News
Seed banks: the last line of defense against a threatening global food crisis
Environmental health and biodiversity
Source: The Guardian (15 Apr 2022)
As climate breakdown and worldwide conflict continue to place the food system at risk, seed banks from the Arctic to Lebanon try to safeguard biodiversity.
MAIZE partners announce a new manual for effectively managing maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease
Environmental health and biodiversity
The manual builds on the lessons of a decade of work on MLN management in sub-Saharan Africa by CIMMYT and its partners.
The worst global food security crisis in 50 years could be already here
Climate adaptation and mitigation
At lectures at Cornell University, CIMMYT director general calls for quick united action to avert the unfolding food security crisis.
Inspiring change through agricultural training: Women’s stories from Bangladesh
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
More than 40% of the global agricultural labor force is made up of women, and in the least developed countries, two in three women are employed in farming.
Russia-Ukraine conflict and global food security
Nutrition, health and food security
Explore our analysis of how the Russia-Ukraine war will impact global food security.
BNI-enhanced wheat research wins 2021 Cozzarelli Prize
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Study describing development of wheat with biological nitrogen inhibition ability from wild relative receives award for outstanding papers published in PNAS.
Sanjaya Rajaram honored with India’s civilian service award
Nutrition, health and food security
President of India presents Padma Bhushan Award posthumously to relatives of former CIMMYT wheat program director.
Multiple breadbasket failures: Nations must address looming food emergencies
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: The Boston Globe (28 Mar 2022)
The war in Ukraine, coupled with weather-related disruptions in the world’s major grain-producing regions, could unleash unbearable humanitarian consequences, civil unrest, and major financial losses worldwide, says Bram Govaerts.
New CIMMYT maize hybrid available from Eastern Africa highland breeding program
Innovations
CIMMYT is offering a new improved maize hybrid to partners, to scale up production for farmers in the region.
Who does what in maize farming in Kenya?
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Study deepens the understanding of women’s and men’s roles in maize plot management to guide gender-responsive maize breeding and seed system interventions.
Broken bread — avert global wheat crisis caused by invasion of Ukraine
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Nature (22 Mar 2022)
War highlights the fragility of the global food supply — sustained investment is needed to feed the world in a changing climate, Alison Bentley explains.
New endeavor fast-tracks the power of crop diversity for climate resilience
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Researchers will source useful gene variations from CGIAR genebanks to develop climate-smart crops.
Being the change you wanted to see as a young girl
Capacity development
Agricultural scientist Madhulika Singh shares her experience as the first woman in STEM in her family and in her society in Bihar, India.
Supporting the growth of local maize seed industries: Lessons from Mexico
Capacity development
Small local seed businesses are considered key to getting new maize hybrids into farmers’ hands and, ultimately, to meeting global food security goals. MasAgro, a partnership between CIMMYT and Mexico’s Department of Agriculture, offers key insights into what has worked and some major challenges that remain.
Food Is Just as Vital as Oil to National Security
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Bloomberg (7 Mar 2022)
A new Bloomberg op-ed urges nations to steer more money to organizations like CIMMYT that are advancing crucial research on how to grow more resilient wheat and maize crops in regions that are becoming steadily less arable.