In a world where environmental and agrifood challenges demand urgent responses, the CGIAR-led Positive Solutions for Nature (Nature+) initiative is transforming agriculture into a catalyst for ecological regeneration and sustainable development.
In Colombia, CIMMYT has played a key role in implementing several activities under this initiative. These efforts have not only improved agricultural productivity but also promoted biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, and the strengthening of rural communities—with a special focus on youth, women, and native maize.
One of the first steps in Colombia was conducting a diagnosis and mapping key actors within agrifood systems across different regions. This assessment identified major challenges such as limited access to native seeds, soil degradation, and lack of access to fair market opportunities for smallholder farmers.
To ensure that promoted practices aligned with local realities and needs, CIMMYT worked closely with farmers to co-create solutions. A significant example was the support given to women producers to conserve native maize varieties. Workshops held in Cesar, Nariño, Putumayo, and Valle del Cauca included childcare spaces, enabling full participation by women.
Another important milestone was facilitating dialogue between producers and niche markets, helping connect farmers growing native maize with potential buyers. This has been key to revitalizing the value chain for these crops. In parallel, twelve community seed banks were strengthened in various regions, ensuring the availability of native varieties and encouraging intergenerational knowledge exchange.
CIMMYT also conducted extensive training activities, benefiting hundreds of farmers in the post-harvest management of native grains and seeds. In workshops held during 2023 and 2024, over 780 producers—many of them women—received training in practices such as harvesting, drying, shelling, and hermetic storage, which reduced post-harvest losses and improved seed quality.
Infrastructure improvements further supported these efforts. One standout example is the YEL-PUE Cumbe seed bank in Cumbal, Nariño—established with support from CIMMYT and the Bioversity-CIAT Alliance. This seed bank not only conserves agricultural biodiversity but also serves as an intergenerational learning hub, where farmers, students, and technicians share experiences and knowledge.
A key component of the initiative has been youth participation. Through collaboration with the José María Falla Educational Institution and youth networks like Herederos del Planeta, students have engaged in agroecological maize production. This involvement fosters stronger rural ties and ensures the continuity of traditional knowledge for future generations.
While challenges remain, the implementation of Positive Solutions for Nature in Colombia has demonstrated that agricultural production can go hand in hand with environmental conservation and community well-being. Thanks to collaborations with research centers such as CIMMYT, many Colombian farmers are now adopting regenerative practices, enhancing agrobiodiversity and boosting resilience to both climate and economic shocks.
Looking ahead, these efforts will continue within the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes Science Program. CIMMYT, in collaboration with other CGIAR centers, will focus on participatory varietal selection, business models to enhance the value of agrobiodiversity, connections to niche markets, and the empowerment of women as agents of biodiversity conservation.
Photo caption: Ernest W. Sprague, director of CIMMYT’s maize program during 1970-1983 (Photo: CIMMYT)
Architect of CIMMYT maize research during the 1970s, Ernest W. Sprague pulled together a coherent global program from diverse regional and country initiatives in Latin America, Asia, and eastern Africa, building partnerships with national maize research programs to serve smallholder farmers.
On 25 February, Ernest W. Sprague, who served as Maize Program Director at CIMMYT from 1970 to 1983, passed away at the age of 100.
Sprague led the development and adoption of systematic approaches for breeding improved maize populations adapted to the tropics and subtropics, including the international testing of varieties and crosses at scale.
After leading the Inter-Asian Corn Program established by the Rockefeller Foundation in Thailand in 1966, Sprague joined CIMMYT, where he vigorously championed the role of open-pollinated maize varieties (OPVs) for smallholder farmers in rain-fed maize cropping areas. These farmers often faced diseases, pests, and drought and lacked access to or could not afford hybrid seed or large quantities of fertilizer.
OPVs generally yield less grain than maize hybrids but are often preferred by smallholders for their suitability in local foods. They can also be grown by saving and sowing seed from previous harvests without sacrificing yield or other qualities—a problem that arises when grain harvested from hybrids is replanted.
In Thailand, Sprague had witnessed a thriving maize sector powered by the widespread adoption of an improved OPV known as “Suwan 1.” Conversely, he believed that hybrid seed systems designed to serve small-scale farmers were lagging in many other countries where CIMMYT worked.
“From the late 1980s, CIMMYT has worked successfully to develop and share hundreds of maize inbred lines—parents for high-yielding hybrids that feature farmer-preferred traits—as well as supporting and partnering with competitive private seed sector companies that truly benefit smallholder maize farmers,” said Bram Govaerts, CIMMYT Director General. “Still, population improvement in the OPV breeding program under Sprague’s leadership clearly contributed to the success of CIMMYT’s hybrid research by increasing the average performance of lines extracted from those populations.”
In addition, much of CIMMYT’s research on hybrid breeding for tropical maize in the 1980s and 1990s was led by Surinder K. Vasal, an Indian maize scientist brought to CIMMYT by Sprague.
Vasal’s pre-biotech research, together with CIMMYT cereal chemist Evangelina Villegas, led to the development of quality protein maize (QPM), whose grain contains enhanced levels of two amino acids essential for human protein synthesis. This groundbreaking work—initiated by Sprague—was recognized with their joint reception of the 2000 World Food Prize.
Building up partners and partnerships
Sprague was a strong proponent of in-service training at CIMMYT headquarters in Mexico for young researchers from partner countries. These courses were formally organized and scaled up in the early 1970s as a major component of CIMMYT’s maize program. Participants worked for several months within the main breeding or production programs, usually in the lowland tropics of Mexico, gaining hands-on skills in the field through activities such as laying out on-farm trials, selecting germplasm, making crosses, and evaluating results. By 1982, the program had graduated 650 maize scientists from 61 countries. Many alumni rose to influential positions in national programs or the private sector, thereby strengthening regional cooperative maize research networks.
“Ernie was my boss when I first arrived as a postdoc to CIMMYT in 1976, and I was always amazed at his commitment to high-quality field work,” said Greg Edmeades, a maize physiologist whose research accomplishments included methods to select for drought tolerance in maize. “I will always remember Ernie as a friend and a great supporter of the task we faced in Ghana, where I worked as a maize agronomist and lived with my family during 1979–84. He thought often of the challenges that we as a family faced with frequent water and power cuts and generously provided support. I was always amazed at his stamina and his capacity to survive and keep fit and well on black coffee alone in the mornings and no major meal until evening.
“Sprague’s contributions to CIMMYT were significant. The setting up of the international testing system was his baby and a masterpiece in getting CIMMYT germplasm out to national programs. He elevated the status of national programs in all sorts of ways, not the least of which was training.”
The CIMMYT global community joins in remembering Ernie Sprague and extends heartfelt condolences to his family.
The State of Mexico is supporting native corn preservation by providing MX$3.5 million in financial aid and equipment to local farmers. In collaboration with CIMMYT and UNAM, the government is advancing research to improve open-pollinated varieties and promote sustainable farming. As part of this effort, 833 seed accessions have been donated to enhance biodiversity and strengthen traditional maize cultivation. This initiative aims to support farmers while preserving Mexico’s rich maize heritage.
In Zimbabwe, smallholder farmers like Ranganai Shonhiwa and Martha Chivengwa are facing the harsh realities of climate change, with erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts threatening their maize crops—their primary source of food and income. However, drought-tolerant maize varieties, developed through decades of research by CIMMYT and partners, are proving to be a game-changer. These resilient crops, combined with climate-smart farming practices such as reduced tillage and intercropping with legumes, are helping farmers maintain yields despite extreme weather conditions. With CIMMYT’s ongoing efforts in 19 districts across Zimbabwe, farmers are seeing improved harvests, increased incomes, and renewed hope for a more food-secure future.
Farmers in Zaka with their recent harvest of drought tolerant maize (Photo: CIMMYT)
In Zimbabwe, CGIAR, through CIMMYT, runs a maize breeding program to strengthen food security and livelihoods in a country where maize is a staple crop. The program spans diverse testing plots – managed exclusively by men, women, or both – providing crucial insights into real-world farm dynamics. A significant component of our work is the extensive on-farm trials conducted across various regions, helping us understand how men and women farmers interact with and benefit from new maize varieties. Here are two ways we ensure that women-managed plots reap the same benefits as those led by men in Zimbabwe.
Increasing Women’s Representation in Crop Breeding Trials
This dichotomy highlights the importance of on-farm trials in the crop development process, as they provide insights into the diverse needs and realities of different farmer groups.
Zimbabwe’s maize breeding program has expanded on-farm trials significantly over the past few years, by over five-fold. However, women-managed plots are often underrepresented in participatory approaches. Research from Kenya also showed that trial participants are often wealthier and more educated, benefiting from stronger access to information and agricultural networks.
Training to Ensure Inclusive Farmer Representation
CGIAR and CIMMYT often rely on partners with direct connections to farming communities to select host farmers for breeding trials. Recognizing the risk of bias and underrepresentation of women farmers in this process, we designed a training program for extension officers to ensure a more representative selection of women farmers from different socioeconomic backgrounds in the country.
Without intentional representation, trial results may skew toward wealthier, male-managed farms – limiting their relevance for the broader farming population. In addition, in Zimbabwe, women-managed households are not a homogeneous group. Our research identified two distinct categories, each with unique challenges and needs. One group was wealthier in terms of agricultural assets and livestock, with a greater area under maize production. The second group of women-managed households was more resource-poor, with smaller livestock herds and greater use of intercropping within maize fields.
Using data from a survey of over 2,000 farmers, we worked to validate farmer selection processes, ensuring that women farmers were accurately represented. Today, this training is conducted annually and has become a key component of our program’s approach.
For too long, on-farm trials did not adequately reflect the diversity of farming realities. Through this gender-sensitive approach, we are now able to fine-tune recruitment methodologies to account for socioeconomic disparities. By ensuring that all groups are included in trials, we can develop and promote maize varieties that truly serve the diverse realities of Zimbabwean farming households.
Farmer in Murehwa District with her drought tolerant maize variety (Photo: Jill Cairns/CIMMYT
Incorporating Gender and Social Considerations into the Testing of Novel Genetic Technologies
In hybrid maize seed production, both male and female plants are planted side by side to facilitate controlled pollination. A critical step in this process is detasseling – the removal of male flowers (tassels) from the female plants to prevent self-pollination. If detasseling is not done correctly, the resulting seeds will not express hybrid vigor, ultimately affecting yield and performance.
This process presents two major challenges. Incomplete detasseling can result in hybrid purity issues that can lead production fields to either being rejected or farmers unknowingly paying for lower-quality seed that impacts productivity. Accidental leaf loss during the detasseling process also reduces female seed yields by approximately 14%.
To address these challenges, a Gates Foundation-funded project we implemented has explored ways to simplify the process of hybrid maize seed production by removing the need to detassel through a novel genetic technology. This technology also had a clear benefit for women farmers.
Why This Matters and How to Scale the Innovation
Although seed production involves multiple steps, this innovation has direct benefits, especially in resource-limited settings. Since only 50% of plants produce pollen, this approach optimizes yield—particularly under low-nitrogen conditions, where many smallholder farmers struggle. The technology is adaptable across different maize varieties, making it a scalable solution.
To validate this approach, we conducted station trials, followed by on-farm testing. These trials are helping us understand how both men and women farmers adopt and benefit from these varieties, particularly in drought-prone areas, where women are more likely to recycle seeds.
With the knowledge that in drought-prone years women were more likely to recycle hybrid seed, we refined our testing strategy to evaluate potential yield benefits if recycled. We found the technology provided a small, yet significant yield benefit should a farmer choose to recycle hybrid maize seed in an anticipated drought season.
Our approach provides insights into how gender and social inclusion considerations can be incorporated into breeding testing strategies. By evaluating variety performance across real-world farm conditions and gathering insights to refine and optimize future breeding efforts, new varieties will meet the needs of men and women farmers in Zimbabwe.
Conclusion
When promoting the adoption of new maize varieties and technologies, gender is one factor among many that shape adoption. Early- and late-stage on-farm trials are essential in bridging the gap between scientific innovation and real-world impact, ensuring that the varieties we develop are not only high-performing in research settings but also practical, accessible, and beneficial for all farmers.
To achieve this, a transdisciplinary approach is key. Integrating social scientists into breeding and development strategies provides deeper insights into how different farming groups interact with new technologies. By refining our selection process, testing, and deployment, we can ensure that both women- and men-managed farms benefit equitably, ultimately driving food security and better livelihoods.
Farmer Tariro from Gokwe South prepares maize for milling (Photo: CIMMYT)
Uganda’s Dr. Godfrey Asea of NaCRRI was recognized for developing over 20 maize varieties, including drought-tolerant hybrids that support food security. His work has earned multiple breeding and technology awards from CIMMYT, reflecting CIMMYT’s commitment to advancing climate-resilient maize in Africa. As Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture warns against counterfeit seeds, CIMMYT’s efforts in supporting national research institutions remain crucial in ensuring farmers have access to high-quality, stress-tolerant seeds.
María Luisa Cabrera in the laboratory where she conducts her research at CIMMYT. (Photo: Francisco Alarcón / CIMMYT)
The progress of science and technology depends on the diversity of talent that contributes to its development. However, the participation of women in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) remains limited. In Mexico, only 22% of women enrolled in higher education choose STEM fields, and according to the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), only 13.5% graduate.
This situation presents both challenges and opportunities. Science, especially in critical areas such as food security and nutrition, needs a greater presence of women to drive significant change. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has highlighted the urgency of integrating more women researchers into agricultural science to accelerate innovations that improve production and the well-being of rural communities.
One example of the transformative impact of women in science is María Luisa Cabrera Soto. Since childhood, Luisa was inspired by female scientists she saw in the media, which fueled her dream of working in a laboratory. “These women were my reference, my source of inspiration. I visualized myself and said, ‘I want to work in a lab.'” But her journey was not easy. Coming from a family with traditional gender expectations, she faced resistance to her desire to pursue a career in science.
The first obstacle she encountered was her family’s outright disapproval. “I come from a family of six women and a patriarchal figure. Hearing phrases like ‘you are not capable of studying something as complex as science or mathematics’ was the first barrier I had to overcome,” she recalls.
“I had to break these family stigmas, these traditions, and say to myself: ‘I am capable of studying what motivates and inspires me, which is science. Being a woman does not limit me to domestic activities.'”
Today, the girl who once dreamed of working in a laboratory is part of the CIMMYT research team. As a research assistant, her work in chromatography—a process that allows the separation, identification, and quantification of chemical components in various mixtures—helps assess the nutritional quality of various crops, primarily maize. Her work has a direct impact on the nutrition and health of various populations, as well as the livelihoods of agricultural producers.
María Luisa’s story has become an inspiration to her sisters, who have also ventured into the world of science, demonstrating how one personal choice can inspire change across generations. “I broke the paradigm in my family, and fortunately my four younger sisters also chose science. It was a change that broke down a major barrier in my home.”
Through their scientific work, Luisa and other female researchers at CIMMYT are making a significant contribution to improving the human condition in a sector where women play a critical role in food production and security, from the field to the laboratory.
The low percentage of women in STEM fields in Mexico and globally is not only an issue of equity—it is also an obstacle to developing innovative solutions in key sectors. According to UNESCO, only 33.3% of researchers worldwide are women. Luisa’s message to girls and young women in Mexico is clear: “Follow your dreams, question the world, and don’t let social ideologies or family traditions dampen your curiosity and enthusiasm. More and more women are joining this field, and we must support one another.”
CIMMYT has strengthened agricultural research and breeding programs in Zimbabwe by donating machinery to Gwebi College of Agriculture to modernize breeding efforts and enhance genetic gains. This support equips breeding stations with advanced tools, reduces field labor, and expands research opportunities, including for women in technical roles. By fostering research partnerships and developing high-yield, climate-resilient maize varieties, CIMMYT is driving innovation to combat pests, diseases, and climate challenges, ultimately improving smallholder farmers’ productivity and supporting Zimbabwe’s goal of increasing maize yields.
CIMMYT collaborated with Tecnologico de Monterrey’s FEMSA Biotechnology Center in the development and validation of nutraceutical corn. By leveraging Mexico’s maize diversity through the world’s largest germplasm bank, CIMMYT contributed expertise in crossbreeding to help incorporate traits such as higher protein, fatty acids, and antioxidants, supporting advancements in food security and sustainable agriculture.
Climate Change and Child Malnutrition in Zimbabwe: Evidence to Action will generate evidence to understand the effects of climate change on child malnutrition in rural Zimbabwe. The overarching hypothesis is that climate change and related weather events indirectly increase child malnutrition by increasing food insecurity and decreasing dietary diversity.
This project will use a multisectoral approach to evidence generation and co-creation of community and policy action that incorporates village, district, provincial and national participation. The project aims to generate evidence linking climate change to malnutrition and co-develop mitigation strategies with communities that directly address the link between climate change and malnutrition.
The project has four activities:
Examine the relationship between climate change in rural Zimbabwe and patterns of malnutrition utilizing environmental data (rainfall, temperature) and national Zimbabwe survey data (livelihoods, climate change mitigation strategies, dietary diversity and child malnutrition).
Explore community understanding of the relationships between climate change and malnutrition with a mixed methods approach in two districts (survey and community-led workshops).
Co-develop and refine climate-smart strategies that address the effects of climate change on malnutrition with agricultural and health cadres.
Develop a communication plan with policymakers to disseminate findings about the relationship between climate change to child malnutrition.
Objectives:
Use environmental data and national-level survey data on climate change and shocks related to climate change and examine associations with nutritional outcomes including food security, dietary diversity and child malnutrition.
Conduct household surveys to understand how agricultural and child feeding practices change under climate variability.
Conduct community workshops using community walks and River of Life Methodology to understand community perspectives on the relationship between climate change and child malnutrition.
Co-develop and refine climate-smart strategies that communities can implement to directly address the relationship between climate change and malnutrition.
Pilot implementation of strategies in two sites utilizing community health and agricultural extension workers.
Share results with policy makers to contextualize malnutrition in the context of climate change policy.
Huazhong agricultural university (Photo: Wallhere)
Prof. Jianbing Yan, a former maize scientist at CIMMYT, has been appointed as the President of Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) in Wuhan, China on 20th August 2024. Jianbing was part of the CIMMYT family working on maize genetics and molecular breeding from 2006 to 2011. He worked as a Joint Post-Doctoral Associate between CIMMYT and Cornell University from October 2006 to September 2008, as an Associate Scientist from October 2008 to August 2009, and as a Scientist from September 2009 to March 2011. Due to his excellent work on Provitamin A biofortification in maize grain, Jianbing received the Japan International Award for Yong Agricultural Researchers in 2010, and the DuPont Young Professor Award in 2011. He also received the Outstanding CIMMYT Alumnus Award in 2014.
Jianbing joined HZAU as a full professor in April 2011. He served as the Vice Dean of the College of Life Science and Technology of HZAU from 2013 to 2017, as the Dean of the College of Plant Science and Technology of HZAU from 2017 to 2020, and as the Vice President of HZAU from 2019 to 2024.
Prof. Jianbing Yan
Jianbing is renowned in the research areas of maize genetics, genomics, and big data-driven breeding. He was the winner of the 2022 L. Stadler Mid-Career Award from the Maize Genetics Cooperation; the award is given to an outstanding maize scientist who has been in a permanent position for between nine and 20 years and has an outstanding track record of discovery research in maize genetics. Jianbing also received multiple national awards, including the National Natural Science Foundation for Excellent Youth in 2012, the National Youth Top-notch Talent Support Program in 2013, the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and the Chair Professor of Cheung Kong Scholars Programme in 2015, etc.
Huazhong Agricultural University is recognized as a first-class agricultural university worldwide. It has a total of 14 disciplines listed as the Top 1% of ESI (Essential Science Indicators), including Plant & Animal Science, and Agricultural Sciences. HZAU and CIMMYT jointly hosted a webinar on Intelligent Agriculture in 2020. CIMMYT is one of the four funder institutes for the Global Food Security Association for Young Scientists hosted by HZAU, which was officially launched in December 2022 to connect young scientists around the world, working in the fields of food security. The 1st and 2nd Global Food Security Forums for Young Scientists were co-organized by HZAU and CIMMYT in Wuhan in 2022 and 2023, respectively, to inspire future generations of scientists to communicate and exchange ideas on cutting-edge agricultural research. Dr B.M. Prasanna, Director of CIMMYT Global Maize Program, CIMMYT, has been serving as the member of the International Advisory Committee of HZAU since 2022.
CIMMYT looks forward to building strong partnerships with HZAU in strategic and applied research of crop improvement, sustainable agrifood systems, and capacity building of next-generation agricultural researchers.
South Asia, a region heavily impacted by climate change, faces rising temperatures, erratic monsoon rains causing intermittent drought and excessive moisture within the season, and frequent episodes of heat waves. These extreme weather events are challenging agrarian practices and affecting millions, especially smallholder farmers dependent upon rainfed cultivations. The halcyon days of consistent environmental conditions are gone, and adaptation and mitigation strategies have become essential in South Asia.
In May 2024, over 20 districts in the Terai region of Nepal and many parts of northern India recorded maximum temperatures between 40°C and 45°C, with several districts also experiencing heat waves during the same period. The temperature rise is not limited to the lowland plains; the effects are also being felt in the mountains, where rapid snowmelt is becoming increasingly common. In the Hindu Kush Himalayas region of Pakistan, farmers have had to shift their cropping cycles by a month to cope with drought stress caused by rising temperatures, which are leading to the early melting of snow in the region.
Partners in South Asia visiting heat stress tolerant hybrids demonstration in Nepal (Photo: CIMMYT-Nepal)
Collaborating to rise above the challenge
Amid the growing climate crisis, the Heat Stress Tolerant Maize for Asia (HTMA) project was launched by CIMMYT in 2012, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future initiative of the U.S. Government. The overarching goal of the HTMA project was to help farm families, particularly maize growers, to adapt to the impacts of soaring heat on maize productivity in South Asia. The project was implemented in partnership with 28 public and private sector stakeholders across the region and beyond to develop a multipronged approach to overcoming these challenges.
“Our aim is to develop and deploy maize hybrids with high yield potential and possess traits resilient to heat and drought stresses,” said P.H. Zaidi, Principal Scientist, and HTMA project lead at CIMMYT. Zaidi noted that during heat stress “high temperatures alone are not the only limiting factor- it is the combination of high temperature with low atmospheric humidity (high vapor pressure deficit), that creates a “killer combination” for maize production in the Asian tropics.”
This was also emphasized in a recently published article that he co-authored.
The development of heat stress-tolerant maize involves the use of cutting-edge breeding tools and methods, including genomics-assisted breeding, double haploidy, field-based precision phenotyping, and trait-based selection. Over 20 such hybrids have been officially released in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Bhutan. Between 2023 and 2024, over 2,500 metric tons of seed from these hybrids were distributed to farmers, helping them beat the heat.
Agile partnerships-from discovery to scaling
The first phase of the project (2012-2017) focused on discovering heat-tolerant maize varieties. During this time, pipeline products underwent field evaluations in stress-prone environments, leveraging the project’s product evaluation network of public and private partners, who contributed by managing trials and generating performance data. In the second phase (2018-2023), the focus shifted toward the deployment and scaling of heat-tolerant hybrids and strengthening seed systems in target countries to enable large-scale delivery, benefiting millions of farm families, particularly in South Asia’s rainfed ecologies. For example, the seed produced in 2023-2024 sufficed to cover over 125,000 hectares and benefited nearly 2.5 million people in the region.
HTMA project partners gathered in Nepal for the annual and project closure meeting (Photo-CIMMYT-Nepal)
Hailu Tefera, from USAID, praised the project’s success during the annual review and project closure meeting held in Nepal from August 21-22, 2024. “We have seen great strides in scaling heat stress tolerant hybrids in the region. This initiative aligns with the US Government’s Global Food Security Strategy, where building farmers’ resilience to shocks and climate vulnerability is central,” said Tefera, acknowledging the adaptive and agile partnership demonstrated by the project’s partners throughout HTMA’s discovery and scaling phases.
One of the project’s key achievements was creating a multi-stakeholder platform and leveraging resources across the region. Partners, including national agricultural research systems, seed companies, and higher learning institutes, expanded the project’s impact. “The collaboration we fostered under the HTMA project is a working example of effective partnerships,” said B.M. Prasanna, Director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program. He highlighted how synergies with other developmental projects in the region, especially projects supported by the USAID country mission in Nepal helped launch local hybrid seed production, transforming the country from a net importer of hybrid maize seeds to producing locally in just a few years, and such seeds of resilience cover nearly 10,000 hectares in 2023/24 alone. Using heat tolerant (HT) maize seed allows smallholder farmers to harvest nearly one metric ton per hectare additional yield than normal maize under stress conditions.
The value of the seed these new hybrids was validated by adopter farmers who grow maize in stress-vulnerable ecologies by expressing their willingness to pay a premium price for HT hybrid seed as per the study conducted in Nepal and India. “The spillover effect of the project is helping countries like Bhutan to strengthen their seed systems and initiate hybrid seed production for the first time,” added Prasanna, expressing gratitude to USAID and all project partners.
The salient achievements of the project, including technical know-how, outputs, outcomes, and learnings were compiled as an infographic, titled “HTML Tool‘‘ and it was formally released by Narahari Prasad Ghimire, Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Nepal, during the HTMA meeting in Nepal.
Rewarding achievement
Subash Raj Upadhyay, Managing Director of Lumbini Seed Company in Nepal, recalls the early days of producing heat stress-tolerant hybrid maize seed in Nepal, which began in 2018. “Our journey started with just one hectare of seed production in 2018 and 2019, and we expanded to 30 hectares by 2022. This was the first time that we started hybrid maize seed production in Nepal, specifically RH-10, a heat stress tolerant hybrid from CIMMYT, released by the National Maize Research Program of Nepal. The support of USAID’s projects like the Nepal seed and fertilizer project was crucial for our success,” said Upadhyay, who was among the award recipients for setting a potent example in scaling up heat stress-tolerant hybrids.
HTMA TOOL- an infographic launched during the meeting (Photo-CIMMYT Nepal)
In addition to Lumbini Seed Company, Jullundur Seed Private Limited Company in Pakistan was also recognized for its efforts in seed scaling. The National Maize Research Program of Nepal and the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, India, were acknowledged for their rewarding achievement in research and development during the project period.
“The recognition exemplifies the public-private partnership that we demonstrated under the HTMA project, where the public sector mainly focused on strategic research and product development, and seed companies took charge of seed delivery and scaling,” said Zaidi during the project’s phaseout meeting in Nepal, attended by over 60 participants from the project’s target and spillover countries. “Such partnership models need to be strengthened and replicated in other projects. It is important to consolidate the gains and maintain the momentum of the HTMA project in the years to come to benefit millions of smallholder farmers,” echoed Prasanna, who presented certificates of recognition to the partners in the presence of USAID representatives, senior government officials from Nepal and project partners from South Asia and beyond.
Rajendra in the maize field (Photo: Deepa Woli, CIMMYT)
Rajendra Kathariya, a 41-year-old resident of Joshipur-2 in Kailali district, far-west of Kathmandu, has transformed his life and that of his family of five through commercial agriculture. Despite many challenges, Rajendra has remained committed to achieving financial sustainability through enhanced farming practices. Over the last two years, his partnership with Nepal Seed and Fertilizer (NSAF) and CIMMYT, in collaboration with Nisrau Multipurpose Cooperative, a partner cooperative of NSAF, has been instrumental in his success.
Moving from traditional to modern farming
Previously, Rajendra cultivated cereal crops using traditional methods which often led to food crises for his family. However, he has now shifted to cultivating various crops throughout the year using modern farming techniques on his 1.02 ha of land and an additional 2.71 ha which he has leased.
“Before NSAF’s support, we only cultivated two crops per year. Now we harvest three crops and are considering commercial maize production,” Rajendra said.
Remarkable achievements in crop production
Last year, Rajendra cultivated rice on 3.72 ha, yielding 8.8 metric tons (t) worth NPR 250,000 (US $1,880.71). Similarly, he sold 3.8t of spring maize from 1.35 ha, earning NPR 110,000 (US $827.51). This year, he expanded maize cultivation to 2.03 ha, with an expected income of NPR 200,000 (US $1,504.57). His potato crop yielded 5.5t worth NPR 125,000 (US $940.35), with an additional 5.5t stored for future sale.
In addition to crops, Rajendra has established a pig farm, earning NPR 400,000 (US $3,009.13) in 2023 from selling pigs. He received a feed-making machine for pigs from NSAF, under its support to agribusiness Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Embracing modern technology and techniques
Rajendra uses both organic and chemical fertilizers and follows improved farming techniques such as hybrid seeds, line sowing, and machinery use. He owns a mini tiller and rents other machinery as needed. This year, with support from NSAF, he used a drone to spray fertilizer on his spring maize, significantly reducing labor and time.
“I have viewed videos of drones spraying fertilizer but never imagined it happening on my spring maize land. As a demonstration, 0.57 ha was used for nano urea spraying. The task was completed within five minutes of the drone taking flight. Similarly, I was astonished to learn that a drone can cover 2.02 ha in a mere 20 minutes,” he shared.
Intercropping and future plans
Rajendra has also implemented intercropping, combining maize with legumes on a 0.10-hectare plot. “Spring maize-legume intercropping is productive and effective for farmers such as me. We can make a profit from legumes, as well as spring maize. I will continue using this practice in the future,” he said.
Financial investments and community impact
The profits from agriculture have helped Rajendra to manage his household comfortably. He can now provide education for his four children, manage household expenses, and also pay the loan that he had taken for his household expenses. In addition, he recently invested NPR 250,000 (US $1,880.71) to build a new pig shed. He also sells his produce in local markets at Joshipur, Kailali.
“I have travelled a long way from being a subsistence farmer to engaging in commercial farming. This shift from traditional to improved farming technologies has been made possible with the support of NSAF/CIMMYT. I am grateful for their assistance and encouragement,” Rajendra said.
Vision for sustainability
Rajendra’s story reflects his dedication and hard work. “I was working as a daily wage laborer in India, hoping to secure a promising future for my children. Today, I can achieve complete sustainability through agriculture and provide quality education and a better life for my children,” he shared.
Drone on maize field (Photo: by Shishir Sapkota, CIMMYT)
Dorothy Mandaza, local farmer from ward 19 of Seke District, inspecting her maize cobs (CIMMYT)
Maize productivity in eastern and southern Africa faces numerous challenges, including biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as socio-economic factors. To tackle these constraints, CIMMYT, in collaboration with partners, has been developing elite multiple stress-tolerant maize hybrids for different market segments. The hybrids are rigorously evaluated in research stations under managed stresses, especially those faced by farmers, including drought, heat, and low nitrogen. The process is complemented with evaluations conducted in actual farmer conditions through a participatory approach, which enables researchers to identify traits preferred by farmers.
Over the years, and through consistent engagement with farming communities, CIMMYT and partners have established a large on-farm testing network to allow farmers to test the best-performing hybrids within their own fields and management. This ensures that new varieties selected for commercialization suit the needs, constraints, and priorities of smallholder farmers.
Centrality of ROFT in the variety development process
Regional on-farm trials (ROFTs) are a crucial step towards maximizing the impact of breeding investments. ROFTs help scientists understand the performance of pipeline hybrids under diverse management conditions. The data and insights gathered from these trials, led by district leads, are instrumental in identifying the best varieties to release. In Zimbabwe, the extensive on-farm testing is conducted with support from Zimbabwe’s government extension arm, the Department of Agricultural, Technical, and Extension Services (Agritex), and selected seed companies.
To help track the progress or challenges in varietal performance evaluation at the farm level, CIMMYT has been convening feedback sessions with district agriculture extension officers (DAEOs) across 19 districts. These sessions have been instrumental in strengthening the collaboration with Agritex, standardizing data collection, and improving data quality and returns from the established on-farm testing network.
Conversations with district agriculture extension officers in Harare during a feedback session. (Photo/CIMMYT)
The ROFT trials have been ongoing in Zimbabwe for over a decade across 19 districts, located in natural regions I, II, and III. These trials have been implemented by more than 137 AEOs and have involved over 1,000 farmers. The network deliberately included a diverse range of farmers, with around 40% being female plot managers, to encompass a wide range of smallholder farming practices.
Participatory engagement is key
Every year, CIMMYT produces improved varieties that are then taken up by partners, including National Agricultural Research System (NARS) partners and seed companies. The on-farm trials aim to generate agronomic performance data in comparison to the widely grown commercial varieties and farmers’ own varieties. This data is used for a rigorous advancement process, where varieties that pass the test are then furthered for licensing and possible commercialization by CIMMYT’s partners.
Farmer involvement at the final stage of the variety selection process is key to the success of these trials. Farmers evaluate the varieties based on their specific needs, on their farms. This step is crucial as it empowers farmers to have a say in the variety development process. CIMMYT actively uses this participatory selection approach, seeking input from farmers and refining breeding targets as necessary. Farmers communicate their preferences and feedback through the farmer evaluation sheets, helping breeders fine-tune their targets and develop varieties that meet farmers’ needs.
Another key element of the on-farm trials is that they help assess breeding progress in farmers’ fields in terms of crop productivity and return on investment.
Food security in the prevailing uncertain climatic and economic conditions can only be guaranteed by deliberate actions toward maximizing production, especially in stress-prone environments. The main priority of the CGIAR and NARS breeding programs is to enhance genetic gain in crops through the assessment of seed varieties with drought-resilient, nutritional, and yield traits. This is achieved by leveraging data-driven approaches and embracing contemporary tools and methodologies.
Innovative approaches such as molecular tools, doubled haploid technology, and refined breeding schemes have greatly contributed to the strides made in CIMMYT’s endeavor to elevate genetic gain within breeding pipelines. These advancements not only drive improved productivity but also promise cost-effective strategies for navigating the challenges posed by climate variability.
Molecular Tools
In maize breeding, traditionally, at each stage of the pipeline, entries are grown in multi-location trials. Phenotyping in multiple environments helps to select the best entries not only based on their genetic values but also on environmental factors and their interaction with diverse environments. However, this is also a labor-intensive and time-consuming step in the breeding pipeline. Molecular breeding offers a transformative solution by expanding breeding programs while minimizing phenotyping requirements. It is a well-known fact that trait phenotype results from both genetic and non-genetic factors, with genetic factors being contributed by the expression of genes at the DNA level.
Identifying genomic regions close to causative genes for traits of interest, such as high yield, disease resistance, or quality, can help to incorporate desirable genes/alleles into selected elite genotypes. DNA-based markers aid in efficiently tracking the inheritance of genetic traits, thereby facilitating the selection of desired traits in breeding programs. Marker-assisted forward breeding accelerates the selection of plants with desired traits by identifying the genetic markers associated with those traits. With such harnessed genotypic information, breeders can pre-select genetic material before embarking on the resource-intensive phenotyping stages. This strategic utilization of molecular markers, particularly in identifying susceptibility to key diseases like maize streak virus (MSV) and maize lethal necrosis (MLN), enables the judicious allocation of resources for phenotyping.
Figure 1. Summary of marker-assisted forward breeding across six breeding pipelines for MLN- and MSV-resistance haplotypes over the past six years.
Since 2018, CIMMYT has been implementing marker-assisted forward breeding for MSV and MLN. Since then, more than 100,000 pure breeding lines have been tested by examining their favorable haplotypes with a small set of 10 genetic markers and discarding the lines carrying unfavorable haplotypes for MSV and MLN resistance. In the last six years, nearly 30,000 lines have been rejected before undergoing field testing. In southern Africa, for instance, a rapid response to seed movement using molecular and serological techniques prevented the spread of MLN and facilitated the incorporation of resistance traits into new plant varieties.
Most hybrids in the final stages of breeding pipelines are passed through forward breeding. While Fall Armyworm, Gray Leaf Spot, common rust, and Turcicum Leaf Blight also cause substantial yield reductions in sub-Saharan Africa, research carried out under the AGG project indicates that the genetic makeup of these traits is oligogenic, governed by both moderate and small effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs), but lacking a single major-effect QTL and not amenable to forward breeding. This means that their resistance is influenced by complex multiple genetic factors, rather than being primarily controlled by a few major genetic regions. Alternatively, these biotic stress traits can be improved effectively through genomic selection.
Genomic selection is used to improve complex traits that are controlled by many small-effect QTLs. This approach does not require prior genetic information about the trait of interest and uses genome-wide marker information to estimate all marker effects and select individuals with high genomic-estimated breeding values (GEBVs). This means it uses data from various genetic markers to predict which individuals are likely to have desirable alleles for MSV and MLN. Genomic selection is being applied for grain yield under drought stress, and efforts are underway to extend its application to address more complex challenges related to plant diseases and pests. Foliar diseases are moderately complex traits.
Proof of concept on applying genomic selection for foliar diseases like gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight showed high prediction accuracies, supporting the implementation of genomic selection together with forward breeding for other traits at the early stage of the breeding pipeline. Implementing genomic selection for GY under optimum and drought management proved that maize breeders could obtain the same gain as with conventional breeding, where all entries are phenotyped in the field, but at approximately 35-40% less cost. Many candidate hybrids now entering the advanced stages of the breeding pipeline were developed using genomic selection. Several of our earlier studies (Beyene et al., 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021; Chaikam et al., 2019; Crossa et al., 2017; Prasanna et al., 2022; Vivek et al., 2017) showed that breeding pipelines achieved high genetic gain by adopting new molecular tools, thus confirming the benefit of adopting molecular breeding tools.
Currently, in CIMMYT’s eastern and southern breeding pipelines, all product profiles are using genomic selection at stage I, where the training population is evaluated in multiple locations with a sparse design, estimating the GEBVs for the unphenotyped lines, and using GEBVs and phenotypic BLUPs of test crosses in the selection for stage II. This process allows the handling of a large number of lines at stage I with a fixed budget without losing selection accuracy. Since 2017, we have used the “test half and predict half” strategy (Figure 2), where all the lines were genotyped with mid-density markers, and the selected ~50% of the total stage I lines were testcrossed and evaluated in multiple locations to be used as a training population to estimate the GEBVs for the other 50% of the unphenotyped lines for the traits of interest. High prediction correlations were observed in three selected product profiles for GY under optimum, managed drought, and low soil N conditions (Figure 3).
Genomic selection is also implemented to reduce the breeding cycle. However, our final products are three-way cross hybrids, where genomic selection is applied only to select the best line rather than selecting the best hybrid combinations. Historical data were used to test the possibility of reducing the breeding cycle. However, our results showed that the use of historical data to predict 100% of lines from the current year yielded low to moderate prediction correlations both under optimum and drought conditions for GY, anthesis date, and plant height (Figure 4). Incorporating 10 to 30% of the testing population into the training population leads to high prediction correlations. This concludes that by using historical data, the training population, which needs to be test-crossed and evaluated in multiple locations every year, can be reduced from 50% to 10-30%, which helps breeders allocate the saved resources to evaluate more lines without losing prediction accuracy.
Doubled Haploid Technology
Doubled haploid technology speeds up the creation of inbred lines by producing entirely uniform lines. Pedigree line development is a traditional method in plant breeding aimed at gradually improving and stabilizing the genetic makeup of the new variety over time. It involves multiple generations of controlled crosses between parent plants with known characteristics. Each subsequent generation is carefully selected based on specific traits of interest, such as yield, disease resistance, or quality. Pedigree line development is expensive, particularly when nurseries are in remote locations.
Unlike traditional methods where some genetic variation remains, doubled haploid lines are completely homogeneous. This means that there is increased heritability of desirable traits and improved accuracy of selection. Doubled haploid technology, which is more compatible with the use of molecular markers, simplifies breeding processes and shortens the time needed to develop inbred lines (Chaikam et al., 2019).
The first doubled haploid facility in Africa was established in 2013 and is extensively used by the CGIAR, NARES, and the private sector. Over the past five years, 1,349 populations have been induced and more than 223,144 doubled haploid lines delivered to breeding programs from CGIAR, NARES, and the private sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Shifting from traditional pedigree-based breeding to doubled haploid technology has shown a high impact on key breeding metrics (gain per cycle and gain per year) not only in CIMMYT but also in national partners’ breeding programs, thus increasing genetic gain within the available budget.
Figure 2. Number of lines evaluated with phenotypic selection (PS) and genomic selection (GS) at stage I in EAPP1 product profile from 2017 to 2023. (PS – phenotypic selection, GS – genomic selection)Figure 3. Prediction correlations for grain yield (GY) under optimum (OPT), drought (MDt) and low soil N (low N) management conditions in EAPP1, EAPP2 and SAPP1 at stage I in 2023
Figure 4. Prediction accuracies for grain yield (GY), anthesis date (AD) and plant height (PH) estimated from independent validation schemes using a training population (TRN) consisting of 2017- and 2018-years breeding data and 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% of 2019 data converted from the testing population (TST) to the training population under optimum and managed drought conditions
References
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