAI USAID logos in background.

Scaling up seed-drying technology in Bangladesh

Led by Johan Van Asbrouck, Rhino Research

Providing smallholder farmers access to high-quality seeds of improved varieties of horticultural crops is fundamental to increasing productivity and incomes.

Bangladesh

University classroom with students and speaker

Building postharvest capacity in Tanzania

Led by Eleni Pliakoni, Kansas State University

Postharvest losses of fresh horticultural crops are a major challenge in Tanzania, with studies from Sokoine University of Agriculture estimating losses of fresh produce at 44-60 percent.

Tanzania

Improved Nutrition

Undernutrition, particularly during the 1,000 days from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, leads to lower levels of educational attainment, productivity, lifetime earnings, and economic growth rates. Horticulture plays a unique role in ensuring access to and availability of diverse, nutritious food. Increased dietary diversity is highly correlated with better health, and thus reduction of malnutrition and stunting. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is one of the few dietary strategies that can help improve both undernutrition and overnutrition, which can co-exist even in the same household (the so-called "double burden of malnutrition" in transitioning economies).

Women harvesting leafy vegetables in a farm field.

Improving nutrition with African indigenous vegetables in Kenya and Zambia

Led by James Simon, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

This project's research will support and strengthen African indigenous vegetable industries using a market-first, science-driven approach that connects stakeholders along the value chain.

Kenya, Zambia

Man and woman hold basket of leafy green vegetables in front of pond with floating garden in Bangladesh

Examining nutrition impacts of horticultural innovations in Bangladesh

As a collaborator with the Nutrition Innovation Lab at Tufts University, this research team is implementing three horticultural technologies and analyzing the impacts of these interventions on household nutrition and dietary diversity.

Bangladesh

Investigating integrated vegetable-livestock systems in Cambodia

Led by Jessie Vipham, Kansas State University

The goal of this project is to understand how integrated animal-horticulture systems are most feasible for smallholders by rigorously addressing — through interdisciplinary research — the potential of these systems with regard to sustainable production capacity, income generation, and gender dimensions.

Cambodia

Creating a market niche for 'food-safe' vegetables in Cambodia and Vietnam

Led by Cary J. Trexler, University of California, Davis

The rapid economic growth and population expansion of Cambodian and Vietnam presents opportunities for impacting the livelihood of many people, where horticulture remains an important undeveloped b

Cambodia, Vietnam

women farmers harvesting leafy green vegetables inside nethouse

Building safe vegetable value chains in Cambodia

Led by Karen LeGrand, University of California, Davis

This international project team is focusing efforts on linking smallholder farmers to other value chain actors, to connect vegetable production with market demand.

Cambodia

Resilience

Increasingly frequent, intense shocks and stresses threaten the ability of men, women, and families to emerge from poverty in a sustainable way.

Young women working in garden plot with vegetable seedlings, drip irrigation hose, mulch, and USAID water tank in background

Promoting drip irrigation and climate resilience in Guatemala

Also called MásRiego, this project develops and implements holistic, business-driven solutions to increase availability of climate resilient solutions while increasing inclusion.

Guatemala

Close-up on basket of tomatoes at a market in Rwanda

Reducing postharvest losses in Rwanda

Led by Gurbinder S. Gill, Agribusiness Associates Inc.

In 2014, the Rwandan National Horticulture Strategy estimates that 1 million rural households in Rwanda grow horticultural commodities, "principally for home use and sale.

Rwanda

Developing a participatory extension model to enhance smallholder production and marketing in Uganda

Led by Kate Scow, University of California, Davis

Although the growing market for horticultural products in Uganda offers an opportunity for smallholder farmers to improve their income, the farmers' access to these markets is still limited.

Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Trainers talk to farmers about maintaining freshness and proper postharvest handling of various vegetable crops after harvest.

Opening a regional postharvest training center in Tanzania

Led by Diane Barrett, University of California, Davis

A year of training for postharvest experts from Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Benin and Gabon culminates in the establishment of a model Postharvest and Training Services Center in Tanzania--which the new experts emulate in their home countries.

Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Benin, Gabon

group plant pineapple demonstration plot in Guinea

Establishing a horticulture center in Guinea

This project's goal is to introduce novel technologies that will improve production practices and reduce postharvest losses in Guinea. These technologies will be delivered through a market-driven and youth-led Horticulture Training and Services Center in Kindia, Guinea.

Guinea

Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture