Nutrition, health and food security
As staple foods, maize and wheat provide vital nutrients and health benefits, making up close to two-thirds of the world’s food energy intake, and contributing 55 to 70 percent of the total calories in the diets of people living in developing countries, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. CIMMYT scientists tackle food insecurity through improved nutrient-rich, high-yielding varieties and sustainable agronomic practices, ensuring that those who most depend on agriculture have enough to make a living and feed their families. The U.N. projects that the global population will increase to more than 9 billion people by 2050, which means that the successes and failures of wheat and maize farmers will continue to have a crucial impact on food security. Findings by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which show heat waves could occur more often and mean global surface temperatures could rise by up to 5 degrees Celsius throughout the century, indicate that increasing yield alone will be insufficient to meet future demand for food.
Achieving widespread food and nutritional security for the world’s poorest people is more complex than simply boosting production. Biofortification of maize and wheat helps increase the vitamins and minerals in these key crops. CIMMYT helps families grow and eat provitamin A enriched maize, zinc-enhanced maize and wheat varieties, and quality protein maize. CIMMYT also works on improving food health and safety, by reducing mycotoxin levels in the global food chain. Mycotoxins are produced by fungi that colonize in food crops, and cause health problems or even death in humans or animals. Worldwide, CIMMYT helps train food processors to reduce fungal contamination in maize, and promotes affordable technologies and training to detect mycotoxins and reduce exposure.
Scientists tackle deadly fall armyworm infestation devastating maize in southern Africa
Smallholder farmers in eastern and southern Africa are facing a new threat as a plague of intrepid fall armyworms creeps across the region, so far damaging an estimated 287,000 hectares of maize.
Pakistan releases first quality protein maize varieties
Pakistan is releasing quality protein maize for commercial consumption, which could help boost nutrition across the country where nearly half of all children are chronically malnourished.
Radio broadcast highlights maize improvement in Pakistan
Public and private sector maize stakeholders came together to discuss CIMMYT’s maize interventions and innovations in Pakistan during a recent radio interview.
Ugandan farmer boosts profits from improved maize
Sam Olum started commercial maize farming three years ago in Lira District, situated approximately 340 km north of Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
Klein Karoo’s business knowledge winning in Mozambique
Despite struggles to reclaim its former glory, several agricultural multinationals are setting up shop in Mozambique, and reaping great benefits.
A ton of seed shipped to the doomsday vault at Svalbard
More than two-thirds of CIMMYT seed collections are now backed-up in the vault on an island in the icy Barents Sea, north of mainland Norway.
Breaking Ground: Caixia Lan on identifying building blocks for rust resistant wheat
Support for research into breeding crops resistant to wheat rust is essential to manage the spread of the deadly disease, caused vast yield losses globally in recent years, says scientist Caixia Lan.
Agricultural researchers forge new ties to develop nutritious crops and environmental farming
Scientists from two of the world’s leading agricultural research institutes will embark on joint research to boost global food security.
Breaking Ground: Jiafa Chen on improving maize and building partnerships
Jiafa Chen has helped identify new genetic resources that have been used in breeding new maize varieties that withstand environmental and biological stresses.
New Publications: Africa’s future cereal production
Cereal yields in sub-Saharan Africa must increase to 80 percent of their potential by 2050 to meet the enormous increase in demand for food.
Engaging youth: beyond the buzzword
Researchers are seeking to re-engage rural youth who are increasingly abandoning agriculture to work in cities, raising the question who will grow our food in the future?
Improved maize offers new economic opportunity to Kenyan family
Improved maize varieties offer new economic opportunity to families in Kenya.
Can sub-Saharan Africa meet its future cereal food requirement?
To satisfy the enormous increase in demand for food in sub-Saharan Africa by 2050, cereal yields must increase to 80 percent of their potential.
Wheat rust poses food security risk for global poor, says DFID’s Priti Patel
Wheat rust monitoring efforts are not only keeping the fast-spreading disease in check, but are deployed to manage other crop diseases, said a scientist at a scientific meeting in London.
Advice for India’s rice-wheat farmers: Put aside the plow and save straw to fight pollution
Recent media reports show that the 19 million inhabitants of New Delhi are under siege from a noxious haze.