Sustainable agrifood systems
International Women’s Day 2019: Women in seed systems in Africa
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
These entrepreneurs are breaking social barriers while improving household nutrition and livelihoods.
New publications: Gender and agricultural innovation in Oromia region, Ethiopia
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Authors examine how smallholders attempt to innovate with improved wheat seed, row planting, and the broad bed maker, introduced through the Ethiopian agricultural extension system.
Policy forum in Mozambique recommends scaling sustainable agriculture practices
Capacity development
Unsustainable farming practices like monocropping are impacting soil health and reducing the productivity of farms.
Assessing the effectiveness of a “wheat holiday” for preventing blast in the lower Gangetic plains
Nutrition, health and food security
Policy to encourage alternative crops for wheat farmers in South Asia a short-term solution at best, say CIMMYT researchers
Women’s equality crucial for Ethiopia’s agricultural productivity
Capacity development
Source: The Reporter (16 Feb 2019)
A new report shows that gender inequality in Ethiopia is hampering efforts to reach the government’s goal of wheat self-sufficiency by 2022.
New partnership announced for sustainable maize production in Colombia
Nutrition, health and food security
The project will develop maize varieties adapted to the country’s farming conditions and will promote sustainable intensification practices among farmers.
Experts analyze food systems at EAT-Lancet Commission report launch in Ethiopia
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Government officials, researchers and experts developed a list of recommendations going forward.
Precision planters boost maize yields in Pakistan
Innovations
In the northwestern province of Pakistan, CIMMYT is helping connect farmers with precision planters to support higher maize yields and incomes.
Smallholder wheat production can cut Africa’s costly grain imports
Nutrition, health and food security
Scientists are working to catalyze local farming and help meet the rapidly rising regional demand wheat.
BISA and PAU awarded for collaborative work on residue management
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Joint team recognized for their work on rice residue management using the Super Straw Management System, or Super SMS.
Scaling to new heights in agriculture
Capacity development
Projects are looking at scaling strategies to go beyond the numbers reached within a project and include sustainability and transformation.
City dwellers in Africa and Asia increasingly choose wheat, research shows
Nutrition, health and food security
The developing world’s appetite for wheat is growing swiftly, driven in part by rising incomes, rapid urbanization and the expansion of families where both spouses work outside the house.
New publications: Role of Modelling in International Crop Research
Innovations
Resource-poor farmers worldwide stand to gain from developments in the field of crop modelling.
The itsy bitsy spider can make a big impact in agriculture
Environmental health and biodiversity
A new study explores how conservation agriculture in southern Africa supports spider populations and diversity, which could help mitigate pest damage.
Reducing high yield gaps with decision-support apps
Innovations
Trials of the Nutrient Expert app showed improved yields, fertilizer-use efficiency and increased profits for farmers.