Mexico
One-minute science: Trent Blare and blue maize products
Environmental health and biodiversity
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.
New publication: Scaling agricultural mechanization services in smallholder farming systems
Innovations
Study shows service provider models in Africa, Latin America and South Asia increase smallholder access to agricultural machinery, but can remain dependent on projects to tackle major bottlenecks for scaling.
Bringing landraces back home, 50 years later
Nutrition, health and food security
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.
New mobile app helping Latin American farmers increase crop yields by 12%
Innovations
Source: Real Wire (11 Feb 2020)
Mexican farmers in Yaqui Valley use smartphone app with satellite data to make decisions about irrigation and crop management.
Mexico wants to remain the maize nation
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Excelsior (26 Jan 2020)
CIMMYT germplasm bank samples are the basis for development of new maize seeds used in the MasAgro Program.
The Future of Food – Food Substitute Pills
Innovations
Source: Vice (21 Jan 2020)
Seed banks, like the one at CIMMYT’s headquarters in Mexico, are part of planning for the future of food.
World’s largest corn cob measures 39.5cm in Jala, Nayarit
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Mexico News Daily (15 Jan 2020)
Winner acknowledges the work of INIFAP, CIMMYT and the Mexico Corn Tortilla Foundation to recuperate native maize species.
Working in a method to harness the soil
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: El Universal (12 Jan 2020)
Research shows that conservation agriculture under irrigation conditions increases yields and soil organic carbon, even in poor quality soil.
New publications: Durum wheat selection under zero tillage increases early vigor and is neutral to yield
Innovations
Researchers demonstrate that CIMMYT’s durum wheat lines can be grown, bred, and selected under zero tillage or conventional tillage conditions without negatively affecting yield.
Prevention is better than cure
Innovations
Amos Alakonya talks pests, procedure, and why everyone should be concerned about seed health.
Drought Is Crippling Small Farmers in Mexico — With Consequences for Everyone Else
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Nexus Media (12 Dec 2019)
The CIMMYT germplasm bank preserves the seeds of maize varieties from all over the world, including landraces very valuable to farmers.
‘Demand has skyrocketed’: Mexicans are willing to pay a premium for blue corn
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Food Navigator LATAM (5 Dec 2019)
CIMMYT study in Mexico shows consumers are willing to pay higher prices for blue maize tortillas.
Corn Fed: A Tortilla Revolution in Queens
Environmental health and biodiversity
Source: Culinary Backstreets (2 Dec 2019)
Food entrepreneur worked with CIMMYT researcher to create a fair market for farmers with surplus heirloom maize in Mexico.
US Under Secretary of Agriculture ready for further cooperation with CIMMYT
Nutrition, health and food security
Ted McKinney and representatives from state agriculture departments learn about relevant maize and wheat research during visit to global headquarters in Mexico.