Year: 2022
CRISPR, 10 years on: Learning to rewrite the code of life
Innovations
Source: The New York Times (27 Jun 2022)
Kevin Pixley, Director Genetic Resources Program and Deputy Director General Research – Breeding & Genetics (a.i.) at CIMMYT, quoted in a New York Times article about genome-editing technologies.
Soil scientists and stakeholders reflect on progress and impacts of CIMMYT-Rwanda partnership for soil health
Environmental health and biodiversity
“Strong partnership” highlighted as CIMMYT and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board review progress in managing acid soil.
CGIAR Plant Health Initiative formally launched on the International Day of Plant Health
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
The Initiative targets a broad range of pests and diseases affecting cereals, legumes, potato, sweet potato, cassava, banana and other vegetables.
AgriLAC Resiliente presented in Guatemala
Nutrition, health and food security
Regional CGIAR Initiative will improve the livelihoods of farmers, and the resilience and competitiveness of agrifood systems, in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Wheat improvement: Food security in a changing climate
Capacity development
New textbook covers all aspects of wheat improvement, as well as rapidly evolving technologies and their potential to accelerate genetic gains and adaptation.
It is time to invest in the future of Afghanistan’s wheat system
Capacity development
Afghan farmers need varieties with improved traits such as heat and drought resilience, incorporating functional variation from existing landrace collections.
New CIMMYT maize hybrid available from the Latin America Breeding Program
Innovations
CIMMYT is offering a new improved maize hybrid to partners, to scale up production for farmers in the region.
Managing seeds and agricultural losses in the wake of extreme climate events: Lessons from Nepal
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Assessment of floods in Nepal in October of 2021, which affected seed availability, give clues about actions to mitigate the impact of similar climate shocks on smallholder farmers.
Galvanized leaf storage proteins serve as a nutrient lifeline for maize under drought, recent study says
Climate adaptation and mitigation
A team of researchers activates vegetative storage proteins in maize leaves, to stockpile nitrogen reserves for release when plants are hit by drought.
Remembering Ephrame Havazvidi
Nutrition, health and food security
Ephrame Havazvidi served on the WHEAT Independent Steering Committee from 2015-2021 and was a prominent plant breeder and crop expert.
Getting to win-win: Can people and nature flourish on an increasingly cultivated planet?
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Faced with dramatic biodiversity loss and a growing population, should farmers “share” or “spare” land? Agricultural scientists weigh in, yielding a new perspective.
CIMMYT and CGIAR senior leaders share vision ahead
Nutrition, health and food security
During two-day visit, CGIAR managing director and regional director deepen their understanding of CIMMYT’s research and impact.
2022 Excellence in International Service Award
Environmental health and biodiversity
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to plant pathology by APS members for countries other than their own. Contributions may have been made through collaborative projects, sabbaticals, short- and long-term assignments with educational or governmental agencies, including, but not limited to, international centers and research institutes.
The race against time to breed a wheat to survive the climate crisis
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: The Guardian (12 Jun 2022)
CIMMYT scientists are using the biodiversity of forgotten wheat varieties from across the world to find those with heat- and drought-tolerant traits.