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Tag: agriculture

Call for nominees: Maize-Asia Youth Innovators Awards

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Nominations are open for the 2018 Maize-Asia Youth Innovators Awards. The first edition of these awards recognizes the contributions of young women and men below 35 years of age who are implementing innovations in Asian maize-based agri-food systems.

The awards aim to identify young innovators who can serve to inspire other young people to get involved in maize-based agri-food systems.

Winners will be given the opportunity to present their work at the 13th Asian Maize Conference in Ludhiana, India (October 8-12, 2018). They will also join a platform for young innovators from around the world to network and share their experiences.

MAIZE invites CGIAR researchers and partners to nominate young innovators for any of the following three categories:

a) Researcher: Maize research-for-development (in any discipline)

b) Farmer: Maize farming systems in Asia

c) Change agent: Maize value chains (i.e., extension agents, input and service suppliers,
transformation agents).

Nominations close on August 20, 2018.

More information, submission guidelines and forms are available here:
http://maize.org/call-for-nominees-for-the-2018-maize-asia-youth-innovators-awards/

This award is sponsored by the CGIAR Research Program on maize (MAIZE) in collaboration with Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD).

 

Matthew Reynolds talks about climate change

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The US government has temporarily satisfied its hunger for information on how to adapt agriculture to climate change. On 14 September 2009, Matthew Reynolds, CIMMYT wheat physiologist, joined around 15 other agriculture experts just outside of Washington, DC, USA, to present at a conference titled: “Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: What Will It Take?”

The conference, sponsored by the US Department of State, opened with a keynote by John Holdren, science adviser to the President of the United States, and was followed by four main panel topics: Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture; Research in the Public Sector; Research in the Private Sector; and Alternative Crops, Sustainable Management, and Integrative Strategies. The goal of the event was to explore strategies and raise awareness about adaption measures that are required—or will be required in the future—to maintain sufficient global food production.

“It is reassuring to know that the US government is taking the issue of food security in the context of climate change seriously,” said Reynolds, who presented on adapting the major cereal crops (including maize and wheat) to climate change. “The State Department was not the only government program represented at the conference; the broad spectrum of speakers and government officials (including USDA and USAID) present shows that they are considering a comprehensive approach to the issue.”

A position paper based on the outcomes of the conference will be prepared for the US government. It will also be published in Science magazine.