Silvia Rico

At CIMMYT, our Women in Crop Science network is working to create a more inclusive internal and external environment. Here’s a glimpse of a day in the life of our team.

The CIMMYT–China collaboration over four decades has added some 10.7 million additional tons of wheat to China’s national wheat output.

CIMMYT’s experimental station in Obregón is a mecca for wheat research and breeding, where scientists have access to state-of-the-art field facilities and an ideal location.

Every year, thousands of wheat lines are analyzed in detail in the CIMMYT Wheat Quality laboratory to determine the nutritional, processing and end-use quality of the grain.

CIMMYT and its partners worldwide continue to work on this complex challenge, so millions of smallholder farmers can protect their crops and feed their families.

Two-wheel tractors have replaced outdated farming tools, helping Ethiopian farmers reduce drudgery, improve productivity and increase their profits.

CIMMYT maize and wheat quality experts explain the importance of whole grains for healthy diets.

Improving global coordination of crop modeling efforts.

Maize and wheat seeds from all over the world are preserved at the CIMMYT genebank, used to bring new varieties to farmers, and backed up at the Global Seed Vault.

Developing genomic profiles of DNA samples can accelerate the breeding process.

Entomologist Punya Nachappa explains wheat curl mites, the impact of climate change and why breeding for host plant resistance is key.

Breeders are developing wheat varieties that have stable grain yield under low-water and high-temperature conditions.

Consumers near Mexico City perceived blue maize tortillas to taste better. They were willing to pay up to a third more to buy them for special family events or to consume them in restaurants.

Studying changing food consumption patterns in the context of urbanization and economic and population growth helps plan for the future.

Half a century earlier, scientists collected and preserved samples of maize landraces in Morelos, Mexico. Now, descendants of those farmers were able to get back their ancestral maize seeds and, with them, a piece of their family history.