Health and nutrition
Achieving widespread food and nutritional security for the world’s poorest people is more complex than simply boosting production. Biofortification of maize and wheat helps increase the vitamins and minerals in these key crops. CIMMYT helps families grow and eat provitamin A enriched maize, zinc-enhanced maize and wheat varieties, and quality protein maize. CIMMYT also works on improving food health and safety, by reducing mycotoxin levels in the global food chain. Mycotoxins are produced by fungi that colonize in food crops, and cause health problems or even death in humans or animals. Worldwide, CIMMYT helps train food processors to reduce fungal contamination in maize, and promotes affordable technologies and training to detect mycotoxins and reduce exposure.
Fight against viruses, also in defense of maize and our food
Source: Donne del Food (31 May 2020)
B.M. Prasanna, director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program and the CGIAR Research Program on Maize, discusses the viral disease maize lethal necrosis.
Africa’s smallholders to bear the brunt of COVID-19
Source: SciDev.net (25 May 2020)
As COVID-19 pandemic threatens smallholder farmers, it could be an opportunity to shift priorities and increase support to agriculture.
Breaking Ground: Maria Itria Ibba and the lab that bakes bread
CIMMYT scientist helps breeders meet complex and stringent market demands for high-quality wheat.
Opinion: COVID-19 highlights need to boost resilience of Africa’s rural poor
Source: Devex (4 May 2020)
Leaders from CIMMYT, Harvest Plus and Clinton Development Initiative discuss need for smallholder farmers to be resilient against shocks — pandemics, droughts or crop infestations.
In the best possible taste
Researchers in Kenya and Uganda are incorporating sensory preferences like taste, smell or texture into maize breeding.
New crop varieties set to address drought, malnutrition
Source: The Nation (27 Apr 2020)
CIMMYT, Clinton Development Initiative and Harvest Plus work together to make drought-tolerant and vitamin A biofortified maize available to farmers in Malawi.
Coronavirus lockdown diets look the same the world over: Bread, beans, and comfort food
Source: Fortune (18 Apr 2020)
Biodiversity loss poses dangers for the robustness of the environment, the safety of our food supply chain and potential exposure to pandemics.
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.
One-minute science: Trent Blare and blue maize products
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.
Biofortified Crop Project Reaches Refugees in Zambia
Source: Inter Press Service (27 Feb 2020)
Refugees receive technical assistance, nutrition education and training on growing biofortified maize.
Advancing Nutritious Food Crops: The Role of the Public Sector
Source: Outlook India (25 Feb 2020)
Harvest Plus supports cross-sector alliances to advance biofortified crops in India.
Include small indigenous production systems to improve rural livelihoods
New research recommends targeted assistance and engagement with small farmers in rural Guatemala to improve livelihoods and reduce migration pressures.