News
How hybrid maize helps farmers get through dry spells
Innovations
Source: MIT Technology Review (18 Dec 2020)
A new seed developed by CIMMYT is boosting maize production in sub-Saharan Africa, where yields are less than a third of what they are in the US—in large part because of drought.
Improved metrics for better decisions
Capacity development
National breeding programs prepped to measure – and boost – genetic gains.
Who benefits?
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Study explores whether modern maize storage structures offer equal benefits to women and men farmers in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“Let there be food to eat”
Capacity development
Longtime CIMMYT collaborator Ruth Wanyera nears retirement from an honorable and decorated career in wheat research.
Building networks and capacity
Capacity development
AGG partners meet to launch regional networks for eastern and southern Africa and assess capacity development needs.
Molecular breeding speeds development of better seeds
Innovations
Need for continuous testing and application of new breeding methods to deliver resilient seed varieties at a faster rate is more important now than ever before.
Scientific opportunities and challenges
Capacity development
First meetings of the AGG Science and Technical Steering Committees generate insights and recommendations for optimizing breeding schemes.
Faster results at a lower cost
Innovations
Innovative tools and technologies help CIMMYT maize breeders in Africa accelerate the delivery of high-quality seed.
New publications: Voicing demand for farm power
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Study explores how gender norms and intra-household dynamics shape women’s demand articulation for labor-saving technologies.
Somalia agriculture partners learn about integrated fall armyworm control practices
Capacity development
As the pest continues to cause damage to farmers’ fields, CIMMYT trained national agricultural partners on integrated pest management.
Efforts in controlling maize disease boosting steady supply of certified seeds
Environmental health and biodiversity
Source: Kenya Broadcasting Company (5 Oct 2020)
CIMMYT and partners are supporting the commercial seed sector to produce seed free from the maize cause of maize lethal necrosis.
Retrospective quantitative genetic analysis and genomic prediction of global wheat yields
Innovations
A new quantitative genetics study makes a strong case for the yield testing strategies CIMMYT uses in its wheat breeding program.
East Africa partners welcome “new era” in wheat breeding collaboration
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Experts from Ethiopia and Kenya join CIMMYT and other partners to renew a long-standing collaboration under the auspices of the new AGG project.
Collaborating to accelerate genetic gains in maize and wheat
Innovations
Tremendous impact is arising from the longstanding cooperation between CIMMYT’s maize and wheat programs and national programs in countries where CIMMYT works.
Reaching women with improved maize and wheat
Climate adaptation and mitigation
The new AGG project aims to respond to the climate emergency and gender nexus through gender-intentional product profiles for its improved seed varieties and gender-intentional seed delivery pathways.
