Climate adaptation and mitigation
Climate change threatens to reduce global crop production, and poor people in tropical environments will be hit the hardest. More than 90% of CIMMYT’s work relates to climate change, helping farmers adapt to shocks while producing more food, and reduce emissions where possible. Innovations include new maize and wheat varieties that withstand drought, heat and pests; conservation agriculture; farming methods that save water and reduce the need for fertilizer; climate information services; and index-based insurance for farmers whose crops are damaged by bad weather. CIMMYT is an important contributor to the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.
On Africa’s farms, the forecast calls for adaptation and innovation
Source: Gates Notes (31 Jan 2023)
Bill Gates reflects on a recent visit to a Kenyan farm to see firsthand the results of work by CIMMYT and CGIAR.
More than a drop in the bucket: addressing food security in Nepal through improved sustainable irrigation
The downstream effects of the war in Ukraine imperils food security in countries like Nepal. A CSISA-led activity looks to boost local production via increased sustainable irrigation capacity and investment.
Adapting growing seasons to climate change can boost yields of world’s staple crops
New research estimates impact of farmer adaptation to climate change on maize, wheat, rice, sorghum and soybean.
‘Farmers now more aware about climate resilient agri’
Source: Times of India (20 Jan 2023)
Farmers in India learn how to adapt their methodologies to climate change.
CIMMYT-China workshop aims to facilitate future collaborations to battle climate change
CIMMYT scientists and their Chinese counterparts discuss best methods for protecting food crop production from climate change.
Closing the investment gap for sustainable agriculture
Source: Global Trade Review (16 Jan 2023)
The Ukraine crisis has triggered spikes in food and fertilizer prices, increasing poverty and hunger worldwide. But with a significant financing gap in investments aimed at supporting food systems, could unlocking new markets prove a fruitful way of mitigating food insecurity?
Exotic wheat DNA helps breed ‘climate-proof’ crops
Source: Phys.org (10 Jan 2023)
Wheat containing exotic DNA from wild relatives benefits from up to 50 percent higher yields in hot weather compared with elite lines lacking these genes, according to a new study.
Identifying climate mitigation strategies from AFOLU sector in Mexico
CIMMYT researchers comb through data to enumerate the benefits, and costs, of specific climate mitigation initiatives in the AFOLU sector of Mexico.
Tracking the development and reach of CIMMYT’s climate research
Researchers provide data-driven approach to systematically analyze the production and diffusion of knowledge on food systems and climate change.
In maize research, farmers’ priorities are our priorities
New CIMMYT research sheds light on farmer maize preferences in Ethiopia and western Kenya.
Mexico Agriculture: Thrive on the Shift from Efficiency to Resiliency
Source: AgNews (29 Dec 2022)
CIMMYT Director General Bram Govaerts looks at challenges facing Mexican and global agricultural systems.
A reluctant farmer changes the fortune of his inherited land
Ravi Ranjan took to farming after the death of his grandfather and, despite his initial apprehension about working in agriculture, has never looked back.
How a policy to address a groundwater shortage inadvertently increased air pollution in northern India
Source: Tech and Science Post (15 Dec 2022)
The seemingly small shift in the planting season had a cascading effect that delayed the fire season by about two weeks and exacerbated air pollution.
Sustainability of rice production in the Northwestern Indo-Gangetic Plains
Scientists determine nitrogen use could be reduced without impacting rice yields for sustainability of rice production in Northwestern Indo-Gangetic Plains.
The importance of germplasm in protecting nature
At COP15, CIMMYT scientists highlighted the significance of DSI in conserving, exploring, and utilizing biodiversity as part of efforts to sustainably nourish the global population in a nature positive manner.