Blogs
Message from Borlaug-Ruan international intern Sweta Sudhir, Turkey, summer 2015
Capacity developmentBorlaug-Ruan international intern Sweta Sudhir tells us about her summer at CIMMYT-Turkey.
Why GM wheat may be the key to stave off world hunger
Nutrition, health and food securityUnless global policymakers redouble their efforts to properly support a strategy to ensure a future food supply, the current hunger crisis threatens only to get worse.
CGIAR open letter to the heads of state attending the 70th UN General Assembly
Climate adaptation and mitigationMartin Kropff and John Snape joined leaders from CGIAR centers worldwide in an open letter to the heads of state at the 70th UN General Assembly in New York.
Replacing gender myths and assumptions with knowledge
Gender equality, youth and social inclusionIf we are to be truly successful in improving the lives of farmers and consumers in the developing world, we need to base our interventions on the best evidence available.
From the eye in the sky to the cell phone in the field: technologies for all
Climate adaptation and mitigationFor many farmers in the developing world, cell phones are the most accessible form of technology, but are only one of many technologies changing agriculture.
Livestock key to breaking Zambia’s poverty trap
InnovationsMalende has been a focus of CIMMYT’s major research programs since 2005, where cropping systems based on the practices of conservation agriculture have been introduced.
In fond memory of Paula Kantor (1969-2015)
Gender equality, youth and social inclusionPaula had an exceptionally sharp, analytical mind and a deep understanding of how change can empower men and women to give them a better chance to influence their own lives and choose their own path.
Conservation agriculture in Africa: where does it fit?
InnovationsThe controversial debate among researchers about the suitability of conservation agriculture for smallholder farmers in Africa continues while millions face food insecurity and degrading resources.
Two-wheel tractors to increase smallholder farm power in Ethiopia
Capacity developmentFor Ethiopian smallholder farmers who have for millennia used the traditional animal-drawn maresha plow, two-wheel tractors could increase their productivity while reducing labor.
Securing our daily bread: boosting Africa’s wheat production
Nutrition, health and food securityAfrica’s demand for wheat is being driven by population growth, urbanization, as well as from a growing female work force who prefer fast and easy to make wheat products, like bread or pasta.
Is gluten the new villain? The New Yorker covers the rising gluten-free trend
Nutrition, health and food security“The most obvious question is also the most difficult to answer: How could gluten, present in a staple food that has sustained humanity for thousands of years, have suddenly become so threatening?”
Raising wheat productivity across North Africa and West Asia
Climate adaptation and mitigationWheat is a staple and strategic crop across most of North Africa and West Asia, accounting for almost 40 percent of the region’s total food supply.
Of wheat, weight, gluten and food intolerances
Nutrition, health and food securityA popular dietary trend involves the elimination of wheat- and gluten-containing foods inspired in part by the book “Wheat Belly” written by cardiologist William Davis.
Wheat area expansion faces a headwind requiring increased spending on R&D to raise yields
Climate adaptation and mitigationOver the last 50 years big increases in agricultural production have come through improved yields. Since 1990, wheat is the only major crop to experience an overall decline in area.
The global warming challenge for wheat
Climate adaptation and mitigationThe expected average rate of warming over current wheat areas for the next few decades is a little less than 0.5 °C per decade, which implies a negative yield impact of about 2 percent per decade.