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Author: Mary Donovan

Call for Nominees for the 2019 Maize Youth Innovators Awards – Latin America

Written by Mary Donovan on . Posted in News.

Nominations are now open for the 2019 MAIZE Youth Innovators Awards – Latin America!

These awards are part of the efforts that the CGIAR Research Program on Maize (MAIZE) is undertaking to promote youth participation in maize agri-food systems. These awards recognize the contributions of young women and men under 35 who are implementing innovations in Latin American maize-based agri-food systems, including research for development, seed systems, agribusiness, and sustainable intensification.

Latin America is the birthplace of maize and home to much of its genetic diversity. Maize is a main staple food across the continent and plays an important role in local culture and gastronomy. However, maize faces many challenges, from climate change-related stresses such as drought and heat to emerging pests and diseases. These challenges cannot be solved without the participation of young people at all levels of the maize value chain, from farmers to researchers and change agents. Over one-fourth of Latin America’s total population is between the ages of 15 and 29 – approximately 156 million people, the largest proportion of young people ever in the region’s history. By encouraging and empowering young people to develop innovative solutions to these challenges we can strengthen maize agri-food systems and improve food security in Latin America and across the world.

The MAIZE Youth Innovators Awards aim to identify young innovators who can serve to inspire other young people to get involved in maize-based agri-food systems. Part of the vision is to create a global network of young innovators in maize-based systems from around the world.

Award recipients will be invited to attend the 23rd Latin American Maize Reunion (XXIII Reunión Latinoamericana del Maíz) in Monteria, Colombia October 7-10 where they will receive their awards and be given the opportunity to present their work. The project meeting and award ceremony will also allow these young innovators to network and exchange experiences with MAIZE researchers and partners. Award recipients may also get the opportunity to collaborate with MAIZE and its partner scientists in Latin America on implementing or furthering their innovations.

MAIZE invites young innovators to apply and CGIAR researchers and partners to nominate eligible applicants for any of the following three categories:

  • Researcher: Maize research for development (in any discipline)
  • Farmer: Maize farming systems in Latin America
  • Change agent: Maize value chains (i.e., extension agents, input and service suppliers, transformation agents).

We ask nominators/applicants to take into account the following criteria and related questions:

  1. Novelty and Innovative Spirit: To which specific novel findings or innovation(s) has this young person contributed? (in any of the three categories mentioned above)
  2. Present/Potential Impact: What is the present/potential benefit or impact of the innovation(s) in maize-based agri-food systems?

To apply:

Applications should be submitted online, through the Application Form by July 22, 2019.

Key dates:

Opening date for nominations: June 19, 2019

Closing date for nominations: July 22, 2019

Notification of winners: August 6, 2019

NOTE:  Nominations received after the closing date will not be considered.

Additional information:

A PDF version of this Call for Nominees is available here.

Nomination/Application Guidelines can be found here.

The Application Form can be found here and is also available on the MAIZE and YPARD websites.

For any questions or issues, contact us at maizecrp@cgiar.org

This award is sponsored by the CGIAR Research Program on Maize (MAIZE) in collaboration with YPARD (Young Professionals for Agricultural Development).

CIMMYT and GOAL team up to help farmers in Zimbabwe fight fall armyworm

Written by Mary Donovan on . Posted in Press releases.

DUN LAOGHAIRE, Ireland and TEXCOCO, Mexico — Irish humanitarian aid agency GOAL has joined CIMMYT (the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) in the fight against fall armyworm, a devastating insect pest that experts say threatens the food security of millions of people in Africa.

The fall armyworm has caused significant damage to maize crops in sub-Saharan Africa since its arrival to the region in 2016.

A study on the impact of the fall armyworm in eastern Zimbabwe reveals that nearly 12 percent of crops are lost annually due to the infestation. And the study states that if the problem spreads throughout the entire country tonnes of grain to the value of $32 million could be lost.

GOAL Zimbabwe has now teamed up with CIMMYT to identify conditions that promote fall armyworm infestation in order to educate farmers on best practices to fight the problem.

Regular weeding, conservation agriculture, use of manure and compost, and ending pumpkin intercropping have been found to help prevent infestation.

Mainassara Zaman-Allah, co-author of the study and abiotic stress phenotyping specialist at CIMMYT said, “Given the limited coverage of the study in terms of area and season, it would be interesting to replicate it all over the country through the involvement of governmental agricultural departments, so that we get the full picture around the fall armyworm problem at a larger scale.”

Gift Mashango from GOAL Zimbabwe, said, “The fall armyworm has further worsened the food security situation of smallholder farmers who are already coping with an ailing economy and climate change. Besides the adverse effects posed to the environment by chemical methods of combating the pest, the smallholder farmer cannot afford to meet the associated costs, hence the need to come up with innovative cost-effective farming systems like climate smart agriculture.”

About CIMMYT

CIMMYT – the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center – is the global leader in publicly-funded maize and wheat research and related farming systems. Headquartered near Mexico City, CIMMYT works with hundreds of partners throughout the developing world to sustainably increase the productivity of maize and wheat cropping systems, thus improving global food security and reducing poverty.

CIMMYT is a member of the CGIAR System and leads the CGIAR Research Programs on Maize and Wheat, and the Excellence in Breeding Platform. The Center receives support from national governments, foundations, development banks and other public and private agencies.

For more information about CIMMYT, please visit https://staging.cimmyt.org/.

About GOAL

GOAL is an international humanitarian aid agency working in 13 countries to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable in our world, and those affected by humanitarian crises, have access to the fundamental rights to life. With its head office in Ireland, GOAL envisions a world where poverty and hunger no longer exist; where communities are prepared for seasonal shocks; where structural and cultural barriers to growth are removed and where every man, woman and child has equal rights and access to resources and opportunities.

To learn more about GOAL, please visit https://www.goalglobal.org/.

Media contacts

CIMMYT: Genevieve Renard, Head of Communications. G.Renard@cgiar.org

GOAL: Miriam Donohoe, Senior Communications Manager. mdonohoe@goal.ie