All news and blogs
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 quality forage crops has restricted...
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 transform the rate at which new...
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. Some of the most important crops in...
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...
| 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...
| Sam Storr | 15/3/2019
A rich source of protein, oils and other nutrients that requires few inputs to produce, groundnut is considered both an important contributor to household nutrition and a cash crop. To accelerate the development and adoption of improved varieties, a workshop on the use of product profiles low-cost genotyping was held for...
Applying stage-gates to better manage public breeding programs
How to | Sam Storr | 12/2/2019
Video: George Kotch, EiB product design and management lead, explains stage gates in five minutes. High-performing breeding programs not only have a strong idea of customer needs, they also exercise full control of the breeding pipeline to ensure that the right products are delivered and...
Product profiles are a blueprint for breeding with impact
How to | Sam Storr | 12/12/2018
The impact of breeding on poverty alleviation in the developing world has been limited by low rates of adoption in farmers’ fields. With the number of people going hungry in the world again on the rise we must recommit to science for impact.Product Profiles were designed by breeders for breeders as a means to...