News
Exploration of options for functional seed systems and understanding of market needs for cereals and pulses in sub-Saharan Africa
Environmental health and biodiversityThe Seed Systems and Market Intelligence team of CIMMYT’s Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Programme met in Kenya for a three-day retreat to review cutting-edge research on seed systems and market dynamics.
Training the next generation of plant breeders with VACS
Capacity developmentThe Vision for Adapted Crops and Soil (VACS) Capacity Project aims to train scholars and professionals in Africa in the latest plant breeding technologies
Machakos farmer reaps prosperity with new pigeon pea variety
Capacity developmentFestus Muthoka’s story reflects broader efforts in the agricultural community to introduce more resilient crop varieties that meet the needs of farmers in challenging environments
Potential for independent performance information to shape farmers’ seed choice for hybrid maize: Insights from Kenya
Climate adaptation and mitigationCIMMYT uses innovative survey technique to quantify how farmers seed purchases can be influenced by information on product performance
Digital solutions advance soil health for sustainable food systems and climate resilience
Climate adaptation and mitigationDigital tools that improve access to information and enhance farmers’ ability to learn, innovate, and adapt will play a significant role in advancing soil health.
Experts discuss strategies to address soil health challenges and the fertilizer crisis in Africa
InnovationsFertilizer plays a vital role in agriculture, yet often negatively impacts the environment. At the 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit, experts shared their experiences of addressing this global challenge.
Over 5,000 Busia farmers to benefit from Kalro certified millet seed
Nutrition, health and food securitySource: The Star ()
Translating strategy into scientific action
Climate adaptation and mitigationResearchers and partners from the Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS) program determined how to achieve agrifood system goals in alignment with CIMMYT’s 2030 Strategy.
Stakeholders call for a holistic approach to managing Kenya’s dryland crop seed system
Climate adaptation and mitigationSource: Farmers Trend ()
The February 2024 Kenya Drylands Crop Seed Systems Workshop focused on enhancing seed systems for agricultural productivity in Kenya’s semi-arid regions.
Collaboration across the seed system value chain
Climate adaptation and mitigationStakeholders call for a holistic approach to managing Kenya’s dryland crop seed system for sustainability and food security.
Network develops optimized breeding pipelines for accelerated genetic gains in dryland crops
Capacity developmentThe Africa Dryland Crop Improvement Network (ADCIN), NARES, and CGIAR scientists in Africa optimized quantitative genetic criteria for breeding programs and breeding strategies and pipelines for chickpea, pigeon pea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl-millet, and finger millet crops.
East African wheat breeding pipeline and E&SSA network
Climate adaptation and mitigationGenetic trials in the region will continue throughout 2024 and 2025 to establish a baseline for genetic gains and to enable the assessment of the breeding pipeline’s progress in the coming years.
Researchers push for adoption of high-yielding millet varieties in Busia
Climate adaptation and mitigationCIMMYT and partners are spearheading the adoption of high-yielding millet varieties to boost food security and tackle climate change.
Market segmentation and Target Product Profiles (TPPs): developing and delivering impactful products for farming communities
Capacity developmentCIMMYT is actively engaging a wide spectrum of stakeholders to define and harmonize target product profiles across Africa, with farmers at the heart.