Farmers worldwide are increasingly adopting conservation agriculture. In the 2015/2016 season, conservation agriculture was practiced on about 180 mega hectares of cropland globally, 69% more than in the 2008/2009 season.
What are the benefits of this method of farming? How did it originate? In this episode, we answer common questions on conservation agriculture and talk to Simon Fonteyne, Research Platforms Coordinator with CIMMYT’s Integrated Development program and conservation agriculture expert.
In this episode, we talk to Juan Gonzalo Jaramillo Mejia, Project Manager and Researcher on Inclusion Innovation and Social Protection. He discusses why we must engage men in the fight for gender equality and how using a social inclusion lens to social protection programs is necessary to ensure that no one is left behind.
Demand for wheat is predicted to increase 70% by the year 2050. As demand for wheat is increasing, so are challenges to wheat production. New and more aggressive pests and diseases, diminishing water resources, limited available land, and unstable weather conditions due to climate change present risks for the crop.
Carolina Rivera is working to solve this problem. A wheat physiologist at CIMMYT and data coordinator with the International Wheat Yield Partnership, she works to identify new traits in wheat aiming to boost grain number and yield. Rivera is also one of the recipients of the 2019 Jeanie Borlaug Laube Women in Triticum Early Career Award.
While increasing yields will be necessary to feed the 9.8 billion people expected by 2050, Natalia Palacios — head of the maize nutritional quality laboratory at CIMMYT — says that’s only part of the challenge. She argues we must also strive for higher-quality, more nutritious crops. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, over 800 million people are considered undernourished. That’s about one out of every nine people in the world. Find out how Palacios’ research helps CIMMYT and its partners close the gap and support better health and nutrition.
For more information on Palacios’ research linking provitamin A orange maize and reduced aflatoxin contamination, read the publication here.
Haiti has the lowest maize yields in Latin America and the Caribbean, and around half of the population is undernourished. Five hurricanes in the past decade and a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in 2010 have only exacerbated these issues. In 2017, CIMMYT sent 150 tons of new and improved maize seed to the Caribbean nation to jump-start its maize seed sector, improve food security and decrease malnutrition. It was the largest seed shipment to any country in CIMMYT’s history.
In this episode, CIMMYT’s Seed Systems Lead for Africa and Latin America, Arturo Silva Hinojosa, discusses why CIMMYT sent this seed and organized trainings, how they overcame major roadblocks, and what’s in store for the future.
Learn more about the project by reading “Seeds of Hope” from the CIMMYT 2017 Annual Report.
For small-scale farmers, mechanization and other appropriate technologies have a big impact in agricultural production and yield. However, they might lack the resources to buy these tools. Hello Tractor is trying to improve this.
Dubbed the “Uber for the farm”, the company’s app easily allows tractor owners to rent their machinery to farmers and includes features that can help enhance a tractor owner’s business and operations. In this episode, we’re talking to Martha Haile, Chief Operations Officer at Hello Tractor, about the company’s success and social innovation in agriculture.
Nitrogen is essential to life, and almost 80% of the atmosphere is made up of this element. But mostly living organisms can’t access it in this form. On this episode, we’re going to explore the natural process of nitrogen fixation, which transforms atmospheric nitrogen into a form our bodies can use. We’ll also look at a scientific breakthrough that made it possible to create synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. It supported the Green Revolution and our current global population of 7.2 billion people. However, there are some negative effects that come with overuse and misuse of these fertilizers. Join us for this short science explainer.
Blue maize is a ubiquitous aspect of Mexico’s food culture, especially in the central highlands. Most of it is grown by small-scale farmers for local consumers who value it for its rich flavor and texture. But it’s also catching the attention of some food processing companies who are interested in its health benefits, as well as high-end culinary markets seeking authentic Mexican cuisine. Find out how CIMMYT researchers are helping Mexican farmers tap into two emerging markets that could boost incomes while conserving culture and biodiversity.
This week the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) launched a new podcast: Cobs & Spikes. This is a space where we’re going to break down complex science into bite-sized, audio-rich explainers. We’re going to have real conversations with experts from around the world who are innovating in the fields of agriculture, food security and nutrition. We’re also going to listen to stories that link CIMMYT’s research with real-world applications.
In this episode, we are celebrating World Food Day, October 16. Also this week, food experts and leaders from around the world are gathering in Iowa for the 2018 Borlaug Dialogue and the World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony.
Today we’re talking to the recipient of the World Food Prize 2018 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application.
Matthew Rouse is a researcher with the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. Rouse works on developing wheat varieties that are resistant to diseases, and he’s being recognized for his work on Ug99 — a devastating race of stem rust disease. Throughout his career, Rouse has collaborated with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).
Cobs & Spikes is a new podcast from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). This is a space where we’re going to break down complex science into bite-sized, audio-rich explainers, and listen to stories that link CIMMYT’s research with real-world applications and farmers. We’re also going to have real conversations with experts from around the world who are innovating in the fields of agriculture, food security and nutrition.
Stay tuned for the first episode. We will be talking to Matthew Rouse, a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), who has been named the winner of the 2018 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application.
