News
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.
A new beginning for CIMMYT’s Seed Health Unit
CIMMYT recognizes the work and leadership of Monica Mezzalama.
Drought-tolerant hybrid seed offers farmers reprieve from hunger
Capacity development
Farmers are reaping the benefits of SAWA hybrid, an improved maize seed variety designed to withstand drought conditions.
Machine learning for smarter seed selection to reduce risks for Mexican maize farmers
Innovations
Source: AgroNews (4 Mar 2019)
CIMMYT and BioSense Institute jointly won the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture Inspire Challenge in 2018 for machine learning for smarter seed selection.
New publication: Gender and agricultural innovation in Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Source: Addis Standard (1 Mar 2019)
Drawing on GENNOVATE case studies from two wheat-growing communities, the authors examine how women and men smallholders innovate with improved wheat seed, row planting and the broad bed maker.
Fighting the fungi that destroy wheat
Innovations
Source: Dhaka Tribune (2 Mar 2019)
CIMMYT researchers propose long-term solutions to fighting wheat blast, including a diagnostic tool for wheat blast surveillance and a platform for open data and science to combat the fungus.
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.
The missing seed market
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
A new guidebook promotes improved seed and farming technologies for men and women, with the goal of increasing adoption rates.
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
New CIMMYT pre-commercial maize hybrids available from eastern and southern Africa breeding programs
Nutrition, health and food security
CIMMYT is offering a new set of improved maize hybrids to partners, to scale up production for farmers in these areas.
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.
Breaking Ground: Fernando H. Toledo researches new models of analysis under simulated scenarios
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Toledo’s research is multidisciplinary — it involves genetics and breeding knowledge, as well as statistics and computer science.
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.
