Dhaka, Bangladesh (30 April 2025) – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) took center stage at the Gobeshona Global Conference 2025, hosted by the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) on 30th April 2025, with a dynamic virtual session titled “Agri-Food System Innovations for Food Security.” This webinar was arranged to connect local and international researchers, scholars, policy-makers, and practitioners to support and amplify the innovations in developing, implementing, and monitoring solutions to address climate change and to explore innovative pathways to resilient and inclusive agri-food systems in the face of escalating climate and water-related challenges.
Drawing on IRRI’s ongoing work under the CGIAR Initiatives on Asian Mega Deltas (AMD) and the Sustainable Farming Science Program, the session presented a series of case studies and field-based interventions designed to build resilience through inclusive, adaptive agri-food systems. These initiatives aim to tailor science and innovation to the needs of communities living in fragile, resource-constrained environments.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Humnath Bhandari, IRRI Country Representative for Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of integrating local efforts into the deployment of climate adaptation strategies.
“Food systems are under immense stress from climate change, particularly in coastal Bangladesh where water salinity, scarcity, and seasonal cyclone threaten local livelihoods and overall food security,” he stated. “Locally led adaptation, supported by IRRI continuous research and inclusive government policy can offer a pathway toward resilience.”
Dr. Ahmad Salahuddin, Senior Associate Scientist at IRRI and session coordinator, underlined the need for coordinated action across institutions.
“We cannot treat climate resilience as a series of isolated efforts. Strengthening agri-food systems in the face of climate risk demands integrated policy frameworks that connect research, local implementation, and institutional accountability.”
Presentations addressed specific technical and social innovations. Dr. Manoranjan Mondal introduced the Cluster Farmer Field School (CFFS) model, an approach that enables coordinated learning and technology dissemination among groups of farmers in coastal polders.
“By organizing farmers into clusters, we can accelerate the uptake of climate-smart practices such diversified cropping. More importantly, this approach builds collective ownership and facilitates peer-to-peer knowledge exchange,” he explained.
Dr. Sharif Ahmad highlighted both the opportunities and constraints associated with crop intensification and diversification in coastal agroecosystems.
“These systems hold significant potential, but progress is constrained by inadequate access to quality seeds, timely information, and markets linkage. Overcoming these challenges requires an integrated response that combines infrastructure, capacity development, and institutional reform,” he noted.
Additional presentations explored the intersection of water insecurity, social vulnerability, and gender inequality, emphasizing the value of inclusive frameworks. The Wife-Husband Agri-preneurship Model, presented by Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya, and a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) analysis of coastal water insecurity by Dr. Mou Rani Sarker, illustrated how locally tailored approaches can increase women’s leadership and enhance youth participation in agriculture.
The session concluded with a moderated Q&A, during which participants exchanged perspectives on how to scale innovations and integrate them into broader policy and institutional landscapes. Reflections underscored the urgency of embedding climate adaptation within long-term development planning and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
The session was part of a broader effort at the Gobeshona Global Conference 2025 to bridge science, policy, and practice, and promote transformative action toward sustainable development goals in climate-vulnerable regions.
Dr. Ahmad Salahuddin concluded the technical presentations with a discussion on institutional and policy gaps in managing water and climate risks in coastal Bangladesh. The session ended with a vibrant Q&A and reflections on scaling locally driven, research-based solutions for food security and resilience.