News
A scramble for solutions as fall armyworm infestation sweeps Africa
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Mongabay (24 Oct 2019)
CIMMYT Systems Agronomist Frédéric Baudron advocates a multipronged approach to protect maize crops from the invasive pest.
It’s time to change the system, not just the technology
Innovations
Changing farming technologies requires systemic change, argues Lennart Woltering in new article.
Kellogg supplies Mexican corn with sustainable planting
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Milenio (21 Oct 2019)
MasAgro is supporting conservation agriculture and the sustainable production of maize in Mexico.
Sharp rise in Punjab-Haryana farm fires ahead of Diwali
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Times of India (21 Oct 2019)
CIMMYT Principal Scientist M.L. Jat notes high number of happy seeders in Haryana and Punjab.
Mexico’s agriculture secretary calls for an integrated approach to reach the Sustainable Development Goals
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Villalobos highlights the importance of improving food systems and agriculture to fight violence and forced migration.
Blue maize is all the rage, but are consumers willing to pay?
Environmental health and biodiversity
Study gives insight into Mexican consumers’ preferences and demand for blue maize tortillas.
Delhi Air Quality Descends to ‘Very Poor’, Worst Yet to Come
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: The Wire (17 Oct 2019)
Balwinder Singh warns that air pollution in India could be severe due to burning crop residue.
Agriculture and sustainability: the contribution of microsatellites
Innovations
Source: Donne del Food (16 Oct 2019)
Study by CIMMYT, Stanford and Cornell shows microsatellites can contribute to sustainable increase of food production.
2019 World Food Prize recognizes the impact of bringing improved seeds to Africa, Asia and Latin America
Innovations
The work of laureate Simon N. Groot has helped smallholder farmers to enhance vegetable production and has improved the diets of millions.
Genetics to feed the world
Innovations
Source: Science Daily (15 Oct 2019)
Study demonstrates the effectiveness of genomic selection in a wheat improvement program.
The cereals imperative of future food systems
Nutrition, health and food security
The world urgently needs a transformation of the global food system, leading to healthier diets for all and a drastic reduction in agriculture’s environmental impact. The major cereal grains must play a central role in this new revolution for the benefit of the world’s poorest people.
Ten things you should know about maize and wheat
Nutrition, health and food security
Can you imagine a world without maize and wheat? We can’t!
Highlighting innovation in Latin American maize agri-food systems
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Maize experts, as well as scientists from other key crops, from around the world came together to discuss these challenges and how to solve them at the 23rd Latin American Maize Reunion and 4th Seed Congress, held October 7-10 in Monteria, Colombia.
Pulses, cobs and a healthy soil prove the success of a rural innovator
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Long-term research on climate-smart agriculture in Malawi has improved the productivity, resilience and prospects of Mary Twaya, a single mother of three.
Delhi: Little impact of farm fires, but that could change; late harvest likely to cause spike
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Times of India (13 Oct 2019)
M.L. Jat, CIMMYT principal scientist, is tracking farm fires in India, noting fewer fires than in previous years.
