Interconnected research domains that address the most urgent ecological challenges while building the intellectual foundations of ecological civilization.
Developing integrated crop-livestock systems, agroforestry models, and regenerative farming practices that increase yields while restoring soil health. Our field stations across Asia and Africa test and validate approaches that smallholder farmers can adopt at scale. Key focus areas include nitrogen-fixing cover crops, reduced-tillage systems, and biochar soil amendments.
Addressing the global water crisis through integrated watershed management, precision irrigation technologies, and nature-based water purification systems. Our research spans from the Tibetan Plateau headwaters to arid-region groundwater management, with emphasis on balancing agricultural, ecological, and human consumption needs under climate uncertainty.
Building adaptive capacity through ecosystem-based adaptation, climate-smart infrastructure planning, and community-led resilience frameworks. Our work combines satellite remote sensing with on-the-ground participatory research to identify vulnerability hotspots and design context-appropriate intervention strategies.
Protecting Earth's genetic heritage through in-situ conservation corridors, seed bank networks, and agro-biodiversity programs that integrate traditional knowledge with modern conservation biology. Special emphasis on crop wild relatives and neglected underutilized species with high nutritional and climate-adaptation potential.
Accelerating the shift to renewable energy through policy analysis, technology assessment, and rural electrification models that prioritize energy access for agricultural communities. Research includes solar-powered irrigation, biogas from agricultural waste, and the land-use implications of large-scale renewable deployment.
Redefining how we measure progress by developing multidimensional indicators that account for natural capital, ecosystem services, social equity, and intergenerational well-being. Our framework — the Ecological Civilization Index (ECI) — is being piloted in partnership with national statistical offices and international development agencies.
Large-scale, multi-year projects that deliver tangible outcomes for communities, ecosystems, and global policy.
A transcontinental initiative bringing sustainable agriculture technologies to 15 countries along the historic Silk Road corridors. In partnership with CAAS, ICRISAT, and national agricultural research systems, the project establishes demonstration farms, trains extension workers, and develops locally adapted agroecological protocols.
Partners: CAAS, ICRISAT, FAO
Countries: 15 across Asia & Africa
Developing and validating integrated farming systems that achieve net-zero carbon emissions while maintaining or increasing food output. The project combines soil carbon sequestration measurement, low-emission livestock management, renewable energy integration, and carbon credit methodologies tailored to smallholder contexts.
Partners: World Bank, China Agricultural University
Pilot Sites: 8 countries
Breeding and deploying improved legume varieties that maintain productivity under water-stressed conditions. Leveraging genomics-assisted breeding and participatory variety selection, the project focuses on chickpea, pigeonpea, and groundnut — staple protein sources for millions in dryland regions.
Partners: ICRISAT, Embrapa
Target: 20 new varieties by 2028
Piloting the Academy's flagship measurement framework with national governments and UN agencies. The ECI provides a composite measure of ecological civilization progress, integrating environmental quality, resource efficiency, ecological governance, and green lifestyle indicators — designed to complement GDP as a measure of national well-being.
Partners: UNDP, National Statistical Offices
Pilot Countries: 5