Farms.com Home   News

How Crop Innovation is Addressing the Impact of the Climate Crisis in Africa

In a just-published op-ed, Martin Kropff, Director General, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Nteranya Sanginga, Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), talk about CGIAR centers’ investment on long-term breeding to increase genetic gains in an important food crop like maize using many new tools and technologies.

In the op-ed, Kropff and Sanginga make the case for increasing investments in crop improvement and seed systems innovation to cope with the climate variability crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. They said “It is not enough to lower carbon emissions. African farmers need to adapt quickly to rising temperatures, drawn-out droughts and sharp, devastating floods. With higher-yielding, multiple stress tolerant maize varieties, smallholder farmers have the opportunity to not only combat climatic variabilities, diseases and pests, but can also effectively diversify their farms. This will enable them in turn to have better adaptation to the changing climates and access to well-balanced and affordable diets.”

CGIAR has been leading technological innovation and deployment to transform food systems for many decades. CIMMYT and IITA are the two CGIAR research centers undertaking innovative maize research and development work in the stress-prone environments of Africa.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Taking Stock in a Farmer's Mental and Physical Health as Spring Arrives

Video: Taking Stock in a Farmer's Mental and Physical Health as Spring Arrives

Amanda Nigg, founder of Farm Fit Training, is back with us. We discuss the intersection of physical and mental health in agriculture. Four years into her mission, Amanda shares insights on how physical transformations can lead to improved mental well-being for farmers and ranchers. The conversation explores the challenges of rural fitness, the importance of community support, and how Farm Fit Training has evolved to meet the unique needs of agricultural professionals. Amanda also discusses her ambitious goal to impact 100,000 agriculturalists in the next four years while expanding her reach internationally.