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Hybrid maize breeding course in Hyberabad

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Forty-five maize scientists gathered at CIMMYT’s office in Hyderabad, India, from 31 August until 5 September for a course on maize hybrid breeding for rainfed areas in Asia. Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), and the Generation Challenge Program (GCP) organized the course, which received nearly 90 applications from interested scientists.

Various aspects related to hybrid maize breeding were covered by competent and qualified scientists from CIMMYT, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Indian maize programs, and the private sector. “This course was very successful,” said Harun-or Rahsid, a participant from Bangladesh. “We were introduced to several new ideas that we can use to develop stable maize hybrids in a more effective and resource-efficient manner.” The majority of participants came from India (23), but others came from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The private sector was well represented; 12 participants came from the following companies: Monsanto, Syngenta, BIOSEED, Krishidhan Seeds, Ajeet Seeds, ABS Seeds, Safal Seeds, JK Seeds, VNR Seeds, and Vibha Agri-tech.

“I’m glad the CIMMYT-Asia program took the initiative to organized this much anticipated course,” said CIMMYT scientist S.K. Vasal. “It will strengthen partnerships and collaboration in the region and help us to achieve our goal of doubling maize production by the year 2020.”

ZM 309 gets presidential nod in Malawi

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On 3 September 2009, a new drought tolerant maize variety received presidential approval in Malawi. The variety, ZM 309, known by locals as ‘msungabanja’ (that which takes care of the family), will be included in the national farm input subsidy program and is to be planted by farmers in Malawi’s most drought prone areas this October.

Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharika hosted CIMMYT’s Wilfred Mwangi, project leader of Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA), and Peter Setimela, maize breeder, at the State House in Lilongwe. The two briefed him on CIMMYT’s maize research activities and collaboration in Malawi, which date back to 1974. “The new maize variety, ZM 309, released under the auspices of the DTMA Project, will give Malawi farmers an advantage because it is high yielding and drought tolerant,” said President Bingu wa Mutharika on receiving a 10-ton consignment of ZM 309 seed presented by Mwangi and Setimela on behalf of CIMMYT. “We welcome this research because it will help Malawi cope with climate change and improve food security.”

The variety will be grown in Balaka, Chikwawa, Nsanje, and Karonga, and the consignment is adequate to plant a minimum of 400 hectares. “We at CIMMYT commend Malawi’s leadership for implementing innovative agricultural policies that have made the country a great example for improving national food security in Africa,” said Mwangi. “We will work with the government of Malawi to help farmers cope with climate change by using drought tolerant maize technology.”

ZM 309 is a drought tolerant, open-pollinated maize variety, meaning farmers have the option to save seed for subsequent seasons with minimum yield loss. ZM 309 was developed through collaborative research efforts with CIMMYT, Malawi’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Chitedze Research Station. CIMMYT also included an information leaflet on ZM 309 in each 10-kilo bag of seed as part of efforts to provide information about new varieties to farmers. CIMMYT is most grateful to Andrew Daudi, Malawi’s principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and to Jeff Luhanga, controller of Agricultural Extension and Technical Services from the same department, for their support and facilitation assistance. Collaboration with SeedCo Malawi in producing the required seed is also acknowledged, and particular gratitude is due to SeedCo employees Dellings Phiri, general manager, and John Lungu, operations executive. Also participating in the event was Anne Wangalachi, CIMMYT science writer/editor.

Farewell to Norman Borlaug: World loses its leading hunger fighter

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NEBorlaugCIMMYT joins with members of the international development community to mourn the passing of Nobel Peace Laureate and renowned wheat scientist, Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, who died Saturday night at the age of 95 from complications from cancer, after an exemplary life dedicated to fighting hunger in developing countries.

Dr. Borlaug worked as a CIMMYT wheat breeder and research director for nearly four decades and was a CIMMYT scientist at the time he received the Nobel Peace Prize.

High-yielding wheat varieties and improved farming practices, first developed by Borlaug and his team in Mexico during the 1950s, were introduced into South Asia in the 1960s and may well be responsible for saving hundreds of millions of people from starvation. Known as the Green Revolution, Borlaug’s work gave rise to science-based agriculture in developing countries. Today, high-yielding, disease-resistant wheat varieties based on Dr. Borlaug’s pioneering work are grown on 80 million hectares (200 million acres) throughout the world.

Borlaug received the 1970 Nobel Prize for those achievements, and his success led to the establishment of a network of 15 international agricultural research centers, including CIMMYT.

Borlaug’s full-time employment at CIMMYT ended in 1979, although he remained a resident part-time consultant until his death. In 1984, he began a new career as a university professor, teaching one semester a year at Texas A&M University, which continued for 23 years. In 1986, he joined forces with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and the Nippon Foundation of Japan, under the chairmanship of Ryoichi Sasakawa, to develop an African agricultural initiative. Over a 20-year period, the Sasakawa-Global 2000 agricultural program, as it is known, has been working in 15 African countries to transfer improved agricultural technology to several million small-scale farmers.

Borlaug was especially proud of his role in establishing the World Food Prize in 1986. This prize has grown in stature and is now considered the “Nobel Prize” for food and agriculture. Some 25 men and women have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to increasing the quantity, quality and availability of world food supplies. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, the World Food Prize Foundation has also developed outstanding educational programs to engage young people in world food issues.

Dr. Borlaug always considered himself to be a teacher, as well as a scientist. Today, several thousand men and women agricultural scientists from more than 50 countries are proud to say they were Norman Borlaug’s “students.”

Borlaug used his fame and influence to champion the cause of smallholder agricultural development around the globe. Over a 63-year career, he traveled tirelessly to more than 100 nations, visiting farmers and agricultural scientists in their fields. It is estimated that over his lifetime he personally spoke to more than 500,000 students and ordinary citizens, explaining the challenges and complexities of world food production.

Borlaug was voted a member of the academies of agricultural science of 11 nations, received 60 honorary doctorate degrees from those countries, and was honored by farmer and civic associations in 28 countries.

Of all the places that he visited, his beloved home was Mexico, and in particular, the irrigated Yaqui Valley in the state of Sonora, in northwest Mexico. “This is where I truly feel at home, and where I am at peace,” he would often say. The feeling was reciprocal. In Ciudad Obregón, in the heart of the Yaqui Valley, one of main streets is named after Borlaug, and hundreds have known him since they were born.

Although probably better known outside the United States—in Mexico, India, Pakistan, China and Latin America, Borlaug’s work has also been widely recognized in the USA. At the federal level, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science and the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian award.

CIMMYT was also home to Dr. Borlaug, who was known as a simple and charismatic figure, who spoke Spanish fluently and truly cared about people, greeting and chatting with researchers and field workers alike. His dedicated pragmatism and vision of applying science to benefit the poor live on as core values of CIMMYT and several other institutions with which he was closely associated.

Norm, as he liked be called, lived his life as a dedicated hunger-fighter, but one who was forever vigilant. As he said in his acceptance speech of the 1970 Nobel Prize: “…It is true that the tide of the battle against hunger has changed for the better…but ebb tide could soon set in, if we become complacent…”

We can think of no greater tribute to Norm than to carry on the work to which he dedicated his life: applying agricultural science for humanitarian benefits. Thus, he lives on in our hearts and, through our efforts, the work he began will also live on.

“Today we stand bereft of Borlaug’s physical presence, but not of his spirit or ideals,” says Thomas A. Lumpkin, CIMMYT Director General. “Norm once said: ‘I personally cannot live comfortably in the midst of abject hunger and poverty and human misery.’ Millions of small-scale farmers in developing countries today still practice low-input, subsistence agriculture, condemning them and their families to lives of poverty. They typically spend at least 70% of their income on food, and most are at risk of being malnourished. The world cannot be at peace until these people are helped to feed themselves and escape poverty.”

The CIMMYT family extends its condolences to the Borlaug family, who live in Texas, California and Iowa. He is survived by his son Bill, his daughter Norma Jean, five grandchildren, and several great grandchildren.

News from Human Resources

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Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub, hosted and managed by the International Livestock Research Institute, is offering a technical/research paper writing workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 15–21 November 2009. Attendees will use their own advancedstage draft manuscripts in the training, with a goal of publication within two months of workshop completion. The application deadline is 17 September and applicants must be fluent in English, possess a Ph.D. or M.Sc. in a bioscience related area, and be currently employed by an African national research program or university. The Gender & Diversity Program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) encourages African women scientists and professionals to apply. For more information please contact Ms. Rachel Njunge, r.njunge@cgiar.org or visit http://hub.africabiosciences.org/.

American students visit CIMMYT-Mexico

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WisconsinsMany young and eager minds passed through CIMMYT-Mexico this past month. Three students from the University of Wisconsin, USA, visited from 8-16 August while 12 from Texas A&M University, USA, stayed from 12-22 August. The goals of both groups were to further their understanding of agricultural systems in Mexico and to observe CIMMYT’s work with international research.

The students completed a comprehensive program that contained all aspects of CIMMYT’s research areas and included field visits and presentations from the maize, wheat, and conservation agriculture programs and the Crops Research Information Laboratory (CRIL) at El Batán. Students also had the opportunity to explore other CIMMYT stations in Mexico: at Tlaltizapán the groups learned about maize and double haploids, at Agua Fria they discussed quality protein maize and met with local farmers, and in Toluca they learned about bread wheat improvement and traveled to local subsistence farmer communities. Students from Texas A&M also visited the research station of Mexico’s National Institute of Forestry, Agriculture, and Livestock Research (INIFAP) near Chapingo and the INIFAP headquarters, where they were received by director Pedro Brajcich.

This is the third time a group of students from Texas A&M has visited CIMMYT. Each time they have been accompanied by great friends of the center: Ronald Cantrell and Steve Hague. Special thanks to all scientists and staff who gave their time and expertise to make the visits a success.

Push for quality protein maize in El Salvador

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Salvador02-300x291It was unusually hot for the rainy season, but the torrid sun did not dampen farmers’ enthusiasm on the afternoon of 02 September 2009. “This is a variety that yields well, even if we don’t put lots of fertilizer on it, and it has a sweet taste and mills well,” said Francisca Lilian Melgar. Along with 24 other farmers at Lomas de Santiago, El Salvador, she has joined her plot with others to form a communal “mega-plot” of about 25 hectares to test-grow the quality protein maize (QPM) hybrid ‘Oro Blanco’ (White Gold).

Each farmer has received seed and other inputs through AgroSalud, a five-year project that started in 2005 with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency to extend the benefits of nutritionally improved staple crops to Latin America and the Caribbean. CIMMYT’s work in the project has been led by maize breeder Gary Atlin, and includes many activities to develop, improve, and disseminate stress resistant, agronomically superior varieties of QPM, a type of maize that contains enhanced amounts of the essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan than normal maize.

Much of the work in El Salvador has been carried out by Héctor Reynaldo Deras Flores, maize researcher with the National Center of Agriculture, Livestock, and Forestry Technology (CENTA). “I would buy seed of this hybrid,” Melgar emphatically told the visitors, who included researchers and extension workers from CENTA, as well as seed producers, policymakers, and CIMMYT staff.

Salvador1-300x200Hours earlier that day, many of the same specialists, along with staff of the Health and Education ministries and representatives of farmer associations, had gathered in the headquarters of El Salvador’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in San Salvador to attend presentations and take part in discussions on the importance of QPM. The event was covered by leading national TV and radio stations, and included presentations by Scott Ferguson, CIMMYT deputy director general for Support Services; Kevin Pixley, associate director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program; and Hugo Córdova, retired CIMMYT maize breeder and distinguished scientist. Among other things, presenters reported on achievements of AgroSalud. “In the last five years, we’ve achieved annual increases of 250 kilograms per hectare in the yields of QPM hybrids,” said Córdova, a Salvadoran native. “Because the parent lines were selected under stress conditions, these hybrids perform well in all settings.”

Ferguson, Pixley, and Córdova also met with CENTA director Antonio René Rivera Magaña to discuss ways of promoting adoption and marketing of Oro Blanco. “With QPM we’ve pushed, pushed, pushed,” Pixley said. “Now we need to create some ‘pull’—we have to promote the product in a way that creates demand.” Studies have shown that QPM can improve human nutrition and health in populations that depend heavily on maize as food but, according to Pixley, farmers are interested first and foremost in higher yields— something that Oro Blanco and AgroSalud products appear to offer.

Petr’s technology tips

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Good practices for Skype users:

  • Unless necessary, don’t use the video camera option during Skype calls. It uses a lot of bandwidth and reduces voice quality. This is especially likely to occur when one caller has a lower bandwidth connection.
  • Instead of using a built-in microphone and speakers, invest in a good headset or stand alone speakers and microphone. The quality of your calls will improve significantly.
  • When choosing a headset/ microphone:
  1. Opt for one with an on/off switch. When you are in a teleconference    with several people, switch off your microphone when not speaking to improve your call quality.
  2. Wireless headsets/microphones are not as reliable as headsets
    and microphones with wires, especially in an environment with a lot of interference (e.g. the airport).

What should you do when your computer’s hard drive is close to full capacity? Try WinDirStat, a small useful program (freeware) that will map your hard drive so you can see which folders and files occupy the most space.

Do you sometimes have two versions of the same file, or need to compare contents of various folders? Try Beyond Compare. This user-friendly program can merge files, synchronize folders, and shows the differences between
files and folders.

This week’s distinguished visitors

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Jerry Glover, agroecologist from The Land Institute, interacted with scientists and directors at El Batán during 25-28 August. The Institute is a non-profit organization located in Kansas, USA, that works to develop perennial versions of food crops like wheat and maize. Among other things, Glover gave a seminar entitled “Perennial solutions to farming’s annual problem,” and discussed ways and research areas in which CIMMYT and the Institute can work together.

Additionally a distinguished delegation of representatives from Syngenta visited CIMMYT headquarters during 26-28 August to talk about broadening the company’s research collaborations with the center. Members of the group were Drs. John Atkin, chief operating officer, Crop Protection; Rob Neill, global head, Marketing Crop Protection; John Bloomer, general business manager, Cereals; Rollie Sears, AGRIPRO senior development manager; Karsten Neuffer, head of Strategy & Planning; and Marcelo Valentín, director general, Mexico Office. They arrived the same day that the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) announced a two-year partnership between Syngenta, CIMMYT, and SFSA to identify and map genetic markers for use in wheat resistance breeding against Ug99 stem rust (see media release on the front page of the CIMMYT web portal).

On 21 August 2009, Hans Van de Water, of the Flemish Interuniversity Council, Department of Development Cooperation, Belgium, spent the day at El Batán to learn more about CIMMYT, with and eye to promoting the center in Belgium as an international organization eligible for development support and other forms of partnership with that country, especially support for graduate student work. “I received a four-year PhD scholarship from them during my stay at CIMMYT as a student, prior to accepting my current appointment,” says Bram Govaerts, cropping systems expert in the Conservation Agriculture Program.

Staff changes in the Global Maize Program

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Marianne Bänziger will move from her current position as director of the Global Maize Program (GMP) to become CIMMYT’s new deputy director general for research and partnerships, starting 1 October 2009. CIMMYT will refill the position of GMP director vacated by Bänziger as soon as a highly qualified candidate is identified. Between 1 October 2009 and the time it takes to fill the GMP director position, responsibilities will be assigned as follows:

  • Bänziger will supervise GMP activities in Asia and backstop major cross-program maize projects in Africa. She will also remain principal investigator for the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project.
  • Wilfred Mwangi, associate director, Africa, will supervise GMP activities in Africa.
  • Gary Atlin, associate director, molecular breeding, will supervise GMP activities in Latin America and all maize biotechnology activities.
  • Kevin Pixley will be moving to the University of Wisconsin effective 1 November 2009 from where he will continue to oversee global Maize Harvest Plus activities.

Two recent appointments within GMP will facilitate these changes: Félix San Vincente will start as senior scientist, maize breeder, Latin America in January 2010 and a soon-to-be-announced candidate will start as senior scientist, lead maize breeder for DTMA in October 2009. Both scientists bring highly relevant experience from the public and private sector.

Press event publicizes CIMMYT’s conservation agriculture efforts

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Nearly 10 journalists visited CIMMYT El Batán on 12 August 2009 to learn about the center’s Conservation Agriculture (CA) Program and its partnership with the private company Monsanto. The two are working together to promote CA for highland maize farmers in Mexico. Bram Govaerts, CIMMYT cropping systems management specialist, gave a presentation on CIMMYT and CA followed by a visit to El Batán’s long term CA trials.

“CA is a water-saving technology,” Govaerts told the journalists. “In Mexico, it is relevant now more than ever as the country’s central area is having one of the severest droughts in its history.” The group then traveled to see CA in action on the field of local farmer Fernando Vergara, who is using the core CA principles of minimal soil movement, suitable crop rotations, and leaving crop residues on the soil. This visit corresponded with a farmer CA day already taking place on Vergara’s field. Farmers from different parts of the country were present and several took turns speaking with the media.

CIMMYT strengthens its socioeconomic presence in Ethiopia

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Girma1Girma Tesfahun, post doctoral fellow based at CIMMYT’s office in Addis Ababa, was elected president of the Agricultural Economics Society of Ethiopia (AESE) for the next two years. The AESE’s general assembly elected Tesfahun at their 12th annual conference from 14-15 August 2009 in Addis Ababa. The executive committee has five members and includes senior economists from universities, national agricultural research programs, the private sector, and staff from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) who are based in Addis Ababa.

“This appointment will help CIMMYT strengthen its collaboration with Ethiopian agricultural economists,” said Roberto La Rovere, CIMMYT impacts specialist, who recently relocated to Addis Ababa to support regional impact assessment efforts. “It may also provide opportunities for publishing Ethiopia-relevant work and facilitate partnerships with other research and development players in the region, especially given the new strength of the CIMMYT socioeconomic presence in Addis Ababa.” CIMMYT’s Olaf Erenstein also moved to Addis Ababa this year to fill the agricultural economist position within the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) Project.

Maintenance and safety training for agricultural machinery

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JdeereCoAround 20 employees from different departments in El Batán gathered at the auditorium and in La Redonda for a course on agricultural machinery maintenance and safety on 22 June 2009. The instructors, Jesús López Torres, Álvaro García, and Francisco Javier Reyes, were machinery experts from the John Deere company. They presented information on various types of motorized agricultural machinery, ranging from the conventional to more modern machines that can be directed via satellite.

The presenters gave several recommendations to participants to help them avoid accidents: always read the manual, wear a seatbelt, refrain from taking passengers, and do not have children playing in nearby areas. Handle oil and gas with care, staff were told, as spills can make land infertile. Finally, for personal health safety, wear gloves to avoid direct contact with gas or oil hoses, as oil can seep into one’s blood stream from the skin and over time this may cause cancer. In general, the instructors stressed that machine operators should know and practice security measures and wear protective equipment. After the theoretical component of the course, the group went to the field and put some of the new principals into practice.

Working toward improved project management

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How can CIMMYT better manage its project portfolio, identify fundraising needs and opportunities, and remove part of the burden for proposal development and project reporting from its scientists, freeing them up for their research? During 22-23 July 2009, Luz George (consultant), Scott Ferguson (deputy director general for Support Services), Carlos López (IT manager), and program administrators, including special guests Sarah Kibera (program administrator) from CIMMYT-Nairobi and Kimani Kamau (DTMA administrator), met at El Batán with staff from Human Resources, Finance, Legal Affairs, Corporate Communications, and program directors and scientists to seek answers.

Over the two days of presentations and discussions, including presentations of the CIMMYT-Nairobi and Generation Challenge Program project management systems, participants concluded that CIMMYT needs a Project Management Unit (PMU), and discussed the responsibilities and priorities of the new unit. Similar units at sister centers were discussed as potential models. In tabulating CIMMYT’s needs, participants decided better information was a core requirement, and concluded that a combination of clear procedures, an online database to track projects through their life cycle, and a more general internet-accessible portal would meet this requirement.

The conclusions of the workshop will be presented to CIMMYT’s Management Committee at its next session. The serious business of the workshop was punctuated by a relaxed evening which participants spent together at the Rincón Mexicano, eating the Mexican delicacy Chiles en Nogada and listening to the superb musical duo of Marcelo Pérez and Mike Listman.

Monsanto visits CIMMYT conservation agriculture team

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Asgrow1To get a ground-level idea of how Monsanto support for a CIMMYT-led effort to refine and promote conservation agriculture (CA) in Mexico benefits farmers, Monsanto staff joined staff from project co sponsor Asgrow, a Monsanto subsidiary in Mexico, for a visit to El Batán and CA project satellite sites on 17 July 2009.

“Sustainability is part of the Monsanto pledge,” said Manuel J. Bravo, Latin America Norte (LAN), strategy and new business lead for the company. “This project is a clear example of that.” The group chatted with DG Tom Lumpkin and also attended a demonstration of a GoogleEarth-based database for project sites in Central Mexico. The field visits elicited strong enthusiasm. “It was impressive to see the farmers when they have a chance to compare the two systems (CA and conventional practices),” said Bryan Corkal, Monsanto LAN finance lead.

How did the group view the chances for successful adoption of CA in Mexico? “It’s just a question of time,” said Bravo. “The product is there—the system, the savings— we just need to find efficient ways to disseminate the practices to more people in less time.” According to Corkal, a lot depends on farmers’ culture: “It was interesting to see young farmers in the presentations; they’re the ones who are going to adopt the new practices.”

Program restructuring: Genetic resources

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Effective 01 July 2009, the Management Committee endorsed the closing of the Genetic Resources Program (GRP). It also supported the reorganization of scientists and support staff’s reporting lines, in part to link them more closely with CIMMYT’s crop breeding activities. Though their job descriptions have not changed, staff of GRP projects that specifically address maize or wheat will now report to the respective global program for each crop. Those GRP projects that cut across both maize and wheat—in particular the germplasm bank, the Seed Health laboratory, and the Crop Research Informatics Laboratory will collectively report to the future deputy director general for research and partnerships. A new position of “laboratory manager” will be opened to facilitate the operation of laboratories in El Batán.