CIMMYT has entered into a partnership with Syngenta to focus on the development and advancement of technology in wheat, the most internationally traded food crop and the single largest food import in developing countries. The agreement will entail joint research and development in the areas of native and genetically-modified traits, hybrid wheat, and the combination of seeds and crop protection to accelerate plant yield performance.
The agreement will leverage Syngenta’s highly developed genetic marker technology, advanced traits platform and wheat breeding for the developed world, along with CIMMYT’s access to wheat genetic diversity, global partnership network, and wheat breeding program targeted to the developing world.
“Global wheat production is increasing at only 0.9% each year,” said Hans-Joachim Braun, Director of CIMMYT’s Global Wheat Program. “This is a very critical issue as global demand is growing at 1.5% or more annually. Combined with the impacts of climate change, we must avoid the risk of another food crisis and ensure farmers across the world are equipped to meet the demands of a rising world population. Partnerships like this can greatly benefit the world’s farmers, rich and poor.”
For more information:
Mike Listman
Corporate Communications, CIMMYT
Tel: +52 55 5804 7537
Email: m.listman@cgiar.org
Read media release on Syngenta website http://www2.syngenta.com/en/media/mediareleases/en_100406.html
(the release includes a 7 min 20 sec video interview with John Atkin, Syngenta COO Crop Protection, and Hans-Joachim Braun, director of CIMMYT’s global wheat program)
Nutrition, health and food security 