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.
IICA-CIMMYT agreement to strengthen Latin American agriculture
Nutrition, health and food security
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and CIMMYT laid the groundwork for strengthened, joint research-for-development in Latin America, signing a new Cooperation Framework Agreement at CIMMYT’s offices in El Batán on 17 March.
Water program targeting smallholders sustains food insecure households
Nutrition, health and food security
A CARE International program aims to sustain food security for food insecure households in rural Ethiopia.
Floodwaters put food security at risk by halting crop production
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Water plays a vital role in crop production, but flooding in vulnerable regions also ruins crops and hinders aid agencies’ efforts to reach people affected by crisis.
Sustainable land and water management improve productivity
Nutrition, health and food security
The World Food Programme provides support to the Ethiopian government’s Growth and Transformation Plan, a development agenda which addresses food security.
Lack of rain can jeopardize maize seed production
Climate adaptation and mitigation
World Bank program shores up drought losses by providing Senegalese farmers with short cycle, drought-resistant seeds to help them salvage the season’s crops.
Gravity water flow project aids farmers in Ethiopian village
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Nguse Adhane, a smallholder farmer who lives in a small village in Ethiopia, collects his water from a spring source, which runs dry for months at a time.
On World Water Day, photos show role water plays in food security
Nutrition, health and food security
Water plays a vital role in irrigation and food production, accounting for 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals, according to U.N. Water.
On World Water Day, photos show role water plays in food security
Innovations
Water plays a vital role in irrigation and food production, accounting for 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals, according to U.N. Water.
Studies confirm the value of biofortification
Nutrition, health and food security
A study published early this month in the Journal of Nutrition shows that biofortified maize can meet zinc requirements and provide an effective dietary alternative to regular maize for children in vulnerable areas of rural Zambia.
Men’s roles and attitudes are key to gender progress, says CIMMYT gender specialist
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Gender research and outreach should engage men more effectively, according to Paula Kantor, CIMMYT gender and development specialist who is leading an ambitious new project to empower and improve the livelihoods of women, men and youth in wheat-based systems of Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Pakistan.
Presidential award in recognition of critical breakthrough in maize breeding in Zimbabwe
Climate adaptation and mitigation
The Zimbabwe Maize Breeding Programme was honored on 13 February 2015, as the 2014/2015 Presidential Award winners in agricultural research during a ceremony attended by more than 1,500 people at the Research Council of Zimbabwe’s 10th International Research Symposium held in Harare.
Maize and wheat Super Women campaign highlights diversity
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
A social media campaign initiated to celebrate the achievements of women has led to more than a dozen published blog story contributions about women in the maize and wheat sectors.
No scientific basis for criticism of wheat as a food staple, nutritionist says
Nutrition, health and food security
A nutritionist wants to dispel myths generated by claims that the protein found in wheat is unhealthy.
USAID’s Feed the Future initiative highlights CIMMYT heat tolerant maize breeding
Climate adaptation and mitigation
The Feed the Future initiative of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) featured CIMMYT’s Heat Tolerant Maize for Asia (HTMA) project in a recent newsletter, highlighting it as an exemplary public-private partnership. Launched in 2013, the project is developing heat-resilient hybrid maize for resource-poor smallholder farmers in South Asia whose livelihoods are threatened by climate change.
