Cross-Cutting Initiatives are integrative or synthesis activities that foster or require collaborations between Future Earth networks and/or facilitate research co-creation and transdisciplinarity. Original projects and those addressing priorities identified by the Future Earth Assembly are eligible for consideration.
Awarded Projects
- 2025: Taro-Centred Food Systems – Providing human and ecological benefits in coastal watersheds: Global Research Networks (GRNs): Linwood Pendleton, Teriitutea Quesnot, Hsiao-chun (Jean) Tseng, Wasiq Silan, Sophie Su. Documenting and revitalizing traditional taro-centered food systems in Pacific coastal watersheds by bringing together Indigenous knowledge holders and researchers to assess their ecological, cultural, and health benefits. It will produce evidence and an action plan to guide future restoration efforts, demonstrating how these systems can improve biodiversity, water quality, food security, and community well-being.
- 2025: Biodiversity and Health: Evidence and action for more sustainable cities: Global Research Networks (GRNs): Frances Harris, Giles Sioen, Catherine Machalaba, Marju Prass, Chiho Watanabe, Paula Prist, Cornelia Krug, Zeenat Niazi; Shreya Uktarsk; Matthew Zylstra; Philip Loring. Synthesizing existing research and practice on the links between biodiversity, the human microbiome, and health in urban environments to better understand how nature-based solutions can improve public health. The team will develop a research agenda, policy guidance, and practical frameworks to support cities in integrating biodiversity into planning and interventions that enhance planetary and human health.
- 2025: Transdisciplinary Mountain Hydrology, TD-MH: Global Research Networks (GRNs): Xianhong Meng, Anik Bhaduri; Ria Lambino, Carolina Adler, Glenn Hunt. Improving predictions of water resources in complex mountain regions by integrating advanced hydrological models, satellite data, and stakeholder input through a transdisciplinary, co-designed approach. The project will develop a practical water assessment system and decision-support tools to help communities and policymakers better manage climate-driven water risks and strengthen water security.
- 2024: Solution-oriented approaches to unlock and pinpoint investment opportunities in sustainable and resilient agrosystem: GRNs: Anik Bhaduri, Ram Avtar; Regional, National or Local Committee or Structures: Kazuo Nadaoka, Kate Nairn, Joon Kim, Siwatt Pongpiachan. Transdisciplinary knowledge synthesis effort coordinated by Future Earth-Asia that can help to prioritise investment and policies related to sustainable and regenerative land and water management solutions to increase agricultural production without compromising the agricultural disservices to the ecosystem and biodiversity. The project will contribute to the assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) Risk in East and Southeast Asia that can exhibit the consequences of an increase in agricultural production (intensification and extensification) on the state of the ecosystem and biodiversity with the understanding of the trade-off between agricultural production risk and other ecosystem and biodiversity risks. It will develop meaningful indicators using advanced tools and methods integrating physical and socio-economic approaches in assessing agriculture production risks and the associated tradeoffs with biodiversity and ecosystem services risks at a spatial level.
- 2024: Empowering Future Leadership: A Coastal Sustainability Value Chain: GRNs: Xiaoyu Fang, Linwood Pendleton, Denis Aheto, Shu Gao, Heath Kelsey, Teina Rongo, Christine Sams, Tutea Quesnot; Early Career Researchers: Raphael Roman. Integrating academic and Indigenous knowledge with just transition principles and collaborative efforts to enhance coastal resilience. Each workshop in this series addresses a key component of the value chain, from integrating diverse knowledge systems and supporting sustainable practices to fostering innovation and building partnerships. This comprehensive approach aims to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of coastal ecosystems and communities.
- 2024 (Completed): Climate Histories Intervention: Bringing academia into conversation with the public through Art-Science: GRNs: Anneli Ekblom, Felix Riede, Lindsey Gillson. Experimenting with Art-Science collaborations and interventions to stimulate public engagement at academic conferences. This project takes the opportunity to work with the Climate Histories conference held in Uppsala from 19–21 August 2025 under the umbrella of the European Society of Environmental History (ESEH).
- 2024 (Completed): Developing a Total End-to-End Green Farming Supply Chain Solution for Africa (GREENFARM.Africa): GRNs: Semeena Valiyaveetil Shamsudhee, Faten Bahar, Robyn Owen; Regional, National or Local Committee or Structure: Fumiko Kasuga. Collaboration among iLEAPS, the Finance and Economics KAN, the Nexus KAN and the Middlesex University GreenFin Research Cluster to develop an end-to-end solution to improve farmers’ lives in Africa. To address the need for more equitable access to international markets, the project will utilise state-of-the-art satellite and supporting technology (e.g. drones, smartphones) to evidence improved farming practices, working with an initial sample of 400 cooperative farmers supported by the DAWN Commission in Western Nigeria.
- 2023: Developing a Meta-Network (Network of Networks) for Collaboration of Programs on Oceans, Marginal Seas and Coasts Under the Future Earth: GRNs: Xiaoyu Fang, Laura David; Regional, National or Local Committee or Structure: Kazuo Nadaoka, Rhodora Azanza; Low/Middle Income Country (LMIC) Expert: Aimee Gonzales. Created a “Meta-Network”—a coordinated network of existing ocean and coastal initiatives—to improve collaboration, knowledge sharing, and evidence-based decision-making for sustainable management of coastal and marine systems. It has successfully built the foundation for this network by establishing working groups and governance structures, launching surveys to map gaps and opportunities, and developing national-level “Core-and-Network Systems” in a number of countries. It also created digital platforms, organized youth training seminars engaging 250+ early-career researchers, and formed strategic partnerships with regional and global organizations. Overall, the project has strengthened collaboration across science, policy, and practice, increased visibility in major regional forums, and laid the groundwork for a scalable, long-term platform to support sustainable coastal and ocean management.
- 2023 Completed: Co-Designing Ocean Science and Traditional Knowledge to Support the Design and Management of Indigenous Marine Protected Areas: GRNs: Linwood Pendleton, Stella Alexandroff, Jean, Tseng, Tung-yuan Ho, Teina Rongo, Jackie Rongo, Antony Vavia, Liam, Kokua; Regional, National or Local Committee or Structure: Futuru Tsai, Sophie Su. This project accomplished a successful pilot of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing between Indigenous communities and Indigenous scientists to support Indigenous-led marine protection. It convened an international, culturally grounded workshop in Taiwan that brought together the Etolan Amis community and Indigenous knowledge holders from the Cook Islands, Tahiti, and elsewhere, creating a trust-based space for exchange rather than a conventional academic meeting. The key outcome was not a technical product but a tested method for co-designing collaboration: using ceremony, shared meals, circle-based dialogue, and community-led protocols to build trust and exchange knowledge about marine management, conservation, and integrating science with Indigenous knowledge. The project also generated practical lessons on what works in cross-cultural collaboration, especially the importance of relationship-building, cultural adaptation, and taking time before expecting scientific outcomes.
