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.
CGIAR open letter to the heads of state attending the 70th UN General Assembly
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Martin Kropff and John Snape joined leaders from CGIAR centers worldwide in an open letter to the heads of state at the 70th UN General Assembly in New York.
The first heat tolerant maize hybrids are licensed for deployment in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Climate adaptation and mitigation
A ‘double-hatted’ maize variety brings good tidings to farmers in western Kenya
Climate adaptation and mitigation
AAA hybrids move towards commercialization
Climate adaptation and mitigation
PLC6 is a term used to refer to an advanced stage of hybrid testing at Syngenta, a partner of the Affordable, Accessible, Asian (AAA) Drought Tolerant Maize Project. Four hybrids, representing combinations of Syngenta and CIMMYT germplasm are currently at PLC6 in big plots at multiple locations. The trajectory of this process points to pilot marketing of a limited quantity of hybrid seed in 2016 and a full market launch in 2017.
Wheat scientists urge funding boost after UK-U.S. food security report
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Food shortages will escalate due to climate-change related production shocks and the international community must prepare to respond to price increases and social unrest.
From the eye in the sky to the cell phone in the field: technologies for all
Climate adaptation and mitigation
For many farmers in the developing world, cell phones are the most accessible form of technology, but are only one of many technologies changing agriculture.
Climate change, maize production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Although climate change is a global phenomenon, its impacts vary depending on region and season. To formulate appropriate adaptation options and ensure timely responses, we first need to better understand the potential impacts of climate change on maize yield and production, on different spatial and temporal scales.
Tech-savvy women in Haryana implement precision fertilizer application
Capacity development
The state of Haryana, India’s breadbasket, faces a major challenge due to the excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer (N: P: K = 27.2: 9.8: 1) in agriculture. The overuse of nitrogen fertilizer in the rice-wheat systems of Haryana has led to high production costs, low efficiency, environmental pollution and nitrate contamination of groundwater, which causes blue baby syndrome in young children.
Maize that packs a punch in face of adversity: unveiling new branded varieties for Africa
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Training on developing stress-resilient maize at CIMMYT-Hyderabad, India
Capacity development
A training course on developing stress-resilient maize for early-/mid-career maize breeders from national programs, agricultural universities and seed companies, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), was held at CIMMYT-Hyderabad, India, on 15 May 2015. The course was open to partners in the Heat Tolerant Maize for Asia (HTMA) project and members of the International Maize Improvement Consortium (IMIC-Asia). It covered key aspects of precision phenotyping, including enhancing precision of field trials, managing adequate levels of stress to express available genotypic variability, using advanced tools to capture data efficiently and precision in recording various traits in phenotyping trials.
CIMMYT-CCAFS initiative develops 500 new climate-smart villages in Haryana, India
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Learning climate smart agricultural practices empowers women farmers in Haryana
Capacity development
A farm budgeting booklet and training empower women with knowledge so they are able to make decisions and increase their family income.
Director General Martin Kropff on Science Week 2015: “Taking CIMMYT to the next level”
Capacity development
During Science Week (15-18 June) held at CIMMYT headquarters in El Batán, Mexico, scientists from around the world gathered to share the successes and review the activities of different CIMMYT programs. Attendees sought to find solutions to help meet global food needs related to basic cereals, as well as combat poverty and face the challenges posed by climate change.
Bangladeshi scientists learn to develop stress-resilient maize
Capacity development
The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and CIMMYT organized a training course on developing stress tolerant maize at BARI facilities in Gazipur, Joydebpur, Bangladesh, on 21 April 2015. The course, part of CIMMYT’s Heat Tolerant Maize for Asia (HTMA) project supported by the United States Agency for International Development under its Feed the Future initiative, gave maize scientists the opportunity to learn the principles, tools and techniques involved in developing high yielding maize hybrids with enhanced tolerance to major abiotic stresses such as drought and heat, as well as how to effectively deploy them.