Malawi faces a severe food crisis due to droughts from El Niño, severely impacting the maize harvest. CIMMYT experts, including Mazvita Chiduwa, highlight that importing food is the only viable solution to prevent widespread hunger. Immediate donor support is essential to avert disaster and ensure food security for the country.
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Agricultural stakeholders in Tanzania, including CIMMYT, are preparing to implement a major project to combat soil acidity, affecting 32.7 million hectares of land. Led by the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), the initiative aims to improve crop production by promoting the use of agricultural limes and enhancing soil health management. This effort is part of the GAIA project, focusing on equipping farmers with essential agronomic knowledge to boost yields and productivity.
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In Dodoma, Tanzania, CIMMYT, ILRI and TALIRI with USAID funding of US$2M, launch the AID-L project to enhance poultry farming among youth and women. Targeting 18,000 farmers, it involves cost-sharing, advisories, and media resources to reduce poultry morbidity. Implemented across eight districts, the initiative aims to benefit 3 million people as part of the broader AID-I project, addressing a significant contributor to Tanzania’s agricultural GDP.
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Australia’s smallest seed company, Rebel Seeds, has achieved a significant milestone with the Australian Hard classification for Borlaug 100, a wheat variety introduced in 2015 through the CIMMYT-Australia-ICARDA Germplasm Evaluation (CAIGE) project. This classification allows Borlaug 100 to be delivered into H2 segregations at bulk-handling sites across Queensland and northern New South Wales, benefiting local growers with better prices and enhancing its export potential. The success of Borlaug 100 underscores CIMMYT’s crucial role in providing resilient, high-yielding wheat varieties suited to diverse growing conditions globally.
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CIMMYT’s Bread Wheat Breeding Program analyzed top wheat genotypes over 14 years, aiming to boost grain yield (GY) and stability. Results at the Norman E. Borlaug Research Station in Mexico showed an annual GY gain of 0.96%, driven by enhancements in biomass, grain filling rate, and radiation use efficiency. This underscores CIMMYT’s success in delivering high-yielding wheat varieties globally and suggests potential future gains through diverse genotype intercrossing.
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The introduction of the new high-yield corn variety, INIA 608 – ALLIMASARA, in Peru represents a significant collaboration between CIMMYT and the National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA). This variety, developed through advanced crossbreeding techniques at the El Porvenir Agricultural Experimental Station, showcases CIMMYT’s pivotal role in enhancing agricultural productivity globally. By boosting yield capacities significantly up to 40% per hectare, this initiative not only supports the livelihoods of local farmers but also advances sustainable agricultural practices in challenging environmental conditions.
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Kenyan researchers at KALRO, in partnership with CIMMYT, have developed new maize varieties resistant to the fall armyworm, enhancing food security. These varieties, approved after rigorous testing, are expected to increase maize production. The development is supported by a $500,000 grant from CIMMYT, which also funds infrastructure improvements to aid in seed distribution.
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The West Africa Regional Consultation Conference, organized by CIMMYT and the African Drylands Crop Improvement Network in Accra, addressed pressing issues in the region’s agricultural sector, notably in dryland farming amid climate change. CIMMYT’s Dr. Paswel Marenya emphasized the need to boost yields of crucial cereals like sorghum and millet through innovative practices discussed at the conference. With 47 scientists from nine countries participating, the event aimed to foster collaboration and drive tangible improvements in food security and livelihoods across West Africa.
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CIMMYT challenges the idea that “win-win” partnerships require equals, proving smallholder farmers and large agri-food companies in Mexico can benefit mutually. Through sustainable sourcing, over 1.15 million tons of maize and wheat have been commercialized, benefiting both parties. Initiatives with companies like Bimbo, Heineken, and Nestlé enhance environmental sustainability while boosting farmers’ productivity. Led by Director General Bram Govaerts, CIMMYT pioneers sustainable farming, aligning with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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Researchers, funded by the GRDC, are collaborating with experts from ANU, the University of Adelaide, and CIMMYT to enhance heat tolerance in wheat. Led by Professor Owen Atkin and Dr. Scott Boden, the projects aim to identify genetic markers for breeding heat-resistant varieties. Using advanced phenotyping technology, scientists are exploring biochemical pathways and heat shock proteins to develop solutions for climate change-induced challenges in agriculture.
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In 2023, Mexico, with CIMMYT’s support, rejected 1,463 risky agricultural shipments, preventing 258 quarantine-worthy pests from entering the country. CIMMYT highlighted climate change’s role in pest spread, emphasizing Mexico’s commitment to safeguarding food production and ensuring global food security.
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The detection of the Ug99 wheat stem rust strain TTKTT in Nepal showcases the effectiveness of CIMMYT-led global surveillance efforts. Identified early through diligent field surveys by Nepal’s NPPRC and NWRP and confirmed by Denmark’s GRRC, this proactive response helped prevent further spread. Despite no subsequent detections in South Asia, the case underlines the importance of ongoing surveillance and development of resistant wheat varieties, supported by international initiatives.
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A recent study in World Development reveals CGIAR’s crop technologies generate $47 billion annually in global economic benefits. From 1961 to 2020, CGIAR, with significant contributions from CIMMYT, enhanced agricultural productivity across 221 million hectares. These innovations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, have boosted yields, reduced food prices, and spurred economic growth, highlighting the critical role of agricultural research in ensuring global food security and combating poverty.
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In February 2024, the Kenya Drylands Crop Seed Systems Workshop, co-hosted by CIMMYT and KALRO in Nairobi, focused on enhancing seed systems for key dryland crops like pigeon pea and sorghum. The workshop aimed to align innovative breeding with effective seed distribution, crucial for improving agricultural productivity and food security in Kenya’s semi-arid regions.
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Melinda Yerka, a researcher from the University of Nevada, Reno, is collaborating with CIMMYT, focusing on enhancing sorghum hybrids for better dairy feed, utilizing her breakthroughs in sorghum breeding alongside CIMMYT’s agricultural expertise. Their joint efforts aim to develop sorghum varieties with higher protein and starch content, suitable for diverse climates, particularly in Africa. This partnership underscores a strategic approach to global food security, leveraging sorghum’s adaptability to support sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.
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