Climate change
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.
Improved heat-resistant wheat varieties are identified
Source: Phys.org (16 Jun 2020)
CIMMYT and University of Cordoba studied 54 kinds of wheat to analyze response to high temperatures.
Interdrought 2020 congress proceedings now online
Presentations, abstracts and posters of major conference about agricultural production in water-limited environments are available for free.
Conservation agriculture feeds people and protects the environment
Initiative in Zimbabwe pursues holistic and multi-faceted approach to support climate resilience and increase yields.
Preserving the legacy of biodiversity
Maize and wheat seeds from all over the world are preserved at the CIMMYT genebank, used to bring new varieties to farmers, and backed up at the Global Seed Vault.
Blast and rust forecast
New project to deliver wheat disease warnings directly to farmers’ phones in Bangladesh and Nepal.
Conservation agriculture key to better income, environment protection: Study
Source: The Hindu Business Line (17 Apr 2020)
New study in India reports conservation agriculture increases crop yield and income, reduces the use of natural resources, and offers climate benefits.
Conservation agriculture key in meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals
New analysis shows benefits of conservation agriculture to crop performance, water efficiency and climate action in South Asia.
A less risky business
Through new project, tools and insurance services will help small farmers in eastern Africa reduce investment risks and losses related to climate.
Why Conserving Biodiversity Is Crucial to Prevent Future Pandemics
Source: The Wire (14 Apr 2020)
Biodiversity loss creates new opportunities for pathogens to move from one species to another.
Seeing is believing
At demonstration farms, Kenyan farmers discover the stress-tolerant maize varieties they were looking for.
ICARDA’s Mustapha El-Bouhssini explains how crop pests are moving in a warming world
Climate change will see pests moving countries and continents as conditions become more favorable.
One-minute science: Suchismita Mondal on breeding resilient wheat
Breeders are developing wheat varieties that have stable grain yield under low-water and high-temperature conditions.
In new hostile climate, drought-tolerant crops, systems needed on unprecedented scale
Source: SciDev.Net (12 Mar 2020)
Agricultural science offers solutions to deal with consequences of extreme weather.
What will be the new face of European agriculture in the coming years?
Source: EuroNews (2 Mar 2020)
Rising temperatures pose risk for agriculture in Europe — but adaptation is under way with the help of climate data.
Pests and diseases and climate change: Is there a connection?
Although farmers have been battling pests and diseases since the dawn of agriculture, experts warn that climate change could accelerate or expand their spread.