The latest news from CIMMYT

CIMMYT Electronic Newsletter

Welcome to New from CIMMYT. This newsletter provides updates on how CIMMYT and its partners help to reduce hunger and improve livelihoods through research on maize and wheat.

Traditional Farmers in Kazakhstan Evaluate New Technologies and Varieties

The introduction, testing, and promotion of bed planting technologies in Kazakhstan is one aspect of a project between CIMMYT and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation. Partners also aim to create a regional network in Central Asia and to identify, multiply, and promote high-yielding and disease- resistant wheat varieties that will increase productivity and profitability in farmers’ fields.
http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/news/farmers_kazakhs.htm

Maize Seed Production Course Aims to Boost Small Producers

CIMMYT maize breeders Dave Beck and Hugo Cordova organized and led a seed production course on 6-14 September at CIMMYT headquarters in El Batan, Mexico. The course, entitled “Production of High Quality Seed with an Emphasis on Quality Protein Maize,” was funded in part by the Mexican national organization SAGARPA.
http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/news/seed_product.htm

Results of Transgenic Wheat Trial Look Promising

CIMMYT took a historic step in March 2004 by planting a small trial of genetically engineered wheat in its screenhouse at headquarters in El Batan, Mexico. It was the first time that transgenic wheat has been planted in Mexico under field-like conditions, and encouraging results have spurred plans for a more extensive follow-up trial.
http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/news/dreb.htm

Weighing Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Crops in Africa

Should Africa embrace genetically modified crops to help feed its hungry people? That question is explored by a recent paper entitled “Debunking the Myths of GM Crops for Africa: The Case of Bt Maize in Kenya.” The paper compares the benefits of genetically modified crops to information available on the risks, and finds that most objections are not backed by evidence. Hugo De Groote, Stephen Mugo, and David Bergvinson from CIMMYT, along with Ben Odhiambo of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, conducted the study, which argues for a discussion based on scientific evidence and evaluation of potential benefits against concerns.
http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/news/gmo_africa.htm

CIMMYT’s Guiding Principles for Developing and Deploying Genetically Engineered Maize and Wheat Varieties

Many of the world’s poorest people are small-scale farmers, whose livelihood is at risk because of low productivity and insecure harvests. At the same time, poor urban and rural consumers suffer from malnutrition, the so-called hidden hunger, which impairs productivity. The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), one of the Future Harvest international agricultural research centers supported by the CGIAR, together with its partners, works to solve these problems of poverty and food insecurity with a range of multidisciplinary research and capacity-building activities focused on food, agricultural, and natural resource maize and wheat systems.
http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/transg/gmo_stmt.htm

Truman State University Students See Science in Action at CIMMYT

Five undergraduate biology students from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, visited CIMMYT headquarters for four days in August to learn about CIMMYT’s research and observe scientists working in an international environment.
http://www.cimmyt.org/english/wps/news/truman_students.htm

We look forward to bringing you more news about CIMMYT's research and impacts. If you would like to be removed from this listserv, however, send an email to CIMMYT-News@cgiar.org with the subject heading: UNSUBSCRIBE new-from-cimmyt. To subscribe, visit www.cimmyt.org and click on the subscription box in the far right-hand column of the main page.