Demand-driven seed systems
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.
What price wheat?
Nutrition, health and food security
Crisis in Ukraine underscores the need for long-term solutions for global food security.
New research highlights opportunities to deepen engagement with private sector for increasing impact from cereal breeding
Capacity development
Contributions reflect the breadth of perspectives and expertise within CGIAR and beyond, calling for more demand-oriented variety development and seed delivery.
Govt mulling mechanization to boost jute production
Capacity development
Source: Dhaka Tribune (29 Sep 2021)
Bangladesh wants to expand the work of the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia-Mechanization Extension Activity (CSISA-MEA) project in Bogra, Jessore, Faridpur and Cox’s Bazar to the rest of the country.
Buying into new seed
Climate adaptation and mitigation
A mock shop helps researchers understand how Kenyan farmers choose maize seed when their preferred varieties are out of stock.
MĂ©xico y EU establecen estrategia conjunta a favor de la seguridad alimentaria
Capacity development
Source: El Sol de MĂ©xico (16 May 2021)
Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) and its counterpart in the United States reached an agreement to promote knowledge sharing and scientific collaboration on agriculture-related issues.
México se consolida como el tercer productor agropecuario de América Latina
Capacity development
Source: El Sol de MĂ©xico (29 Apr 2021)
During the presentation of Mexico’s 2021 Agri-Food Expectations, Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, flagged a number of initiatives aimed at supporting the country’s food self-sufficiency.
Taking stock of value chain development
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Assessing the approach’s potential and limitations for strengthening the livelihoods of the rural poor, a new book draws conclusions applicable across the development field.
Scientific opportunities and challenges
Capacity development
First meetings of the AGG Science and Technical Steering Committees generate insights and recommendations for optimizing breeding schemes.
Critical reflections on COVID-19
Nutrition, health and food security
FAO-led assessment details the pandemic’s impact on agri-food systems in Bangladesh and outlines possible recovery strategies.
Gauging the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on farming communities and agribusinesses in Nepal
Nutrition, health and food security
A survey conducted by CIMMYT researchers collected insights from over 200 key value-chain market actors.
Concerned experts ask world leaders to head off a global food security crisis from COVID-19
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
The number of the world’s hungry could double and trade restrictions will harm food importing nations, experts say.
One-minute science: Trent Blare and blue maize products
Environmental health and biodiversity
Consumers near Mexico City perceived blue maize tortillas to taste better. They were willing to pay up to a third more to buy them for special family events or to consume them in restaurants.
Seed systems in Nepal are going digital
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Digital seed information system will connect farmers to information and seed suppliers.
