For more than a decade, the participatory regional on-farm trials (ROFT) have involved hundreds of farmers to identify the most suitable new maize hybrids, contributing to CIMMYT’s mandate of tackling food and nutrition insecurity through advanced breeding methods

To enhance the food security of Colombian smallholder farmers, a group of CIMMYT specialists and local organizations are studying maize value chains in various regions of the country to establish effective strategies for the conservation and production of native maize, particularly to link farmers with niche markets

In Colombia, sustainable agriculture specialists are developing participatory diagnostics that will pave the way for agricultural biodiversity conservation. Inclusive workshops for children providing childcare during workshops and training events have helped empower women by increasing their ability to participate.

The International Maize Improvement Consortium for Africa field day in Harare enabled CIMMYT to showcase genetically diverse maize lines, have structured dialogues with diverse stakeholders, and review and refine breeding strategies and approaches.

Heat tolerance and high yield potential are essential traits in maize to adopt climate change effects in lowland tropics.