FROM AGRI-VIEW

By Julie Martin, Editorial Intern
Thursday, September 2, 2010 12:22 PM CDT

“Maiz y trigo.”

The Spanish words for “corn and wheat,” this vocabulary was used to its full extent as 12 students from UW-Madison recently traveled to Mexico to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (also known by its Spanish acronym CIMMYT for Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo). While visiting the center, the students not only practiced their Spanish, but learned about current research being done, as well as new varieties of corn and wheat being developed.

The purpose of the trip was to expose students to what a career in agriculture could lead them to, and help peak their interest for what agriculture offers. For many of the students, especially those in agronomy, it might be plant breeding at a research station similar to CIMMYT. For agronomy graduate student Adrienne Shelton, it helped define more opportunities.

“I knew about CIMMYT and other international research stations, but I really enjoyed getting a much closer, more hands-on perspective of what they’re doing, particularly listening to the scientists about their projects,” says Shelton. She’s not quite sure yet what she wants to do after earning her PhD, however the trip helped define more clearly some possible options. “Seeing what they’re doing down there gave me a much better idea of what international work would look like.”

Another agronomy graduate student on the trip, Reid Rice, found the trip just as eye-opening with a future goal of becoming involved with industry work.

“Getting that exposure to organizations trying to combat hunger worldwide and seeing what strategies are taken was just a great opportunity,” says Rice. “Its one thing to hear what they’re doing in terms of breeding and developing; its another to visit those environments, to see what’s going on in Mexico and understand exactly what type of land and soil the farmers have to work with. It’s absolutely crucial to keep in mind.”

Other major areas of study represented by the students ranged from agronomy and biology to international studies and economics. With a shortage of emerging agronomists in the industry, as well as various majors across the board within agriculture, concern is growing for availability of future agriculturists. Several of the students on this trip were sponsored by Syngenta, who has taken the initiative to bring these students to the forefront of crop production research to show them how they can become an active part in the process. Many of the students have experience with sweet corn breeding at UW-Madison, and could relate directly to practices they were implementing in their research plots.

For other students, it reiterated the importance of the impact of their research. For Rachel Eder, an agronomy student with a focus on natural resources, she found the trip built upon her experiences as an intern with the Dane County Land and Water Conservation Department.

“I have more confidence in what I’m promoting here in Dane County,” says Eder, as she continues to build her base of knowledge. A portion of the trip was designated for discussion on the conservation agriculture practices being conducted at the station, something Eder personally was interested in.

An ideal place to ask their questions about the research on corn and new varieties, CIMMYT was chosen for several other reasons, more specifically because of its mission. They recognize the greater purpose with their research, as stated in their mission, “to sustainably increase the productivity of maize and wheat systems to ensure global food security and reduce poverty.” Learning about their research projects for African countries and developing new seed varieties to combat various environment pressures, it’s not difficult to feel a part of something bigger.

“It’s a very inspiring place,” says Bill Tracy, Agronomy Professor at UW-Madison and one of the organizers of the trip. “We were hoping students could see that they could have a really positive impact on the world by getting involved in agriculture.”

The group traveled to three different research stations in Mexico, gaining hands-on experience right in the corn field. Researchers and scientists presented their projects and what their studies have shown thus far. Physically walking through the fields and looking at the specific corn populations helped convey the true challenges the researchers face as they develop more suitable varieties for various purposes. Corn populations being grown in the lowland tropics were being developed for countries in Africa, where there is a similar climate. In the highlands of Mexico, corn populations intended to be grown in Brazil and Argentina are being developed. Students with experience in the corn field and a strong science background, they came with questions and an eagerness to learn about the station.

“Twelve people who didn’t really have a clue as to what CIMMYT does or is are now strong advocates,” says Tracy. “The U.S. students came away with a better sense of the challenges that face developing countries. CIMMYT welcomes the opportunity to reach out to people and to interact with students to talk about their research. It’s a positive experience for everyone.”

Additionally, the students brought together their own unique skills and backgrounds, which added significantly to the experience. When traveling between research stations, they experienced the diverse countryside of Mexico and the various climates, from the cooler highlands to the lowland tropics. Nearly the entire group had never been to Mexico before, and they found the cuisine and marketplace just as educational as the corn fields.

“Anytime anyone’s exposed to other cultures, it’s always valuable in terms of broadening their view of the world,” says Tracy. “Having people from different backgrounds and perspectives broadens everyone else that’s part of the group as well as enriches the whole program with different points of view.”

A perfect balance between education and culture, the student group walked away with a greater perspective of the impact CIMMYT has on the rest of the world and how they could eventually become one of the future’s leading scientists to continue feeding and nourishing the rest of the world.

Last Thursday, 02 September 2010, CIMMYT welcomed esteemed Cuban microbiologist, Raixa Llauger, to El Batán on an official visit on behalf of the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture. Llauger, senior researcher at the Institute of Research on Tropical Fruit Crops, Havana, arrived at CIMMYT to revive relations between Cuba and CIMMYT through the exchange of maize varieties.

With approximately 1.2 million hectares dedicated to crop cultivation, Cuba’s main food crops are rice, beans, and maize. Cubans grow rice and beans mainly for consumption, where as maize is grown largely for animal feed. However, maize is sometimes used for human consumption in the form of flour and for national dishes such as tamales. The nation’s demand for maize as dry grain feed is around 772,000 tons and is predicted to reach 966,000 tons by 2015. This large demand for maize as feed has forced Cuba to import maize from other countries—though the Cuban government hopes to reduce maize importation through the steady growth of maize cultivation and the introduction of improved varieties.

Cuba practices agro-ecological alternatives such as the use of organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and bioplaguicides (microorganisms, native to the region, that act as biological controllers of plant disease) in order to promote sustainable agriculture. Because of this interest in biological controls, Cuba is excited to introduce drought resistant and nitrogen use efficient (NUE) maize varieties into their fields.

Along with interests in obtaining new maize varieties, Cuba also hopes to reignite the training of Cuban scientists at CIMMYT. Cuban scientist Marcos Torres, one of the most influential scientists in Cuba to work with maize, trained and worked at CIMMYT, and his expertise is something modern day Cuban scientists would like to emulate. “Today I met many scientists who fondly remember Torres. I think now is the perfect time to foster the Cuba-CIMMYT relationship,” said Lluager.

In order to facilitate the goal of exchanging both germplasm and knowledge, Llauger discussed future plans with Gary Atlin, associate director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program, and Félix San Vicente, maize breeder. “It is not that Cuba’s relationship with CIMMYT ever stopped: we’ve had a continuous relationship with the organization since the 1980s,” said Llauger. “It is just that we have realized all of what CIMMYT has to offer and we are at a stage where we are ready, able, and excited to take advantage of it.”

Last Thursday, 26 August 2010, CIMMYT said farewell to a group of 21 visitors from Texas A&M University, USA, that spent two weeks in Mexico learning about CIMMYT’s history, current projects, and its world-wide contributions to the advancement of wheat and maize. The group included 18 students (ranging from undergraduate to doctorate students) and three professors—one of which was Ronald Cantrell, former head of the CIMMYT maize program and former director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). During their time at CIMMYT, the group saw laboratories, equipment, fields, and had the opportunity to meet many of the members that make CIMMYT’s work possible.

The group divided their time between the El Batán,Toluca, Tlaltizapán, and Agua Fría stations, which provided a diverse glimpse at the various environments and ecologies with which CIMMYT works. Because all of the visiting students are, in some capacity, studying agriculture and/or plant breeding, the group was very inquisitive and engaged throughout their many lectures and workshops. Seth Murray, assistant professor in the Department of Soil & Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University, was grateful to CIMMYT for this opportunity to expose young students to the international aspects of plant breeding. “Hopefully everybody gained insight into the problems of agricultural growth in developing countries. It isn’t just about having the technology to grow crops. Lack of infrastructure, unreliable market access, and other variables play a large role in agricultural development,” said Murray. “Experience like this, they couldn’t get in a Texas classroom.”

The students will take the knowledge they have gained on this trip and apply it to their studies at Texas A&M University, as well as present it at a university fair. Prior to arriving in Mexico, each student was given a topic to explore throughout their time at CIMMYT; these assignments range from pre-Columbian agriculture to modern sciences, such as the breeding of quality protein maize (QPM), which the students saw up-close at Agua Fría. Another topic of interest was marker-assisted selection (MAS), which is what Juliana Osorio Marín, a 28-year-old doctorate student, is studying. Marín is happy to explore MAS further because it is such a “hot topic” in the field. Marín has expressed an interested in returning to her home in Bogotá, Colombia, after receiving her degree in order to work for fellow CGIAR organization the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).

But the visit wasn’t all work. The students were also able to soak up Mexican culture and history through various day trips to places like Teotihuacán, Taxco, El Tajín, and the historic center of Mexico City. “My favorite day trip was seeing Taxco,” Marín said. “It‘s a beautiful city to explore, built up in the hills like that… and the silver!”

This was the fourth year a group from Texas A&M has visited CIMMYT, and it won’t be the last. Educational exchanges such as these are an integral part of CIMMYT’s work. “The importance of exposing future generations to CIMMYT’s harmonized cooperation among physiology, breeding, pathology, quality, and agronomy research, and its application in lesser developed countries is invaluable,” said Petr Kosina, CIMMYT knowledge, information and training manager. “In order to secure our future, we must keep the youth educated and engaged.”

The week before the Texas A&M students arrived, CIMMYT played host to another group of students. During the first week of August, 12 students from University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, spent a week learning about CIMMYT’s work and collaboration. Led by William Tracy, the group visited El Batán, Tlaltizapán, and Agua Fría. Many thanks to everyone who helped welcome, accommodate, and educate these eager and important visitors!

The CIMMYT community welcomes Cornelis Fransiscus Broekhuijse as the newest member of the CIMMYT Board of Trustees. The son of a farmer and a native of the Netherlands, Broekhuijse developed a passion for agriculture at a young age, which was sustained throughout his 33-year career with Rabobank, an international bank committed to food and agribusiness and a leader in sustainability-oriented banking. Until his retirement from Rabobank in 2009, Broekhuijse held various important positions at the bank, including executive vice president and later senior executive vice president of Rabobank Americas. For the past year, Broekhuijse has served as Chairman of the Board for two Rabobank subsidiaries in the US. We look forward to benefitting from his knowledge and experience.

Follow our new series of videos interviewing past CIMMYT trainees. Each video highlights CIMMYT’s training impact by documenting individual accounts of how the training experience influenced scientists from across the world.

1. Training Impact: Andre Rosa (Brazil)
2. Training Impact: Moussa Mosaad (Egypt)
3. Training Impact: Mohammed El Hadi Maatougui (Algeria)
4. Training Impact: Mohammed Jlibene (Morocco)
5. Training Impact: Madan Bhatta (Nepal)
6. Training Impact: Solomon Gelalcha (Ethiopia)
7. Training Impact: Ratan Tiwari (India)
8. Training Impact: Abdel Kader Benbelkacem (Algeria)

On 08 August 2010, a group of representatives from Mexico’s public and private agricultural sectors interested in conservation agriculture (CA) gathered for a workshop, given by Petr Kosina, CIMMYT knowledge, information and training manager, on efficient outreach communication. Throughout the day, participants learned about different learning styles and presentation methods, and how they can be used to communicate to farmers CA techniques and benefits. CA is an exciting tool with the potential to enhance not only crop yields, but also the quality of agricultural soils. However, like any other tool, the benefits of CA will only be attained if it is correctly adapted and utilized by farmers and technicians, and clear communication—both of proper application and of the potential benefits—is crucial.

Many farmers are sceptical about non-traditional farming practices, so in addition to analyzing cultural differences in learning styles, the workshop taught participants how to overcome scepticism by using various presentation methods that both relay information about CA technologies while also gaining the trust of farmers. Methods discussed included: demonstrations, visits (farm walks), facilitated discussions, presentations, and the use of informative media such as posters, flyers, and manuals. At the end of the seminar, participants worked in pairs to prepare and give a two-minute presentation in front of the entire group.

In the afternoon, the participants were divided into groups and rotated through four stations, each designed for experimentation with a different communication technology, and led by a CIMMYT expert in the respective area: video, audio, posters, and pamphlets. CIMMYT consultant Mary Attaway (pictured left in yellow) gave instruction about the basic use of inexpensive handheld video cameras and their potential role in spreading CA through various channels such as YouTube. Under the watchful eye of CIMMYT audiovisual expert Ricardo de la Rosa (pictured left at computer), the participants conducted mock interviews with one another to practice using an audio recorder. They then edited their recordings using a software program that is available online, free-of-charge. Antonio Luna Ávila and Marcelo Ortiz Sánchez, both CIMMYT graphic designers, led brief informative courses on how to create efficient, engaging posters and pamphlets. At the end of the day, the whole group discussed which outcomes resulted in good communicative materials and how others could be improved.

This workshop was part of CIMMYT’s second year-long CA technician certification course. The first course finished in early August 2010 and graduated its first round of CA certified technicians. Because of the overwhelming response to the course, a second wave of 34 new participants has just begun. Bram Govaerts, head of the conservation agriculture team in Mexico, is leading this course with the help of many CIMMYT staff. “I’d like to give a special thanks to the whole Mexico CA team and also to Petr Kosina who presented this crucial material in such an engaging and participatory manner,” said Govaerts.

A training workshop on the integrated International Maize Information System (IMIS)-Fieldbook platform was held for scientists, technicians, and research assistants in Nairobi, Kenya, on 05-06 August 2010. Similar training was held in Zimbabwe on 02-04 August, and will soon be given in Ethiopia. Héctor Sánchez, crop information specialist based at CIMMYT-Mexico, conducted the course, which was attended by participants from CIMMYT and two invited representatives from the Western Seed Company, a Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) Project partner.

The training included presentations on the basic use of IMIS and IMISFieldbook. The latter has all the utilities of Fieldbook software, as well as additional functions for management of genealogy, inventory, and data. Hands-on training sessions covered topics such as installing the software, generating inventories and analyses, seed preparation for trials and nurseries, adding information to the IMIS database, and managing pedigrees using Fieldbook.

“We can now code our germplasm numerically, and upload it into a local database, which can then be exported to MaizeFinder,” said Silvano Assanga, one of the participants. MaizeFinder is a program, accessible on the internet, where information on the germplasm available at CIMMYT and performance data can be obtained. “With this software, it will now be easy to trace the parentage of a pedigree by generating a genealogy tree to see how the material was developed,” Assanga said.

The software is available at http://dtma.cimmyt.org/index.php/software.