CIMMYT 50th international anniversary

9 - 10 September 2016. Nairobi, Kenya. Over 150 partners drawn from national agricultural research organizations and seed companies; government officials, ambassadors, donors and policy makers from national, regional and international agriculture for development community joined the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Participants will review lessons learned and achievements of years of collaboration with partners.

They took socio-economic, political and cultural factors under consideration, and made recommendations on the focus that CIMMYT and partners should take to ensure food security and sustainable maize and wheat agricultural food systems for the future.

“50 YEARS OF IMPACT” STORIES FROM AFRICA

• Maize variety options for Africa. The maize success story in Africa in the eyes of the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa Project (2007-2015) that released over 200 improved varieties in the targeted 13 countries.
• Harnessing maize bioversity for food security, improved livelihoods in Africa. Diverse stress tolerant maize varieties are benefiting smallholders through the sub-Saharan Africa
• Emergency seed project brings relief to drought-affected farmers in Ethiopia. As Ethiopia struggles with its worst drought in 50 years, farmers pin their hopes on seed delivered through emergency projects.
• CIMMYT and partners set the pace in maize and wheat research in Africa. State-of-art research facilities leap Africa’s Agricultural potential through modern research.
• Fight against Maize Lethal Necrosis. Though the Maize lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease has devastated smallholders in eastern Africa region since 2011, ongoing intensive research work with partners is soon bringing relief as collaborative efforts strive to curb further spread of the disease to non-endemic countries in Africa.