International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center

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International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo, CIMMYT
Formation1943 [1] and 1966
TypeNon-profit research and training center [1]
PurposeTo develop improved varieties of wheat and maize [1]
Location
Director general
Martin Kropff
Parent organization
CGIAR, formerly Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Staff
1,200 staff members working in offices in 15 countries throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America, and projects in over 40 countries [1]
Websitecimmyt.org

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (known by its Spanish acronym CIMMYT for Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo) is a non-profit research and training institution dedicated to both the development of improved varieties of wheat and maize with the aim of contributing to food security, and the introduction of improved agricultural practices to smallholder farmers to help boost production, prevent crop disease and improve their livelihoods.[1][2][3][4] It is also one of the 15 non-profit, research and training institutions affiliated with the CGIAR, formerly known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.[5]

CIMMYT's eighth director general, Martin Kropff,[6][7] replaced agronomist Thomas Lumpkin in 2015.[8] Lumpkin served as director general from 2008.[9][10]

Origins

The first steps toward the creation of CIMMYT were taken in 1943 when cooperative efforts of the Mexican government and the Rockefeller Foundation led to the founding of the Office of Special Studies, an organization within the Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture, now known as the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food. SAGARPA website The goal of the office was to ensure food security in Mexico and abroad through selective plant breeding and crop improvement.

The project developed into a collaboration between Mexican and international researchers. It established global networks to test experimental crop varieties. One of its researchers, wheat breeder Norman Borlaug, developed dwarf wheat varieties that put more energy into grain production and responded better to fertilizer than older varieties, won the Nobel Peace Prize for that work in 1970.[11] "Norman Borlaug - Facts" from the Nobel Prize website The program was renamed and morphed into CIMMYT in 1963, though it was still under the Secretariat of Agriculture’s jurisdiction. As international demand grew and it became apparent CIMMYT required internal organization and increased funding, the center was reorganized and established as a non-profit scientific and educational institution in its own right in 1966.

In the early 1970s, a small cadre of development organizations, national sponsors, and private foundations organized CGIAR to further spread the impact of agricultural research to more nations. CIMMYT became one of the first international research centers to be supported through the CGIAR. Today, the CGIAR comprises 15 such centers, all dedicated to sustainable food security through scientific research.[1]

Activities

CIMMYT focuses on 1) the conservation and utilization of maize and wheat genetic resources, 2) developing and promoting improved maize and wheat varieties, 3) testing and sharing sustainable farming systems, 4) analyzing the impact of its work and researching ways for further improvement. In Mexico in the late 1980s, CIMMYT began working on better varieties of maize and wheat that helped small peasant farmers, using genetic engineering to resist pests and diseases, as well as raise the protein content of maize.[12] CIMMYT partners with national agriculture research institutions across the globe. Though its headquarters are in Mexico, the center supports 13 regional offices (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nepal, Turkey, and Zimbabwe).

CIMMYT programs and units

Global Wheat Program and Global Maize Program

The core of CIMMYT is its two main programs: the Global Wheat Program[13] and the Global Maize Program.[14] Both programs specialize in breeding varieties of their respective crop that are high yielding and adapted to withstand specific environmental constraints, such as infertile soils, drought, insects, and diseases. Center scientists use, traditional cross-breeding, molecular markers, and potentially genetic engineering to develop new varieties. Additional efforts focus on a variety of agricultural aspects such as proper seed storage, natural resource management, value chains, the benefits of using improved seed, and appropriate machine use and access.[15]

Sustainable Intensification Program

The Sustainable Intensification Program was previously the Conservation Agriculture Program,.[16][17] Scientists in the program study and promote the idea that minimal soil disturbance resulting from little or no tillage, combined with crop rotations and retention of crop residue is a more sustainable method of farming, which leads to bigger yields.[18][19] Following such conservation agriculture practices, offers various benefits to farmers, including better water retention in the soil, higher nutrient levels, less need for fertilizer.[20] A current debate revolves around the question of whether or not conservation agriculture can offset or mitigate global warming caused by climate change.[21] No till farming helps to prevent top soil from loosening and disappearing, which can make it more difficult to grow healthy plants.[22][23][20][20]

Socioeconomics Program

The Socioeconomics Program[24] was once part of the former Impacts Targeting and Assessment Unit, which was dissolved in 2009 to form the Conservation Agriculture Program and the Socioeconomics Program. The mission of this program is to evaluate the center’s work and to increase its positive global impacts. Areas of focus include public policy, efficient use of resources, monitoring of global maize and wheat trends, and the understanding of economic, political and institutional environments in which CIMMYT operates.

Genetic Resources Program

The Genetic Resources and Enhancement Unit (GREU) is support unit that holds the maize and wheat collections of CIMMYT in trust for humanity under UN-FAO agreements.[25] The program works on genetic traits that are identified as priorities by the eco-regional programs, such as drought tolerance. GREU units include the Crop Research Informatics Lab (CRIL),[26] the Germplasm Bank,[27] the Applied Biotechnology Center (ABC),[28] the Seed inspection and distribution unit,[29] and the Seed Health Lab.[30]

Partners and donors

Main donors include African Agricultural Technology Foundation,[31][32][33][34] Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,[35][36][37][38][39][40] the CGIAR, World Bank (through cross-cutting, theme and project-based CGIAR funding),[41][42][43] Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture,[44] and the national governments of Australia, Britain, Canada,[45][46][47][48] Germany,[49][50][51] Japan,[52][53][54][55] Mexico,[56][57][58] the United States [59][60][61][62][63][63] and Switzerland.[64][65][1][66]

Historically, CIMMYT received funding from the European Commission and the Rockefeller Foundation.[67][68][69]

Awards

CIMMYT wheat breeder, Norman Borlaug, known as the father of the Green Revolution, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.[70][71] Borlaug later established the World Food Prize [72] in 1986.[73]

CIMMYT scientists Evangelina Villegas and Surinder Vasal received the World Food Prize in 2000 [74] for their work developing quality protein maize with an adequate balance of amino acids using biofortification techniques. They provided nutritional options for people with diets dominated by maize and with no adequate alternative source of protein.

Wheat breeder Sanjaya Rajaram, who worked with both CIMMYT and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), won the World Food Prize in 2014 [75] for producing a "prodigious" 480 wheat varieties, which produce yields that are estimated to feed more than 1 billion people a year.

Scientist Bram Govaerts won the Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application at the World Food Prize in 2014.[76] He was awarded for "his work developing leading-edge, sustainable programs that are transforming subsistence agriculture and unsustainable farming systems in Mexico and other regions of the world into productive and sustainable production operations." [77]

Scientist Ravi Singh, wheat breeder, won the China Friendship Award in 2015.[78][79]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "About Us". Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo. Archived from the original on 2008-06-14. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  2. ^ "Norman Borlaug - Nobel Lecture: The Green Revolution, Peace, and Humanity".
  3. ^ "Bread Wheat - Improvement and Production". {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 30 (help)
  4. ^ "FAO - News Article: FAO and partners ramp up efforts to track and prevent spread of damaging wheat rusts".
  5. ^ "Research Centers". CGIAR. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
  6. ^ "Center Directors General / CGIAR / About Us / Our Governance". Cgiar.org. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  7. ^ "Innovation key to wheat yield potential advances, says in-coming CIMMYT DG | CIMMYT. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center". Cimmyt.org. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  8. ^ "Martin Kropff / CGIAR / About Us / Our Governance / Center Directors General". Cgiar.org. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  9. ^ "Dr. Thomas Lumpkin Receives the 2014 Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Hawaii". Wsm.wsu.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  10. ^ "Thomas Lumpkin of AVRDC new CIMMYT DG | CIMMYT. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center". Cimmyt.org. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  11. ^ "Norman Borlaug - Facts". Nobelprize.org. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  12. ^ Joseph Cotter, Troubled Harvest: Agronomy and Revolution in Mexico, 1880-2002. Contributions in Latin American Studies, No. 22. Westport CT: Prager 2003, p. 290.
  13. ^ [1] Archived July 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ [2] Archived August 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "CIMMYT - Global Maize Program". 2009-08-08. Archived from the original on 2009-08-08. Retrieved 2017-03-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Sustainable Intensification | CIMMYT. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center". Cimmyt.org. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  17. ^ [3] Archived September 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Hobbs, P. R; Sayre, K.; Gupta, R. (2008). "The role of conservation agriculture in sustainable agriculture". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 363 (1491): 543–55. doi:10.1098/rstb.2007.2169. JSTOR 20208449. PMC 2610169. PMID 17720669.
  19. ^ Busari, Mutiu Abolanle; Kukal, Surinder Singh; Kaur, Amanpreet; Bhatt, Rajan; Dulazi, Ashura Ally (2015). "Conservation tillage impacts on soil, crop and the environment". International Soil and Water Conservation Research. 3 (2): 119–29. doi:10.1016/j.iswcr.2015.05.002.
  20. ^ a b c "No-Till Farming: Effects on Soil, Pros and Cons and Potential". Novapublishers.com. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  21. ^ "FAO:AG:Conservation agriculture". 4 October 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Soils facts, information, pictures - Encyclopedia.com articles about Soils".
  23. ^ "conservation agriculture – One Billion Hungry: Can We Feed the World?". 12 September 2013. Archived from the original on 12 September 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ [4] Archived September 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ {{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/3/a-bb895e.pdf |title=Agreement Between the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN|date=October 16, 2006|accessdate=April 6, 2017
  26. ^ "Crop Research Informatics Laboratory". Cropinfo.org. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
  27. ^ [5] Archived December 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ [6] Archived November 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ [7] Archived November 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ [8] Archived December 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ "African agricultural technology foundation (AATF) receives Feed the Future funding to improve maize production in East Africa - AATF-Africa".
  32. ^ "The wonder seed that kills Striga - AATF-Africa".
  33. ^ "Dr Kyetere roots for partnerships to address agricultural development challenges at World Food Prize - AATF-Africa".
  34. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions - AATF-Africa".
  35. ^ "Search - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation". 18 October 2005. Archived from the original on 18 October 2005. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ "OPP1134248".
  37. ^ "Helping Poor Farmers, Changes Needed to Feed 1 Billion Hungry - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation".
  38. ^ Administrator. "Climate-ready maize gets a boost: Phase III of the drought tolerant maize in Africa project to reach more farmers".
  39. ^ jb755 (25 January 2017). "Cornell receives UK support to aid scientists fighting threats to global wheat supply".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ "$24M grant aims to combat global wheat crop threats - Cornell Chronicle".
  41. ^ "World Bank continues CGIAR funding only after U.S. push to maintain it - TSLN.com".
  42. ^ "CGIAR: A Global Research Partnership for a Food Secure Future".
  43. ^ "Our Programs".
  44. ^ "International Wheat Yield Partnership". 17 November 2016.
  45. ^ Canada, Employment and Social Development. "International agreement to focus on improved durum wheat disease resistance - Canada.ca".
  46. ^ Canada, Research Branch;Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;Government of. "Scientific Cooperation with International Organizations".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  47. ^ Government, Open. "Government Grants and Contributions".
  48. ^ Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;Government of. "The Making of Wheat Warriors: Canadian Wheat Stands Out".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  49. ^ GmbH, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). "Project data".
  50. ^ GmbH, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). "Project data".
  51. ^ GmbH, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). "Expertise. Projects".
  52. ^ "農林水産省/平成28年度ODA予算等の事業概要".
  53. ^ "Yokohama City University and CIMMYT, an International Agricultural Research Institute, Conclude a Comprehensive Basic Agreement Today - Yokohama City University".
  54. ^ "JIRCASとは - Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences - JIRCAS".
  55. ^ "Climate Change and CIMMYT - Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences - JIRCAS".
  56. ^ "Sustainable Modernization of Traditional Agriculture, MasAgro".
  57. ^ "CIMMYT: 50 años de impulsar el maíz y el trigo".
  58. ^ "50 Aniversario del CIMMYT".
  59. ^ "USAID-OFDA Agriculture and Food Security Sector Update, Fiscal Year 2016". 12 October 2016.
  60. ^ "International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) 50 Year Celebration - Opening Remarks by USAID Kenya and East Africa Mission Director Karen Freeman - Speeches & Testimony - Kenya - U.S. Agency for International Development".
  61. ^ "U.S. Launches 'Agricultural Innovation Program'".
  62. ^ "Seeds of Change: Growing Hill Maize Sustainably in Nepal".
  63. ^ a b "Ethiopia Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #5 - March 3, 2016 - U.S. Agency for International Development".
  64. ^ "Agriculture for the future".
  65. ^ Erikson, Jan; Tobisson, Eva; Walton, Ian; Mudenda, Gilbert (June 2000). "An Evaluation of FARMESA and RELMA" (PDF). Swedish Department for Natural Resources and the Environment. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  66. ^ "Donors | CIMMYT. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center". Cimmyt.org. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  67. ^ "100 Years: The Rockefeller Foundation - International maize and wheat improvement center (CIMMYT)". 29 September 2013. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  68. ^ "Our History - A Powerful Legacy :: The Rockefeller Foundation". 1 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  69. ^ [9] [dead link]
  70. ^ "Awards | CIMMYT. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center". Cimmyt.org. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  71. ^ "Norman Borlaug - Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  72. ^ "Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World". The World Food Prize. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  73. ^ "Dr. Borlaug & The World Food Prize - The World Food Prize - Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World". The World Food Prize. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  74. ^ "2000: Vasal and Villegas - The World Food Prize - Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World". The World Food Prize. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  75. ^ "2014 - Rajaram - The World Food Prize - Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World". The World Food Prize. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  76. ^ "The World Food Prize Recognizes Agricultural Scientist Under 40 for Sustainable Agriculture with 2014 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application". Worldfoodprize.org. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  77. ^ for his work developing leading-edge, sustainable programs that are transforming subsistence agriculture and unsustainable farming systems in Mexico and other regions of the world into productive and sustainable production operations.
  78. ^ "CIMMYT wheat breeder Ravi Singh wins China's Friendship Award - CIMMYT. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center".
  79. ^ Template:CITE web

External links

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