Climate adaptation and mitigation
Climate change threatens to reduce global crop production, and poor people in tropical environments will be hit the hardest. More than 90% of CIMMYT’s work relates to climate change, helping farmers adapt to shocks while producing more food, and reduce emissions where possible. Innovations include new maize and wheat varieties that withstand drought, heat and pests; conservation agriculture; farming methods that save water and reduce the need for fertilizer; climate information services; and index-based insurance for farmers whose crops are damaged by bad weather. CIMMYT is an important contributor to the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.
FG authorizes deregulation of TELA maize in Nigeria
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: The Guardian Nigeria (10 Oct 2021)
Nigeria’s National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has approved the commercialization of TELA Maize seeds—a drought-tolerant and insect-protected variety aimed at enhancing food security in sub-Saharan Africa.
Celebrating 10 years of the Borlaug Institute for South Asia
Capacity development
BISA staff and partners gathered across India and online to mark a decade of excellence in science and partnerships, and to set ambitious goals for the coming years.
Climate-smart strategy for weed management proves to be extremely effective
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Results of an 8-year study show that weed density and diversity are greatly reduced when zero-tillage, drip-irrigation, and new crops are introduced to rice-wheat systems.
Building resilient and sustainable irrigation for food security in Nepal
Climate adaptation and mitigation
A new initiative will monitor groundwater and will provide a framework for sustainable irrigation practices.
Nitrogen-efficient wheats provide more food with fewer greenhouse gas emissions
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Phys.org (3 Sep 2021)
An international collaboration has discovered a biological nitrification inhibition trait that, when transferred to growing wheat varieties, can reduce the use of fertilizers and boost yields.
Nitrogen-efficient wheats can provide more food with fewer greenhouse gas emissions, new study shows
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Scientists used a wild grass trait that inhibits soil microbes from producing environmentally-harmful nitrogen compounds. Widespread use of the new technology could lower global use of fertilizers for wheat crops.
How scientists are preparing wheat for climate change
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Mashable (13 Aug 2021)
Matthew Reynolds talked to Mashable about the importance of developing drought-resistant crops through breeding programs to protect future wheat supplies.
Seed giants must collaborate or be dwarfed by threat of climate change
Climate adaptation and mitigation
New funding models, such as public-private partnerships, can collectively address knowledge gaps to avoid potential catastrophes for society at large.
Maize and wheat science to sustainably feed the world
Climate adaptation and mitigation
New CIMMYT brochure highlights value of maize and wheat science to battle rising undernourishment.
Protecting plants will protect people and the planet
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Understanding the relationship between climate change and plant health is key to conserving biodiversity and boosting food production today and for future generations.
Annual Report 2020 launched
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Working towards resilience, renewal and transition in our agri-food systems.
Seeding happy, cleaning air: Farmers adopting non-burn tech give hope
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Down To Earth (1 Jul 2021)
The Happy Seeder—a machine that cuts and lifts the paddy straw while simultaneously sowing the wheat crop—is not just the least polluting, but also the most scalable solution that can be adopted by farmers ‘en masse’.
Bangladesh could largely reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture while increasing efficiency in production
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Farmers could save costs and contribute to climate mitigation by adopting easy-to-access farming methods like better nitrogen management, intermittent irrigation, and strip tillage, study shows.
AAA drought-tolerant maize now available in Myanmar
Climate adaptation and mitigation
The TA5085 variety will benefit farmers producing under rain-fed conditions in drought-prone areas, like Myanmar’s central dry zones.