Skip to main content

Tag: agriculture

Building a sustainable hybrid seed market system in Nepal to enhance food security and farmers’ profitability: transforming the seed sector through local capacity development

Written by dmedina on . Posted in Blogs.

Hybrid maize seed production field at Kailali district in Nepal (Photo:AbduRahman Beshir/CIMMYT)

Nepal, a Himalayan nation with substantial agricultural potential, has a maize seed market valued at over $100 million. Yet in 2023, only 15% of the national demand for quality maize seed was met. Historically, the country has relied heavily on imports to supply hybrid maize seeds, which account for approximately 15–20% of the cultivated maize area.

To address this challenge, CIMMYT, in collaboration with the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and local private seed companies, has embarked on a transformative journey to strengthen domestic hybrid maize seed production and marketing systems. The results have been impressive: winter-season hybrid seed production has increased from just 4.5 metric tons in 2018 — when local hybrid seed efforts began — to 200 metric tons by 2023/24. This growth has been fueled by hybrid maize varieties developed by CIMMYT and released by NARC, which continue to drive this upward trend.

Manesh Patel, President of Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA), reflected on his experience on Nepal’s evolving seed industry during the recent International Seed Conference in Kathmandu: “About 10 or 12 years ago, I had the opportunity to interact with the seed stakeholders in Nepal. At that time, the seed sector was not viable, and the role of the private sector was minimal. Now, I am impressed to see such transformative initiatives in Nepal’s seed sector.”

Patel acknowledged the vital role of CIMMYT and other stakeholders, particularly under the Nepal Seed and Fertilizer Project (NSAF) in driving this transformation. The local seed companies have been instrumental in scaling hybrid seed production, by leveraging the technical, human, and institutional capacity development support provided by CIMMYT and partners.

Hybrid seed production hubs — a model to foster agile seed business

Under the NSAF project, CIMMYT partnered with ten Nepalese seed companies and farmers’ cooperatives to establish hybrid seed production hubs. Previously, companies operated in a fragmented and inefficient manner, resulting in elevated production costs. To address this, the project identified strategic production hubs where farmers could pool their land and produce seeds in an adjacent, coordinated seed production. The districts of Dang, Kapilvastu, and Kailali emerged as key hubs, now hosting at least six seed companies working collaboratively to streamline hybrid maize seed production.

Spearheaded by collaborative efforts between public and private stakeholders, these hubs are contributing to Nepal’s seed sector by centralizing resources, technology, and expertise. Since 2020/21, these hubs have served as key focal points for the production of quality hybrid seeds and for advancing improvements across the seed value chain. Notable outcomes of the model include:

  • Bringing breeders, agronomists, and technical experts together for knowledge transfer and streamlined seed multiplication which enhances efficiency.
  • Enhancing seed quality through centralized facilities, and land pooling, which reduces cross-contamination of the seed field and ensures rigorous quality control.
  • Reducing costs through centralized operations, which lowers production cost and makes hybrid seeds more affordable and accessible.
  • Strengthening the supply chain helps to enhance timely seed availability.

The Dang hub stands as a testament to the success of Nepal’s emerging hybrid seed production model. Between 2020/21 and 2023/24, the production area expanded by more than 300%, seed production rose by an impressive 1,450%, and farmer participation increased by 290%.

This extraordinary growth was made possible through a strong public-private ecosystem, including support from the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project (PMAMP), which facilitated mechanization as seed companies scaled their operations. In 2023/24 alone, the hub produced enough hybrid maize seed to plant 10,000 hectares — yielding nearly $25 million in grain value that would otherwise have been met through costly imports.

Tripling farmers’ incomes and creating rural job opportunities

Nepal faces significant rural outmigration, as economic pressures and shifting aspirations drive many men and youth to seek opportunities elsewhere leading to depopulation and increasing abandonment of farmland. In their absence, women now comprise an estimated 60–70% of the rural workforce, often balancing farm labor with household responsibilities. Amid these challenges, the hybrid seed business model is proving transformative. By enabling farmers to generate higher returns from smaller plots and creating rural employment opportunities for both women and men, it offers a path to revitalizing rural livelihoods and strengthening local economies.

A women farmer engaged in detasseling operation of hybrid maize seed field at Kapilvastu district in Nepal (Photo: CIMMYT/Nepal)

Farmers like Ganesh Choudhary and Yuvraj Chaudhary exemplify this success. Ganesh transitioned from wheat farming to hybrid maize seed production at the Kailali hub under a contract with Unique Seed Company. In just one season, his income tripled, earning $1,980 compared to $660 from wheat on the same plot of land. Similarly, Yuvraj, working with Gorkha Seed Company at the Dang hub, earned $2,400 in his second year, three times more than his previous income—after receiving targeted training and technical support.

Additionally, key operations in hybrid seed production, such as detasseling and roughing, have created employment opportunities for rural women, who manage over 60% of these tasks. The financial security offered by buyback guarantees from the seed companies, combined with the efficiency of clustered land management, has provided farmers with a more sustainable pathway to improved livelihoods. This approach not only addresses economic challenges but also helps curb migration and empowers rural communities.

Maintaining the momentum

The modest beginnings of hybrid seed production are ushering in a new era for Nepal’s seed sector and represent a beacon of hope for its broader agricultural transformation. By effectively integrating seed companies, public research institutions, cooperatives, and government support, Nepal is poised to build a resilient seed market system — one that enhances farmer livelihoods and bolsters the national economy.

To sustain and consolidate these gains, continued collaboration and partnership among stakeholders is essential. Building on the strong foundation laid and maintaining momentum will require, among other efforts:

  • Policy support by the government to encourage hybrid seed production and provide necessary resources, particularly to hybrid seed startups.
  • Foster private sector engagement and strengthen partnerships with seed companies to ensure long-term market viability.
  • Institutional capacity building and investment in training programs for farmers, agronomists, and technical staff to maintain and enhance the quality of hybrid seeds.
  • Strengthening research and development, particularly to develop and deploy new hybrid varieties suited to diverse agro-ecological zones and market segments.
  • Enhance financial access to credit and insurance for seed companies, seed growers to mitigate risks and encourage investment.

The remarkable progress in hybrid seed production driven by coordinated public-private efforts marks a pivotal shift for Nepal’s agricultural future. Beyond reducing dependence on costly imports, this momentum is laying the foundation for a resilient, self-sufficient seed sector. It holds the promise of greater food security, increased farmer incomes, and long-term sustainability. With continued investment and collaboration, Nepal is not only transforming its seed systems but also empowering its rural communities and securing a more prosperous agricultural economy for generations to come.

From CGIAR Research to Action: Strengthening Science-Policy Linkages

Written by dmedina on . Posted in Blogs.

CGIAR is the world’s largest agricultural innovation network and a global leader in research for development. Over the past five decades, its investments have delivered tenfold returns—yielding more abundant and affordable food while reducing hunger, poverty, and land use (1). Today’s food systems face multiple, interconnected challenges – ranging from production inefficiencies and nutritional disparities to social exclusion and environmental degradation. These issues are further intensified by climate change, geopolitical instability, and systemic inequality. Tackling them demands coordinated, multisectoral responses and stronger collaboration with the public sector, particularly policymakers (2). There is a well-recognized gap between science and policy, driven in part by the technical complexity of research outputs. Policymakers often face challenges in interpreting and applying scientific findings, which hinders the uptake of evidence-based solutions. Therefore, there is a need for simplified and tailored research communication to broader audiences, particularly for policymakers in target countries.

“To truly make a difference, research must speak the language of policy: Science without policy is just academia; policy without science is just guesswork.”

For research and innovation to effectively influence and inform policy, researchers must go beyond simply presenting evidence and engage deeply with the policy-making context. By understanding the multiple factors policymakers consider and by building genuine and trust-based partnerships, researchers can significantly improve the chances that their work will shape and inform effective, actionable policy (3).

What a researcher should know for effective science-policy communication

To communicate effectively with policymakers, researchers must understand the broader policymaking context and constraints faced by decision-makers responsible for crafting and implementing policy in a target country. Policymakers weigh multiple dimensions – political, economic, social, and logistical – before adopting innovations. Successful research-to-policy translation hinges on addressing these dimensions holistically.

Key dimensions policymakers consider

Political Acceptability: Innovations must align with current political agendas and priorities to secure regulatory and financial support. Political will and leadership are often decisive enablers – without them, even the most technically sound innovations may stall.

Social Desirability: Policies are more likely to succeed when they address pressing societal needs, resonate with public values, and enhance quality of life. Public support and broad adoption are essential for long-term sustained impact.

Technical Feasibility: Innovations should be practical, scalable, and implementable with available technologies and systems. If an innovation is too complex, unreliable, or difficult to implement, it risks being unsustainable or rejected.

Financial Viability: Policymakers assess whether innovations are economically feasible, offer a clear return on investment, and align with existing budgetary constraints. Financial sustainability encourages both public and private sector participation.

Administrative Doability: For policy innovations to succeed, they must be implementable within current administrative systems. Clear procedures for implementation and monitoring are essential. Administrative complexity can be a significant barrier.

Judicial Tenability: Innovations must comply with existing legal frameworks. If legal adaptation is required, there must be a strong, evidence-based justification to support such changes and ensure alignment with constitutional or regulatory standards.

Emotional Relatability: Innovations that resonate emotionally by addressing people’s concerns, fears, and aspirations are more likely to gain public acceptance.

Environmental Sustainability: Minimizing environmental impact and promoting resource efficiency are increasingly important, as policymakers face mounting pressure to support long-term ecological balance.

Challenges in Research-Policy Engagement

  • Limited interactions and weak personal engagement between researchers and policymakers result in infrequent use of empirical evidence in policymaking.
  • Significant differences exist in decision-making processes, norms, and cultures between researchers and policymakers.
  • Additional barriers include differing institutional cultures, and a lack of incentives or training for effective policy engagement.

Effective Strategies for Bridging the Gap

  • Training researchers to understand the policymaking process, improve communication, and build relationships with policymakers.
  • Combining direct instruction (didactic training) and experiential learning (hands-on engagement) to reinforce both knowledge and practical engagement is most effective.
  • A structured approach designed to build researchers’ policy competencies and support policy engagement through iterative phases, including policy priority identification, network development, training, and ongoing collaboration.
  • Prioritize continuous feedback, relationship building, and responsiveness to current policy needs.
  • Research institutions should adjust incentive structures (such as tenure and promotion criteria) to recognize and encourage policy engagement.
  • Institutions should support research activities that directly align with policy priorities and opportunities.
  • Effectively translating research into policy is an interactive and collaborative process. Building trust, keeping communication open, and forming strong relationships with policymakers are key to success. Engaging early, particularly during the agenda-setting stage, helps ensure that research tackles relevant policy issues and anticipates potential implementation challenges.
  • Involving policymakers and stakeholders through co-design enhances the relevance and utility of research findings. This approach helps identify potential barriers, align expectations, and build shared ownership of both the research and the resulting policies.
  • Researchers must tailor their communication for policy audiences by turning complex evidence into clear, practical messages. Using data alongside compelling stories can build trust and encourage engagement, making the case for innovation more convincing.
  • Understanding the broader policy environment is critical. Researchers should understand the institutional, legal, and administrative context in which policy decisions occur. Identifying key policy actors and knowing their roles, motivations, and limitations is essential for effective engagement.

Practical Strategies for Researchers

  • Engage policymakers early and regularly to co-create research agendas and ensure the work remains relevant.
  • Build long-term relationships grounded in trust and mutual understanding.
  • Communicate findings clearly in policy-relevant terms, combining data with compelling narratives.
  • Show how the innovation tackles pressing local issues and has the potential to scale effectively.
  • Identify and address possible barriers – political, financial, administrative, legal, and social – before recommending policy adoption.

CIMMYT in Bangladesh is actively engaging with policymakers. As part of the ongoing research project Transforming Smallholder Food Systems in South Asia (RUPANTAR), we explored the political economy of policies for sustainable agriculture in Bangladesh. The findings were published in an international peer-reviewed journal to share insights with policymakers. The article attracted only around 80 readers – mostly researchers. In contrast, a simplified policy brief based on the same findings reached over 1,800 readers in a few months, the majority of whom were based in Bangladesh. This highlights the importance of making research more accessible and actionable.

CGIAR is well-positioned to address these challenges. In response, CGIAR has launched its unique Scaling for Impact (S4I) program to better align research with real-world needs (4). It emphasizes demand signaling, building partnerships, understanding the policy landscape, and supporting structured scaling. In particular, S4I’s focus areas include identifying stakeholder needs and shaping enabling policies that support CGIAR’s broader impact goals.

  1. Thornton P, Dijkman J, Herrero M, Szilagyi L, Cramer L. Aligning vision and reality in publicly funded agricultural research for development: A case study of CGIAR. Food Policy. 2022 [cited 2025 May 11];107:102196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102196 
  2. UNEP. Strengthening the Science-Policy Interface: a Gap Analysis. United Nations Environment Programme Nairobi; 2017.
  3. Ruhl JB, Posner SM, Ricketts TH. Engaging policy in science writing: Patterns and strategies. Plos One.2019 [cited 2025 May 11];14(8):e0220497. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220497
  4. CGIAR. 2024. Scaling for Impact Program: Full design document. Agenda item SC21-05a, 21st CGIAR System Council meeting, Berlin, Germany, 11-12 December 2024. Montpellier: CGIAR

Building trust, bridging divides: How Zambia’s digital champions are paving the way for inclusive farming

Written by dmedina on . Posted in News.

Digital champions participating in a training activity in Choma (Photo: Moono Mwiinga Sekeleti)

In Zambia’s Southern Province, CIMMYT’s Atubandike[1] initiative is reshaping agricultural extension – moving beyond traditional top-down, one-size-fits-all models that have historically favored the well-resourced farmers. Instead, Atubandike promotes a more inclusive, demand-driven model that centers the voices of all farmers, regardless of gender, age, literacy level, or economic status. This shift is driven by a ‘phygital’ platform that blends the strengths of in-person support with the efficiency of mobile technology.

At the heart of Atubandike’s phygital platform are 84 local digital champions (DCs), half of whom are women, and 42% are under the age of 35. Selected by their communities, these champions embody the demographic shift that represents the future of agriculture. They are not external experts; but trusted peers and neighbors who serve as vital links between digital agricultural platforms and the people who need them most: the farmers. Their credibility, rooted in shared experience and local knowledge, is what enables them to build trust and drive meaningful change.

Ireen Chibilika practicing how to deliver a talk during the communications aspect of the trainings in Choma  (Photo: Moono Mwiinga Sekeleti)

While mobile technology holds immense potential to sustainably boost agricultural productivity[2], many farmers remain digitally excluded.  Barriers such as low literacy, limited phone access and entrenched social norms continue to hinder widespread engagement with digital advisory services [3]. That’s where the DCs step in – not only to introduce new tools, but to help dismantle these barriers; ensuring that no one is left behind.

A foundation of trust

In October and November 2024, Digital Champions from 14 Zambian communities gathered for a two-day, in-person workshop. This training, which complemented previous digital skills sessions, focused on co-developing two pivotal strategies: (1) building trust with farmers through effective communication and (2) addressing the complex gender, diversity, and inclusion (GDI) challenges affecting the DCs as well as the farmers they support.

Why begin with trust? Because trust is foundational to meaningful engagement. For farmers to adopt new climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices and digital platforms like Atubandike, they must have confidence-both in the messengers and the technology itself. This insight shaped the training design, which was grounded [4] in empirical studies and further contextualized through in-depth interviews with 36 farmers in November 2023. The resulting curriculum emphasized care, communication, and competence – not only to help DCs build trust as messengers, but also to support farmers in using their phones with confidence. By strengthening both interpersonal and digital trust, DCs play a critical role in closing the gap between farmers and the tools that can transform their livelihoods.

The training was designed and delivered through a dialogical approach encouraging open conversation and engagement by the participants throughout the learning process. Through role plays, group discussions, and real-life scenario analysis, DCs engaged deeply with the material, facilitated peer-to-peer learning, and developed a strong sense of ownership and confidence in applying their new skills.

The session explored what it means to connect meaningfully with farmers and as one female participant shared, “the interactive nature of the training, with role plays and real-life scenarios, have given me the confidence and desire to go on and apply what I have learned in the field.”

Trust-building exercises, such as active listening and respectful communication, fostered empathy. These practices not only enhanced the DC’s ability to effectively engage with farmers – they reinforced the values that form the bedrock of inclusive community engagement.

Challenging norms and building inclusion

Trust, however, is only part of the story. True inclusion requires confronting the systemic biases that have long shaped rural agricultural systems. In Zambia, deeply rooted cultural norms often determine who gets to speak, who leads and whose voice is heard. Women, youth and the elderly frequently face significant barriers to leadership roles and are often excluded from participating in community dialogues. and their opinions often pushed aside.

Participants demonstrating how gender roles can be challenged using a drama skit (Photo: Moono Mwiinga Sekeleti)

To address this, the Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion (GDI) curriculum tackled exclusion head-on. Rooted in insights from 13 community engagement meetings held in mid-2024, the course content reflected the lived realities of local communities.  These were not abstract concepts-they were honest, community-led conversations about barriers people face and the solutions they envision.

One male Digital Champion reflected: “In our communities, farming tasks like milking, planting, and weeding are often tied to gender. But moving forward, we will encourage our fellow farmers to see these as shared responsibilities.”

Female DCs also shared their personal experiences of exclusion and resilience. “Being a woman, I have faced challenges in earning recognition as a leader,’ one participant shared. “But this training has given me confidence to lead in my community.”  Another young mother brought her newborn to the training – an act that symbolized the very inclusion the program espouses. “You didn’t just teach about inclusion,” she said expressing her gratitude to CIMMYT. “You demonstrated it, making sure I had support for my child so that I could focus and learn.”

An extension officer assisting a mother with her child during the training in Choma (Photo: Moono Mwiinga Sekeleti)

As the training came to a close, the DCs moved beyond theory. Together, they co-created practical strategies to address cultural resistance, promote inclusive participation, and support marginalized farmers in accessing essential agricultural resources.  Empowered by new skills and a strong sense of ownership, they left not only informed but ready to act.

From insight to impact

Some of the most meaningful learning moments came from lived experience. In one session, a DC recounted how a shift in approach – simply listening – changed her relationship with a skeptical farmer. “He told me that no one had really listened to him before. That act marked the moment we started working together.”

Breakthroughs emerged during the sessions on gender dynamics. Initially met with hesitation, the role-play exercises and open dialogue gradually opened space for reflection and growth. Male DCs began to recognize the value of women’s perspectives, while female participants found renewed confidence to speak up and voice their opinions. These seemingly small shifts in mindset marked important steps toward broader social change, grounded in empathy, understanding and mutual respect.

The training also brought logistical challenges, such as the high cost of reaching remote farmers, limited phone access, and the digital divine within some households. In response, the Atubandike program introduced practical solutions, including airtime and data allowances for DCs, encouraging people to share their phones or advising farmers to borrow handsets from trusted neighbors.

To sustain this momentum, CIMMYT launched regular one-on-one check-in calls with each DC. These touchpoints offer mentorship, reflection and tailored support as DCs continue to embed trust-building and inclusive practices into their everyday work.

Looking ahead: a story of empowerment

As the sessions concluded, a new energy and sense of purpose took hold.  DCs left not only with new skills, but with a clear commitment to act. They pledged to attend and host regular community meetings, conduct home visits for farmers unable to attend meetings and use WhatsApp groups to foster ongoing peer learning and collaboration.

This is just the beginning. The next chapter is about turning plans into practice ensuring that the digital revolution in agriculture is truly inclusive and leaves no farmer behind.

The story of digital champions in Zambia is one of empowerment. It is not only about their growth as leaders, but also about the transformation they are catalyzing in their communities. As they challenge social norms, build trust, and amplify unheard voices, they are shaping a more inclusive and resilient agricultural future.

 

[1]Atubandike, meaning “let’s chat” in Tonga, a local language spoken in Zambia’s Southern Province.

[2] Fabregas, Raissa, Michael Kremer, and Frank Schilbach. 2019. “Realizing the Potential of Digital Development: The Case of Agricultural Advice.” Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay3038.

[3] Sterling, R. (2021, January 14). “Why Women Aren’t Using Your Ag App.” Agrilinks. https://agrilinks.org/post/why-women-arent-using-your-ag-app

[4] Examples include: Buck, Steven, and Jeffrey Alwang. 2011. “Agricultural Extension, Trust, and Learning: Results from Economic Experiments in Ecuador.” Agricultural Economics 42 (6): 685–99. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-0862.2011.00547.x. Greene, Jessica, and Christal Ramos. 2021. “A Mixed Methods Examination of Health Care Provider Behaviors That Build Patients’ Trust.” Patient Education and Counseling 104 (5): 1222–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2020.09.003.

 

 

An entrepreneur’s journey in aquaculture: Fueled by partnership, innovation, and resilience

Written by dmedina on . Posted in Blogs.

Cosmas Chachi’s demo fishpond – one of the nine ponds where he trains locals in fish farming (Photo: Cosmas Chachi)

Cosmas Chachi, a 46-year-old businessman, owns Triple Blessing Supermarket in Zambia’s Luwingu District. In 2000, Cosmas identified an opportunity to address the growing demand for fresh fish in his community and started selling the product in his local area. Like many rural entrepreneurs, Cosmas faced initial challenges such as unreliable supply chains, insufficient cold storage, and limited access to financing, all of which prevented him from meeting the rising demand from local customers. Undeterred, Cosmas embarked on a transformative journey into aquaculture.  

The turning point for Cosmas occurred in April 2023 when he participated in a training program on integrated aquaculture under the aegis of the Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) Rapid Delivery Hub, led by CIMMYT. The training implemented by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), one of the key implementing partners of the project, emphasized sustainable intensification and equipped Cosmas with advanced skills in sustainable feed management, water quality control, efficient harvesting methods, and business management, among other areas.   

A view of Cosmas Chachi’s Triple Blessings Supermarket, a thriving hub where he sells fish from his fishponds and manages his off-taking business (Photo: Cosmas Chachi)

“The training equipped me with expert knowledge in aquaculture management and skills to design and operate efficient fishponds,” Cosmas said. 

With his new-found expertise, Cosmas upgraded three of his existing fishponds and built six more, each measuring 13×15 meters. To meet customer demand, he introduced a strategic stocking system, staggering the placement of 1,000 fingerlings across his nine ponds. This innovation ensured consistent fish supply even during Zambia’s annual fish ban. “By stocking and harvesting my ponds, I can maintain a steady supply even during the national fish ban when local supply decreases because some other farmers who supply my supermarket depend on fish from natural water bodies,” Cosmas shared.  

Creating livelihoods and building resilience

Cosmas’ aquaculture enterprise has become an economic engine in his community, employing 25 permanent workers, primarily local youth, and offering seasonal jobs to 12 more. For Emmanuel Makumba, a shop attendant at Triple Blessing supermarket for the last eight years, the opportunity has been life changing. “The job at the supermarket helped me relocate from my village, build my own house, and send my children to a private school,” said Emmanuel. 

In June 2024, his business received a significant boost with the installation of a 15-ton cold storage facility, funded by IWMI through the AID-I project. The upgrade significantly reduced post-harvest losses and enhanced Cosmas’ fish storage capacity. It ensures a steady supply for his business and the farmers he supports, strengthening the local aquaculture value chain.  

“In the past, we could only purchase 50 to 100 kilograms (kg) of fish at a time, selling it at US$ 2.50 per kg,” Cosmas shared. With the new cold storage facility, Cosmas can now buy and store up to 700 kg of fish per harvest without the risk of spoilage. The effort not only secures a reliable supply for his business but also creates a dependable market for local consumers, fostering growth and sustainability in the region’s aquaculture sector.  

A ripple effect of progress: Expanding aquaculture for community impact

Today, Cosmas’ success goes beyond his supermarket. He owns a thriving restaurant, offering customers a unique dining experience with fresh fish from his ponds. “The training I received during the AID-I workshops helped me transform my passion for aquaculture into a successful business. Now, in addition to the supermarket, I own a popular restaurant and outdoor fishponds, offering customers a unique dining experience,” he said.  

Fish from local fish farmers before being stocked at Triple Blessings Supermarket (Photo: Cosmas Chachi)

Building on his business success, Cosmas has further expanded his impact by transforming his fishponds into practical classrooms, offering free, hands-on training to aspiring fish farmers. Over the past year, he has trained 50 farmers in sustainable aquaculture best practices.  

As more farmers in Luwingu adopt these practices, local food security improves, and income streams diversify. Cosmas’ leadership is stabilizing the community’s food supply and improving diets with nutrient-rich fish. This aligns with AID-I’s broader goal to promote sustainable and scalable agricultural models.  

By September 2024, the AID-I project, through IWMI’s efforts, had supported 297 fish farmers with training, market linkages, and tools for success across Northern and Luapula Provinces: creating a ripple effect of progress and also addressing Zambia’s fish supply and demand gap. The project empowers communities to adopt innovative and sustainable aquaculture practices, driving growth in fish production and ensuring a more reliable supply to meet the needs of a growing population. As fish is a critical source of protein and essential nutrients, fostering a sustainable aquaculture sector is vital for supporting Zambia’s food security and nutritional goals.  

Cosmas’ journey exemplifies the power of partnerships, innovation, and resilience in driving community progress. It underscores the potential for a robust aquaculture sector in Zambia, where challenges spur solutions and success benefit entire communities. Through AID-I’s comprehensive interventions, Cosmas’ story of transformation offers a vision for sustainable development in rural Zambia, led by innovation and community empowerment.

The first harvest from the fish demonstration was attended by Mr. Sakala, District Livestock Coordinator, who was invited to observe the progress and assess the impact of the initiative (Photo : Cosmas Chachi)

 

Visiting Chinese scholar devoted to agricultural research in Mexico

Written by dmedina on . Posted in In the media.

CIMMYT stands out for its role in agricultural innovation, demonstrated through the dedicated research of visiting Chinese scholar Wang Hui. Her tenure at CIMMYT underscores the center’s pivotal role in driving agricultural advancements through international partnerships, significantly contributing to global food security and scientific development.

Read the full story.

CIMMYT scientists rank in top 1% of highly cited papers

Written by Sarah McLaughlin on . Posted in News.

Jill Cairns in front of CIMMYT headquarters. (Photo: Sam Storr/CIMMYT)

Three scientists from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) are included in Clarivate’s 2022 Analysis of the most highly cited academic papers.

Maize Physiologist Jill Cairns, Distinguished Scientist and Head of Wheat Physiology Matthew Reynolds, and Biometrician José Crossa, all from CIMMYT, were recognized in the 2022 analysis.

Jose Crossa chairing a session on adding value to phenotypic data. (Photo: Alfonso Cortés/CIMMYT)

This year, 7,255 Highly Cited Researcher (HCR) designations were issued to 6,938 individuals globally. The award is given to scientists with papers that rank in the top 1% by citations. Matthew was awarded for his contribution to scientific literature in plant and animal sciences, while José and Jill were awarded for their contributions to scientific literature across several fields of research (cross fields).

Of the world’s population of scientists and social scientists, Highly Cited Researchers are 1 in 1,000.

The analysis highlights disparities in the locations of top cited scientists. For example, 82.9% of recipients are from just ten countries and regions, out of a possible 70, and 71.4% are from the United States of America, China, the United Kingdom, Germany, or Australia. While the recognition is only given to individual scientists, Matthew, José, and Jill’s success is related to strong scientific collaborations worldwide.

Matthew Reynolds at IWC9 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo: Julie Mollins)

Agriculture for Peace platform launches at Borlaug Dialogue

Written by Sarah McLaughlin on . Posted in Features.

Events of the past year have underscored the correlation of food supply chains, and weaknesses that need to be addressed. Tackling threats to global food security caused by COVID-19, conflict, and climate change require joint action and long-term commitments, with approaches based on partnerships, collaborative research and information sharing, and involvement from all actors within agrifood systems.

These topics and potential solutions were integral to the 2022 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, hosted between October 18-20, 2022. With a theme of Feeding a Fragile World and overcoming shocks to the global food system, seminars and workshops explored scalable solutions for adaptation and mitigation to limit global warming and meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

One event which proposed a solution to these challenges was Agriculture for Peace (Ag4Peace): A Call for Action, which marked the official launch of a platform aiming to support national food and agriculture strategies.

The initiative was founded by seven partners: Norman Borlaug Foundation, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Texas A&M University.

During the event, two additional collaborators were announced: World Wide Fund for Nature and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

The Ag4Peace concept

Ag4Peace is built on the understanding that without peace there is no food, and without food there is no peace. Conflicts and violence severely disrupt agricultural processes and limit access to food, which in turn forces people to take increasingly perilous actions as they attempt to secure their lives and those of their families. High food prices and hunger cause instability, migration, and civil unrest as people become more desperate.

Using a collaborative approach, partners will design holistic strategies that encompass the multi-faceted nature of agrifood systems and their interconnections with nature, nutrition, and livelihoods. This requires broad-based collaborations, so the Ag4Peace partners welcome other institutions, private sector, and non-governmental organizations that share their aspirations to join them.

Partners are co-constructing the Cross-Sector Collaboration to Advance Resilient Equitable Agrifood Systems (CC-AREAS), the first operational plan for the platform. This is a 10-year proof-of-concept program that applies a holistic, systems approach to achieve resilient agrifood systems and accelerate development of the circular bioeconomy in five low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that are increasingly exposed to food security risks due to climate change and reliance on imported staple foods.

They will support national efforts to upgrade agrifood systems, adopt regenerative agriculture and climate-smart strategies, expand the circular bioeconomy, and achieve nutrition and food security goals.

In all aspects of the initiative (science, planning, implementation, and evaluation), participation priority will be given to small-scale farmers, women, and socially diverse groups, which will maximize positive outcomes and ensure inclusivity.

Benefits for farmers, communities, value chain participants, consumers, and ecosystems will be demonstrated throughout to encourage adoption and continued use of improved technologies and practices and demonstrate effectiveness.

Partner support for Ag4Peace

After the concept was introduced by Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT and recipient of the 2014 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, a roundtable discussion with a diverse panel of experts began.

Speakers included Manuel Otero, Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Hon. Sharon E. Burke, Global Fellow of Environmental Change and Security Program at the Wilson Center, Per Pinstrup-Anderson, Professor and World Food Prize Laureate, and Alice Ruhweza, Africa Regional Director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Moderated by Margaret Bath, Chair of CIMMYT Board of Trustees, the panelists conveyed Ag4Peace’s aims of building productive, sustainable, and resilient agrifood systems, improving livelihoods for small-scale producers and other value chain actors, and deliver nutritious, affordable diets.

“Hunger is part of the picture of conflict,” explained Burke. “These strapped communities are often competing for resources with each other, within their own boundaries, and sometimes food is a weapon in these places, just as destructive as a bomb or a gun. Without food there is no peace, in the near or the long-term.”

Trade-offs versus win-wins

Pinstrup-Anderson ruminated on the importance of win-wins, which are solutions that work for supporting human health and protecting our natural environment without sacrificing results in one area for results in another. “We do not have to give up improving nutrition just to save the climate or save the earth – we can do both,” he said.

The significance of strong partnerships arose multiple times, such as when Otero explained, “It is not a matter of working just with the agriculture ministers but also with other ministers – foreign affairs, social development, environmental – because agriculture is a sector that crosses across all these institutions.”

Ruhweza explored whether threats to food security, such as COVID-19, conflict, and climate change, can also bring opportunities. “The right action on food systems can also accelerate the delivery of all our goals on climate and nature,” she said. “WWF is looking forward to partnering with this initiative.”

Final remarks from Julie Borlaug, President of the Norman Borlaug Foundation, where the platform will be housed, reiterated a call for more partners to join the coalition. “This is a learning lesson as we go. We will iterate over and over until we get it right, so we need all of you to be involved in that,” said Borlaug. “Join us as we move forward but let us know as we’re going sideways.”

CGIAR scientist honored with award

The winner of the annual Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application award was announced at the Borlaug Dialogue, which this year went to Mahalingam Govindaraj, Senior Scientist for Crop Development at HarvestPlus and at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, a CGIAR research center.

Govindaraj received the award for his leadership in mainstreaming biofortified crops, particularly high-yielding, high-iron, and high-zinc pearl millet varieties. This work has contributed to improved nutrition for thousands of farmers and their communities in India and Africa, and estimates show that, by 2024, more than 9 million people in India will be consuming iron- and zinc-rich pearl, benefiting from improved nutrition.

Cover photo: The historical moment when Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA, joins the Agriculture for Peace initiative with Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT. (Photo: Liesbet Vannyvel/CIMMYT)

Galvanizing food systems transformation in South Asia

Written by Sarah McLaughlin on . Posted in News.

Solar Powered Irrigation System in Bihar, India. (Credit: Ayush Manik)

In the race to make food production and consumption more sustainable, South Asia is key.

Home to one quarter of humanity — one-fifth of whom are youth — the region has the world’s largest concentration of poverty and malnutrition. While South Asia produces one quarter of the world’s consumed food, its agrifood systems today face formidable poverty reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental health, and biodiversity challenges. Significant hurdles remain to secure an adequate and affordable supply of diverse foods necessary for sustainable and healthy diets.

South Asia’s predominantly rice-based farming systems are crucial to food security and political and economic stability, but parts of this region are threatened by unsustainable groundwater withdrawal — the region extracts one-quarter of global groundwater — due to food and energy policy distortions. South Asia’s farmers are both contributors to and victims of climate change and extreme weather that disproportionately affect resource-poor and women farmers.

The region needs food systems that generate profits and incentivize farmers to produce nutritious foods, while also reducing prices for consumers purchasing healthy products by shortening and reducing inefficiencies within value chains. A new CGIAR Research Initiative, Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA), aims to address challenges.

Read the full article: Galvanizing Food Systems Transformation in South Asia

Fragile global food system calls for a collaborative approach

Written by Sarah McLaughlin on . Posted in In the media.

Bram Govaerts, Director General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), underscored the need for collaboration to address the challenges of global food shocks, climate change and agricultural trade.

Speaking at a Strengthening AR4D in South Asia workshop on Thursday, September 1, Govaerts highlighted the work of CIMMYT’s Borlaug Institute of South Asia (BISA) project.

“The collaborative, inclusive approach of BISA (Borlaug Institute for South Asia) is more relevant than ever today. In an era when the challenges of food and nutrition insecurity — exacerbated by climate change, poverty, and inequality — cannot be solved by one sector,” he explained.

Read more: Fragile global food system calls for a collaborative approach

Timothy Reeves. (Photo: Courtesy of Tim Reeves/University of Melbourne)

Former director general Timothy Reeves included in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Written by Sarah Fernandes on . Posted in News.

Timothy Reeves. (Photo: Courtesy of Tim Reeves/University of Melbourne)
Timothy Reeves. (Photo: Courtesy of Tim Reeves/University of Melbourne)

Timothy Reeves, who served as director general of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) from 1995 to 2002, has been included in Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Honours List. He has been appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, for his significant service to sustainable agriculture research and production.

“I’m overwhelmed. I feel so honored and wish to also recognize the wonderful people that I have worked with — both farmers and scientists — here in Australia, and around the world. I also acknowledge my beautiful family without whom it would have not been possible,” he said.

Reeves was a pioneer of direct drilling and conservation agriculture in Australia in the 1960s and 70s. This method of planting crops which requires no cultivation of the land, is now the direct-drilling method used by 90% of farmers across Australian cropping regions. He and colleagues in the Victorian Department of Agriculture also worked at that time on the introduction of new crops into farming systems, including lupins, canola and faba beans.

Timothy Reeves (center) with C. Renard (left) and Norman Borlaug. (Photo: CIMMYT)
Timothy Reeves (center) with C. Renard (left) and Norman Borlaug. (Photo: CIMMYT)

He was appointed to the role of director general of CIMMYT in 1995, based in Mexico for seven years, helping developing countries with food and nutritional security. He is the only Australian to have held this position.

Reeves is currently an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne. He is heavily involved with passing on his knowledge to his academic colleagues and to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Reeves’s academic writings include publishing more than 180 papers, book chapters and articles. He is also a Chair of the Agriculture Forum of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

This post was originally published by the University of Melbourne.

Children eat lunch at a mobile crèche outside Delhi, India. (Photo: Atul Loke/ODI)

High-yielding staple crops improve health and prosperity in developing countries

Written by Marcia MacNeil on . Posted in Features.

Several recent studies document the long-term health and economic benefits from the “Green Revolution” — the widespread adoption of high-yielding staple crop varieties during the last half of the 20th century — and argue for continued investment in the development and use of such varieties.

Analyzing data relating to more than 600,000 births between 1961 and 2000 across 37 developing countries, scientists led by the World Bank’s Jan von der Goltz found that the diffusion of modern crop varieties during the Green Revolution reduced infant mortality by 2.4 to 5.3 percentage points.

“Our estimates provide compelling evidence that the health benefits of broad-based increases in agricultural productivity should not be overlooked,” the authors state. “From a policy perspective, government subsidies for inputs leading to a green revolution as well as investments in extension and R&D programs seem to be important.”

Norman Borlaug (fourth from right) shows a plot of Sonora-64 wheat — one of the semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease-resistant varieties that was key to the Green Revolution — to a group of young international trainees at CIMMYT's experimental station in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora state, Mexico. (Photo: CIMMYT)
Norman Borlaug (fourth from right) shows a plot of Sonora-64 wheat — one of the semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease-resistant varieties that was key to the Green Revolution — to a group of young international trainees at CIMMYT’s experimental station in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora state, Mexico. (Photo: CIMMYT)

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of the global food system and the need to transform it, increasing its environmental and economic resilience to withstand future threats, and underpinning healthier diets. The studies suggest that improved versions of cereal crops such as rice, wheat, and maize can play a key role.

“Our work speaks to the importance of supporting innovation and technology adoption in agriculture as a means of fostering economic development, improved health, and poverty reduction, said author Jan von der Goltz. “It also suggests that it is reasonable to view with some alarm the steady decline in funding for cereal crop improvement over the last few decades in sub-Saharan Africa, the continent with least diffusion of modern varieties.”

Likewise, a study co-authored by Prashant Bharadwaj of the University of California, San Diego, concluded that farmer adoption of high-yielding crop varieties (HYVs) in India reduced infant mortality dramatically across the country. Between 1960 and 2000, infant deaths dropped from 163.8 to 66.6 per 1,000 live births, and this occurred during the decades of India’s wheat productivity leap from 0.86 to 2.79 tons per hectare, as a result of HYV adoption and improved farming practices.

“What both of these papers do is to carefully establish a causal estimate of how HYVs affect infant mortality, by only comparing children born in the same location at different points in time, when HYV use was different, and by checking that mortality before arrival of HYVs was trending similarly in places that would receive different amount of HYVs,” Bharadwaj said.

“In the absence of a randomized control trial, these econometric techniques produce the best causal estimate of a phenomenon as important as the spread of HYVs during and after the Green Revolution,” he added. These thoughts were echoed by University of California San Diego professor Gordon McCord, a co-author of the global study.

A child buys fruits and vegetables from a street cart in Varanasi, India. (Photo: Gert-Jan Stads/International Food Policy Research Institute)
A child buys fruits and vegetables from a street cart in Varanasi, India. (Photo: Gert-Jan Stads/International Food Policy Research Institute) (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Many knock-on effects

Recent studies indicate that the Green Revolution also had long-term economic impacts, which also affected health outcomes.

In a 2021 update to the 2018 paper “Two Blades of Grass: The Impact of the Green Revolution,” Douglas Gollin, Professor of Development Economics at Oxford University and co-authors found that, in 90 countries where high-yielding varieties were adopted between 1965 and 2010, food crop yields increased by 44% and that, had this adoption not occurred, GDP per capita in the developing world could be half of what it is today.

Even a 10-year delay of the Green Revolution would, in 2010, have cost 17% of GDP per capita in the developing world, with a cumulative GDP loss of $83 trillion, equivalent to one year of current global GDP.

These GDP and health impacts were boosted by a related reduction in population growth. By observing causal inference at country, regional and developing world levels, and using a novel long-term impact assessment method, the study authors detected a trend: as living standards improved for rural families, they generally wanted to invest more in their children and have fewer.

“Our estimates suggest that the world would have contained more than 200 million additional people in 2010, if the onset of the Green Revolution had been delayed for ten years,” Gollin and his co-authors stated.  This lower population growth seems to have increased the relative size of the working age population, which furthered GDP growth.

Ethiopian farmers give feedback to CGIAR researchers about durum wheat varieties. (Photo: C.Fadda/Bioversity International)
Ethiopian farmers give feedback to CGIAR researchers about durum wheat varieties. (Photo: C.Fadda/Bioversity International) (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

A long-term investment in system transformation

It takes time from the point of an intervention to when broad health impacts can be observed in the population, the authors note. For example, although the development of modern high-yielding varieties began in the 1950s and 60s, the rate of adoption did not speed up until the 1980s, 1990s, and even into the 2000s, with evidence from sub-Saharan Africa showing that variety adoption has increased by as much in the 2000s as in the four preceding decades.

In addition, any nutrition and food security strategy which aims to reach the second Sustainable Development Goal of feeding 9 billion by 2050 must incorporate wider system transformation solutions, such as zero-emissions agriculture, affordable, diverse diets and increased land conservation.

As Gollin explained, “The Green Revolution taught us that we need to approach productivity increases, especially in staple crop yields, differently. The challenge now is more complex: we need to get the same productivity increases, with fewer inputs and resources, more environmental awareness, and in larger quantities for more people.”

In part, this means increasing productivity on existing agricultural land with positive environmental and social impacts, according to Bram Govaerts, director general of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).

“Breeding and sharing more productive, hardy crop varieties is as important as ever,” Govaerts said, “but also engaging farmers — in our case, smallholders — in shared research and innovation efforts to bridge yield gaps, build climate-resilient farming systems, and open access to better nutrition and market opportunities.”

Cover photo: Children eat lunch at a mobile crèche outside Delhi, India. (Photo: Atul Loke/ODI) (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Alinda Sarah shows a maize cob due for harvest on the farm she owns with her husband in Masindi, mid-western Uganda. (Photo: Joshua Masinde/CIMMYT)

Can Uganda attain zero-hunger?

Written by Emma Orchardson on . Posted in Publications.

Uganda is one of the fastest economically growing nations in sub-Saharan Africa and is in the midst of socio-economic transition. Over the past two decades the country’s GDP has expanded, on average, by more than 6% each year, with per capita GDP reaching $710 in 2019. Researchers project that this will continue to rise at a rate of 5.6% each year for the next decade, reaching approximately $984 by the year 2031.

This growth is mirrored by a rising population and rapid urbanization within the country. In 2019, 24.4% of the Uganda’s 44.3 million citizens were living in urban areas. By 2030, population is projected to rise to 58-61 million, 31% of whom are expected to live in towns and cities.

“Changes in population, urbanization and GDP growth rate all affect the dietary intake pattern of a country,” says Khondoker Mottaleb, an economist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). “Economic and demographic changes will have significant impacts on the agricultural sector, which will be challenged to produce and supply more and better food at affordable prices.”

This could leave Uganda in a precarious position.

In a new study, Mottaleb and a team of collaborators project Uganda’s future food demand, and the potential implications for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger by 2030.

The authors assess the future demand for major food items, using information from 8,424 households collected through three rounds of Uganda’s Living Standards Measurement Study — Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA). They focus on nationwide demand for traditional foods like matooke (cooking banana), cassava and sweet potato, as well as cereals like maize, wheat and rice — consumption of which has been rising alongside incomes and urbanization.

A conceptual framework of changing food demand in the Global South. (Graphic: CIMMYT)

The study findings confirm that with increases in income and demographic changes, the demand for these food items will increase drastically. In 2018, aggregate consumption was 3.3 million metric tons (MMT) of matooke, 4.7 MMT of cassava and sweet potato, 1.97 MMT of maize and coarse grains, and 0.94 MMT of wheat and rice. Using the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) estimation approach, the authors show that in 2030 demand could be as high as 8.1 MMT for matooke, 10.5 MMT for cassava and sweet potato, 9.5 MT for maize and coarse grains, and 4 MMT for wheat and rice.

Worryingly, Mottaleb and his team explain that while demand for all the items examined in the study increases, the overall yield growth rate for major crops is stagnating as a result of land degradation, climate extremes and rural out-migration. For example, the yield growth rate for matooke has reduced from +0.21% per year from 1962-1989 to -0.90% from 1990-2019.

As such, the authors call for increased investment in Uganda’s agricultural sector to enhance domestic production capacity, meet the growing demand for food outlined in the study, improve the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers, and eliminate hunger.

Read the full article, Projecting food demand in 2030: Can Uganda attain the zero hunger goal?

Agriculture for Peace: A call to action to avert a global food crisis

Written by Ricardo Curiel on . Posted in News.

Norman Borlaug teaches a group of young trainees in the field in Sonora, Mexico. (Photo: CIMMYT)
Norman Borlaug teaches a group of young trainees in the field in Sonora, Mexico. (Photo: CIMMYT)

50 years ago, the late Norman Borlaug received the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for averting famine by increasing wheat yield potential and delivering improved varieties to farmers in South Asia. He was the first Nobel laureate in food production and is widely known as “the man who saved one billion lives.”

In the following decades, Borlaug continued his work from the Mexico-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), a non-profit research-for-development organization funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and the governments of Mexico and the United States.

CIMMYT became a model for a future network of publicly-funded organizations with 14 research centers: CGIAR. Today, CGIAR is led by Marco Ferrroni, who describes it as a global research partnership that “continues to be about feeding the world sustainably with explicit emphasis on nutrition, the environment, resource conservation and regeneration, and equity and inclusion.”

Norman Borlaug’s fight against hunger has risen again to the global spotlight in the wake of the most severe health and food security crises of the 21st Century. “The Nobel Peace Prizes to Norman Borlaug and the World Food Programme are very much interlinked,” said Kjersti Flogstad, Executive Director of the Oslo-based Nobel Peace Center. “They are part of a long tradition of awarding [the prize] to humanitarian work, also in accordance with the purpose [Alfred] Nobel expressed in his last will: to promote fraternity among nations.”

During welcome remarks at the virtual 50-year commemoration of Norman Borlaug’s Nobel Peace Prize on December 8, 2020, Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Víctor Villalobos Arámbula, warned that “for the first time in many years since Borlaug defeated hunger in Southeast Asia, millions of people are at risk of starvation in several regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America.”

According to CIMMYT’s Director General Martin Kropff, celebrating Norman Borlaug’s legacy should also lead to renewed investments in the CGIAR system. “A report on the payoff of investing in CGIAR research published in October 2020 shows that CIMMYT’s return on investment (ROI) exceeds a benefit-cost ratio of 10 to 1, with median ROI rates for wheat research estimated at 19 and for maize research at 12.”

Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Department echoed the call to invest in Agriculture for Peace. “The Government of Mexico, together with the Nobel Peace Center and CIMMYT, issues a joint call to action to overcome the main challenges to human development in an international system under pressure from conflict, organized crime, forced migration and climate change,” said Martha Delgado, Mexico’s Under Secretary of Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights.

Norman Borlaug sits on a tractor next to field technicians in Sonora, Mexico. (Photo: CIMMYT)
Norman Borlaug sits on a tractor next to field technicians in Sonora, Mexico. (Photo: CIMMYT)

The event called for action against the looming food crises through the transformation of food systems, this time with an emphasis on nutrition, environment and equality. Speakers included experts from CGIAR, CIMMYT, Conservation International, Mexico’s Agriculture and Livestock Council, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Food Programme (WFP), among others. Participants discussed the five action tracks of the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit: (1) ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all; (2) shift to sustainable consumption patterns; (3) boost nature-positive production; (4) advance equitable livelihoods; and, (5) build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stresses.

“This event underlines the need for international solidarity and multilateral cooperation in the situation the world is facing today,” said Norway’s Ambassador to Mexico, Rut Krüger, who applauded CIMMYT’s contribution of 170,000 maize and wheat seeds to the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, Norway. “This number reflects the global leadership position of CIMMYT in the development of maize and wheat strains.”

Norman Borlaug’s famous words — “take it to the farmer” — advocated for swift agricultural innovation transfers to the field; Julie Borlaug, president of the Borlaug Foundation, said the Agriculture for Peace event should inspire us to also “take it to the public.”

“Agriculture cannot save the world alone,” she said. “We also need sound government policies, economic programs and infrastructure.”

CIMMYT’s Deputy Director General for Research and Partnerships, and Integrated Development Program Director Bram Govaerts, called on leaders, donors, relief and research partners to form a global coalition to transform food systems. “We must do a lot more to avert a hunger pandemic, and even more to put the world back on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.”

CIMMYT’s host country has already taken steps in this direction with the Crops for Mexico project, which aims to improve the productivity of several crops essential to Mexico’s food security, including maize and wheat. “This model is a unique partnership between the private, public and social sectors that focuses on six crops,” said Mexico’s Private Sector Liaison Officer Alfonso Romo. “We are very proud of its purpose, which is to benefit over one million smallholder households.”

The call stresses the need for sustainable and inclusive rural development. “It is hard to imagine the distress, frustration and fear that women feel when they have no seeds to plant, no grain to store and no income to buy basic foodstuffs to feed their children,” said Nicole Birrell, Chair of CIMMYT’s Board of Trustees. “We must make every effort to restore food production capacities and to transform agriculture into productive, profitable, sustainable and, above all, equitable food systems worldwide.”

50-year anniversary of Norman Borlaug’s Nobel Peace Prize

Written by Rodrigo Ordóñez on . Posted in Press releases.

In 1970, Norman Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his important scientific work that saved millions of people from famine. Today, humanity faces an equally complex challenge which requires the commitment of all nations, leaders, investors and strategic partners: avoiding the next food crisis.

The Government of Mexico, the Nobel Peace Center and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Borlaug’s Nobel Prize with a call to action to develop a transformational response of agriculture for peace, with an emphasis on nutrition, environment and equity.

Join us on December 8, 2020, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. (CST, GMT-6).

Please register in advance.

This special event is part of the run-up to the United Nations Summit of Agrifood Systems of 2021. It will feature international experts in each of the five action tracks of the summit: ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all; shift to sustainable consumption patterns; boost nature-positive production; advance equitable livelihoods; and build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress.

Guest speakers will include:

  • Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón – Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs
  • Kjersti Fløgstad – Executive Director, Nobel Peace Center
  • Victor Villalobos – Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Martin Kropff – Director General, CIMMYT
  • Margaret Bath – Member of CIMMYT’s Board of Trustees
  • Alison Bentley – Director of CIMMYT’s Global Wheat Program
  • Robert Bertram – Chief Scientist, USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security
  • Nicole Birrell – Chair of CIMMYT’s Board of Trustees
  • Julie Borlaug – President of the Borlaug Foundation
  • Gina Casar – Assistant Secretary-General of the World Food Programme
  • Martha Delgado – Mexico’s Deputy Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights
  • Marco Ferroni – Chair, CGIAR System Board
  • Federico González Celaya – President of Mexico’s Food Banks Association
  • Bram Govaerts – Deputy Director General for Research and Collaborations a.i. and Director of the Integrated Development Program, CIMMYT
  • Juana Hernández – Producer from the community of San Miguel, in Ocosingo, Chiapas, Mexico
  • Rut Krüger Giverin – Norwegian Ambassador to Mexico
  • Sylvanus Odjo – Postharvest Specialist, CIMMYT
  • Lina Pohl – FAO’s Mexico Representative
  • B.M. Prasanna – Director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program and the CGIAR Research Program on Maize
  • Tatiana Ramos – Executive Director, Conservation International Mexico
  • Alfonso Romo – Private Sector Liaison, Government of Mexico
  • Bosco de la Vega – President Mexico’s National Farmer’s Agricultural Council (CNA)
Kindie Tesfaye (CIMMYT) appears on Fana Television.

Ethiopia puts in place strategies to ensure food availability amid COVID-19 crisis

Written by Alison Doody on . Posted in News.

Kindie Tesfaye (CIMMYT) appears on Fana Television.
Kindie Tesfaye (CIMMYT) appears on Fana Television.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to widen, its effects on the agriculture sector are also becoming apparent. In countries like Ethiopia, where farming is the backbone of the nation’s economy, early preparation can help mitigate adverse effects.

Recently, Fana Broadcasting Corporate (Fana Television) organized a panel discussion on how the Ethiopian government and its partners are responding to this crisis. Analyzing this topic were Kindie Tesfaye from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mandefro Negussi of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and Esayas Lemma from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The panelists highlighted Ethiopia’s readiness in response to COVID-19. The country established a team from various institutions to work on strategies and to ensure no further food shortages occur due to the pandemic. The strategy involves the continuation of activity already started during the Bleg season — short rainy season — and the preparation for the Meher season — long rainy season — to be complemented by food production through irrigation systems during the dry season, if the crisis continues beyond September 2020.

Tesfaye indicated that CIMMYT continues to work at the national and regional levels as before, and is represented in the advisory team. One of the activities underway, he said, is the plan to use the Agro-Climate Advisory Platform to disseminate COVID-19 related information to extension agents and farmers.

Panelists agreed that the pandemic will also impact the Ethiopian farming system, which is performed collectively and relies heavily on human labor. To minimize the spread of the virus, physical distancing is highly advisable. Digital media, social media and megaphones will be used to reach out to extension agents and farmers and encourage them to apply all the necessary precaution measures while on duty. Training will also continue through digital means as face to face meetings will not be possible.

Full interview in Amharic: