Agricultural research institutions face mounting pressure to demonstrate climate impact, yet lack systematic approaches to assess and strategically reorient their portfolios. This perspective presents a four-method portfolio analysis framework—combining discourse analysis, publication review, key informant interviews, and stakeholder mapping. The framework was used to assess the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture’s (IITA) 2013–2025 climate portfolio considering new strategic planning. The results of the review revealed five transferable lessons for research organizations: first, reduce the focus on adaptation alone to also include mitigation; second, close gaps between what is documented versus what is undertaken in practice to strengthen policy relevance; third, address the lack of deeper integration of gender and youth; fourth, strengthen institutional capacities to affect policy change; and fifth, advance collaborations across institutes to better address the multidimensionality of climate change impacts and opportunities. Beyond IITA, applying such a portfolio analysis framework is expected to significantly strengthen the ability of institutions to navigate the evolving climate finance landscape and support strategic reorientations in a coherent and impactful way. The approach offers other research institutions a replicable method to move from climate-relevant projects toward comprehensive institutional climate strategies.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a key staple crop in Kenya, where plant-parasitic nematodes are among the most damaging yield constraints for smallholder farmers. This study evaluated fluopyram-treated banana fibre paper, a biodegradable carrier for targeted delivery of ultra-low nematicide doses, under on-farm conditions in Nyandarua County over three consecutive cropping seasons across properly and poorly managed fields. Seventeen nematode genera were identified, with Helicotylenchus and Globodera (potato cyst nematode, PCN) recording the highest population densities. Fluopyram-treated banana paper significantly suppressed Globodera juvenile densities and reduced total nematode reproductive factors by ≥26% and PCN cyst multiplication factors, the effects most pronounced under poor management. No significant nematode suppression was observed under good management. Total yield in fluopyram treatment approximately doubled in well-managed plots and increased by ~50% in poorly managed plots relative to untreated controls. Fluopyram-treated plots also produced a higher proportion of large-grade tubers under proper management, improving marketable yield. These findings demonstrate that banana fibre technology can effectively manage nematode pests under variable real-world smallholder conditions, with yield benefits amplified by good agronomic practices. The technology offers a practical, climate-smart, and sustainable nematode management tool, with potential for wide adoption across sub-Saharan Africa.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a key staple crop in Kenya, where plant-parasitic nematodes are among the most damaging yield constraints for smallholder farmers. This study evaluated fluopyram-treated banana fibre paper, a biodegradable carrier for targeted delivery of ultra-low nematicide doses, under on-farm conditions in Nyandarua County over three consecutive cropping seasons across properly and poorly managed fields. Seventeen nematode genera were identified, with Helicotylenchus and Globodera (potato cyst nematode, PCN) recording the highest population densities. Fluopyram-treated banana paper significantly suppressed Globodera juvenile densities and reduced total nematode reproductive factors by ≥26% and PCN cyst multiplication factors, effects most pronounced under poor management. No significant nematode suppression was observed under good management. Potato yield and quality responded positively to fluopyram treatment: total yield approximately doubled in well-managed plots and increased by ~50% in poorly managed plots relative to untreated controls. Fluopyram-treated plots also produced a higher proportion of large-grade tubers under proper management, improving marketable yield. These findings demonstrate that banana fibre technology can effectively manage nematode pests under variable real-world smallholder conditions, with yield benefits amplified by good agronomic practices. The technology offers a practical, climate-smart and sustainable nematode management tool, with potential for wide adoption across sub-Saharan Africa.