News
Bringing landraces back home, 50 years later
Nutrition, health and food security
Half a century earlier, scientists collected and preserved samples of maize landraces in Morelos, Mexico. Now, descendants of those farmers were able to get back their ancestral maize seeds and, with them, a piece of their family history.
Development of the Enterprise Breeding System well underway
Innovations
Piloting the system in will begin in 2020, with more advanced functions to follow in the next three years.
Mexico wants to remain the maize nation
Nutrition, health and food security
Source: Excelsior (26 Jan 2020)
CIMMYT germplasm bank samples are the basis for development of new maize seeds used in the MasAgro Program.
CIMMYT scientists join fellow experts in San Diego for world’s largest plant and animal genomics conference
Innovations
Researchers share their work translating the latest molecular research into breeding solutions for better maize and wheat varieties.
The Future of Food – Food Substitute Pills
Innovations
Source: Vice (21 Jan 2020)
Seed banks, like the one at CIMMYT’s headquarters in Mexico, are part of planning for the future of food.
New publications: Durum wheat selection under zero tillage increases early vigor and is neutral to yield
Innovations
Researchers demonstrate that CIMMYT’s durum wheat lines can be grown, bred, and selected under zero tillage or conventional tillage conditions without negatively affecting yield.
Prevention is better than cure
Innovations
Amos Alakonya talks pests, procedure, and why everyone should be concerned about seed health.
Drought Is Crippling Small Farmers in Mexico — With Consequences for Everyone Else
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Nexus Media (12 Dec 2019)
The CIMMYT germplasm bank preserves the seeds of maize varieties from all over the world, including landraces very valuable to farmers.
What is wheat blast?
Nutrition, health and food security
Wheat blast is one of the most fearsome and intractable wheat diseases in recent decades. It spreads through infected seeds, crop residues as well as by spores that can travel long distances in the air, posing a major threat to wheat production in tropical areas.
Agricultural solutions to tackle humanity’s climate crisis
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Science offers opportunity to curb greenhouse gas emissions related to agriculture and meet climate goals.
US Under Secretary of Agriculture ready for further cooperation with CIMMYT
Nutrition, health and food security
Ted McKinney and representatives from state agriculture departments learn about relevant maize and wheat research during visit to global headquarters in Mexico.
Kanwarpal Dhugga awarded top honor in science
Innovations
CIMMYT researcher named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
First steps taken to unify breeding software
Innovations
Experts work together at hackathon to develop Enterprise Breeding System that can serve CGIAR organizations and national agricultural research programs.
Four CIMMYT scientists among world’s most influential scholars, based on citations
Innovations
Recognized for most-cited works worldwide on Web of Science Group’s list of Highly Cited Researchers.
Thomas Payne honored at gathering of crop science peers
Innovations
Head of CIMMYT Wheat Germplasm Bank receives Frank N. Meyer Medal for contributions to germplasm collection, conservation and use.
