Risk and the Smallholder Farmer

Farmer with load on shoulders

The definition of risk used by the HarvestChoice project does not frame risk as inherently bad. After all, farmers and other individuals often voluntarily subject themselves to risks that can be avoided. That is, some individuals may view risk as undesirable, others may not care, while still others may view it as desirable. Individuals who find risk undesirable are commonly referred to as risk averse. Individuals who do not care are commonly referred to as risk neutral. Individuals who find risk desirable are often referred to as risk preferring, loving, or attracted.

The Hallmarks of HarvestChoice (VIDEO)

The Hallmarks of HarvestChoice (VIDEO)

HarvestChoice cofounders and principal investigators Stanley Wood and Phil Pardey discuss our mission, our data challenge, and four signature aspects of our innovative approach to more productive and profitable farming in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Risk: What It Means to Us, and Why It Matters (Video)

Risk: we all know what that means, right? But why is it such a critical part of our HarvestChoice portfolio, what does it mean when you look through the lens of farming in Sub-Saharan Africa?

HC in the News: Minnesota Helps to Feed Africa

I spoke with KARE11-TV in the Twin Cities about HarvestChoice's collaborative effort of mixing hard science and economics to combat hunger.

CSIRO and HarvestChoice: Our Partnership to Take on Global Hunger

CSIRO and HarvestChoice

Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and HarvestChoice are now working together to apply innovative, “bio-economic” approaches to improve the food security of poor people in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Together, our organizations will merge biological, environmental and economic tools to track global food pests and better target strategic investments to improve global food security. 

How We're Pioneering the Mapping of Pests (Video)

Jason Beddow of HarvestChoice and the University of Minnesota, along with Darren Kriticos of CSIRO, explain how HarvestChoice is revolutionizing the science of tracking -- and predicting -- the paths of devastating crop pests and diseases such as UG99.

Prabhu Pingali on the Gates Foundation's Agriculture Strategy (and HarvestChoice)

Prabhu Pingali on the Gates Foundation's agriculture strategy (and HarvestChoice

Our colleague and supporter Prabhu Pingali, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Development Division of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, delivered this seminar the other day at IFPRI.

First ReSAKSS/HarvestChoice Nairobi Workshop A Big Success (Video)

HarvestChoice and ReSAKSS workshop 2011

Just wrapped up three days in Nairobi with our colleagues at the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS), pulling together agricultural production and research experts from around East and Central Africa to share our tools and learn how we can make our data products work better for them.

African Agricultural R&D: Why It Matters to the Rest of Us (VIDEO)

African Agricultural R&D: Why it matters to the rest of us (VIDEO)

Last month I was honored to visit Stanford as a featured speaker at their Global Food Policy and Food Security Symposium Series. I shared the bill with Prabhu Pingali, Deputy Director for Agriculture Development at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who has been critical to helping guide and advance our work at HarvestChoice.

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