Participants in the workshop for cowpea product design teams in Western Africa on September 29, 2024, in the IITA offices in Cotonou, Benin Republic. (Photo) Sika Gbegbelegbe, Dean Muungani Investments in crop breeding are usually expensive and take 7 to 10 years to yield results. However, market preferences tend to change over time due to various drivers including income changes,
Ruvicyn Bayot, Melanie Connor, Agnes Mbugua-Gitonga, Dehner De Leon, Neale Marvin Paguirigan, Arelene Julia Malabayabas Slow varietal turnover has been a challenge since breeding-investment decisions were largely informed by supply-side considerations rather than client needs. Hence, market intelligence is crucial for CGIAR breeding programs because it ensures that breeding efforts are demand-driven. CGIAR has demonstrated that investment in crop breeding
Arelene Julia Malabayabas, Melanie Connor, Katherine Nelson, Le Anh Tuan Rice mills in An Giang and Can Tho Provinces, Mekong Delta, Viet Nam. Viet Nam’s rice industry plays a crucial role in its agricultural landscape, providing livelihoods for millions and significantly contributing to the economy as one of the world’s leading rice exporters. At the heart of this industry’s success
By Jill Cairns, physiologist, CIMMYT, and Maureen Miruka GEYSI Director, 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
As part of the Facilities Upgrade and Mechanization Improvement, a CGIAR-Crops to End Hunger project funded by Germany through GIZ, the CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Ghana’s leading agricultural research institution, has received a significant boost with the inauguration of a refurbished building. The upgraded facility enhances working space and provides solar-powered cold storage. This system will support the Institute’s storage of
By Godfrey Asea, Lead, Breeder and Seed Systems, National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) For over three decades, Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), has led the way in using modern crop breeding methods to accelerate the development of improved varieties specifically designed to address the current challenges and meet the needs of our country. As climate threats intensify and Uganda’s
By Lloyd Mbulwe (Ph.D), Acting Chief Agriculture Research Officer (CARO)-Crop Improvement and Agronomy (CIA). Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), Ministry of Agriculture Zambia has tremendous agricultural potential, with over half of its land being classified as prime for agriculture production. Our primary staple crops – maize, sorghum, millet, cassava and groundnuts – are mainly cultivated by smallholder farmers, who form the
A review of Accelerated Breeding’s ReOganize Work Packages achievements, 2022-2024 By Sarah Hearne, Chief Scientist and Innovation Officer, CIMMYT, and former Lead of Accelerated Breeding’s ReOrganize Work Package In agricultural science, success isn’t solely determined by technical prowess—it’s also reliant on effective organizational processes and strategies. Through ReOrganize, a Work Package of CGIAR Accelerated Breeding, process management working groups delved