241 – Twenty Years of RMS for CRFS: Proxy Variables

About this episode

The episode discusses the effectiveness of proxy variables in measuring agricultural outcomes, specifically through West African farmer trials.

When does measuring the “wrong” thing produce better results than measuring the “right” one? Lily and David continue the mini-series on Research Methods Support for Climate Resilient Food Systems with a story about proxy variables from West African farmer trials: measuring millet head weight at harvest proved a more reliable proxy for grain yield than weighing separated grain later.

People in this episode

Hosts: Lily, David

Topics covered

• Research Methods
• Climate Resilient Food Systems
• Proxy Variables
• Agricultural Trials
• West African Farming

Keywords

• proxy variables
• millet
• grain yield
• agriculture
• West Africa
• research methods
• climate resilience

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: millet head weight, grain yield

Places: West Africa

More episodes of The IDEMS Podcast

• 270 – Human Capital and the Future of AI · June 12, 2026 · 25 min
• 269 – Why Better Data Matters · June 9, 2026 · 29 min
• 268 – What Lies Behind AI as a Product? · June 5, 2026 · 23 min
• 267 – The Forces Shaping AI · June 2, 2026 · 22 min
• 266 – Building Better AI with Less · May 29, 2026 · 28 min
• 265 – Connectionist Versus Symbolist AI · May 26, 2026 · 28 min