All news and blogs

How much does it cost to develop and deliver improved maize varieties in Africa?

EiB news | Sam Storr | 3/10/2019

By Jerome Bossuet From 10-12 September, members of the Global Maize Program at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) team met with breeders, seed system specialists, research associates,...

Change management and behavioral change is key to modernization in CGIAR

Opinion | Sam Storr | 3/9/2019

 By Hugo Campos, International Potato Center (CIP)  “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it...

Digitization survey results announced

| Sam Storr | 28/8/2019

 In March 2019, EiB surveyed its members to identify the models of equipment currently used to digitize breeding operations.These include package printers, label printers, barcode readers, electronic data collectors and seed counters that can be used to speed up, standardize and introduce efficiency savings into breeding program operations.The survey results will be used to guide the outreach agenda of EiB module leaders, while the makes and...

Digitization survey results announced

EiB news | Sam Storr | 28/8/2019

In March 2019, EiB surveyed its members to identify the models of equipment currently used to digitize breeding operations.These include package printers, label printers, barcode readers, electronic data collectors and seed counters that can be used to speed up, standardize and introduce efficiency...

Partnering with the seed industry to redefine the Latin American forages market

Success story | Sam Storr | 12/8/2019

 Meat and dairy products are central to the Latin American diet, and livestock is a source of income for over 600 million people living on less than US $1 per day around the world. Historically, a lack of...

Transforming CGIAR breeding impact: 3 key points to understand the improvement plan initiative

Opinion | Sam Storr | 16/7/2019

In 2019, all CGIAR Centers are focused on taking breeding program impact to the next level.Each center is developing an improvement plan that identifies key innovations and investments that will...

Applying advanced genomics and data tools to complex polyploid crops

| Sam Storr | 4/6/2019

CGIAR and public sector experts met at the International Potato Center (CIP, Peru), May 8-10, 2019 to evaluate genomics resource needs and demonstrate new tools and methods for polyploid crop breeding.  Some of the most important crops in the world, such as potato, sweet potato, wheat and banana are also some of the most genetically complex,...

Applying advanced genomics and data tools to complex polyploid crops

EiB news | Sam Storr | 4/6/2019

CGIAR and public sector experts met at the International Potato Center (CIP, Peru), May 8-10, 2019 to evaluate genomics resource needs and demonstrate new tools and methods for polyploid crop breeding. ...

Plant breeding for the future: the time is now

| Sam Storr | 29/4/2019

by Laura Cramer and Philip Thornton (CCAFS)This article first appeared on CCAFS.cgiar.org, read it here. Climate change requires that we breed crops and livestock better suited to new conditions.Think about the last food you ate. Maybe it was a meal or maybe you’re snacking on something right now. Have you ever considered the amount of effort that has gone into plant and animal breeding to produce that food? The wheat that was ground...

EiB Product Manager Tawanda Mashonganyika unites crop breeders and market experts for more impactful varieties

| Sam Storr | 11/4/2019

The low rate at which farmers adopt improved varieties is one of the biggest obstacles to overcoming food insecurity. The average maize variety grown by farmers in sub-Saharan Africa is 15 years old, even though maize breeders have been releasing more than 50 new varieties every year.When it comes to climate change, for...