Innovative approaches to integrating gender into conventional maize breeding: lessons from the Seed Production Technology for Africa project

Rachel Voss Jill Cairns Michael Olsen Esnath Tatenda Hamadziripi (2023, [Artículo])

The integration of gender concerns in crop breeding programs aims to improve the suitability and appeal of new varieties to both women and men, in response to concerns about unequal adoption of improved seed. However, few conventional breeding programs have sought to center social inclusion concerns. This community case study documents efforts to integrate gender into the maize-focused Seed Production Technology for Africa (SPTA) project using innovation history analysis drawing on project documents and the authors’ experiences. These efforts included deliberate exploration of potential gendered impacts of project technologies and innovations in the project’s approach to variety evaluation, culminating in the use of decentralized on-farm trials using the tricot approach. Through this case study, we illustrate the power of active and respectful collaborations between breeders and social scientists, spurred by donor mandates to address gender and social inclusion. Gender integration in this case was further facilitated by open-minded project leaders and allocation of funding for gender research. SPTA proved to be fertile ground for experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration around gender and maize breeding, and has provided proof of concept for larger breeding projects seeking to integrate gender considerations.

Crop Breeding On-Farm Trials Tricot CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GENDER CROPS BREEDING ON-FARM RESEARCH SOCIAL INCLUSION CITIZEN SCIENCE MAIZE

Genome-wide association study presents insights into the genetic architecture of drought tolerance in maize seedlings under field water-deficit conditions

Ao Zhang (2023, [Artículo])

Erratic Rainfall Adverse Impacts Traditional Breeding Genome-Wide Association Study Field Drought CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA DROUGHT TOLERANCE MAIZE SEEDLING STAGE SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISM

The impact of 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C global warming on global maize production and trade

Wei Xiong Tariq Ali (2022, [Artículo])

Future Climate Scenario Data Yield Reduction Risk CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CLIMATE CHANGE GREENHOUSE EFFECT MAIZE MITIGATION SIMULATION ACCLIMATIZATION ADAPTATION GLOBAL WARMING

Identification and validation of a key genomic region on chromosome 6 for resistance to Fusarium stalk rot in tropical maize

Zerka Rashid Shilpee Sharma Sudha Nair (2022, [Artículo])

Genome-Wide Association Study Fusarium Stalk Rot CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA FUSARIUM MAIZE DISEASE RESISTANCE QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI MAPPING

Does access to improved grain storage technology increase farmers' welfare? Experimental evidence from maize farming in Ethiopia

Hugo De Groote Bart Minten (2024, [Artículo])

Seasonal price variability for cereals is two to three times higher in Africa than on the international reference market. Seasonality is even more pronounced when access to appropriate storage and opportunities for price arbitrage are limited. As smallholder farmers typically sell their production after harvest, when prices are low, this leads to lower incomes as well as higher food insecurity during the lean season, when prices are high. One solution to reduce seasonal stress is the use of improved storage technologies. Using data from a randomised controlled trial, in a major maize-growing region of Western Ethiopia, we study the impact of hermetic bags, a technology that protects stored grain against insect pests, so that the grain can be stored longer. Despite considerable price seasonality—maize prices in the lean season are 36% higher than after harvesting—we find no evidence that hermetic bags improve welfare, except that access to these bags allowed for a marginally longer storage period of maize intended for sale by 2 weeks. But this did not translate into measurable welfare gains as we found no changes in any of our welfare outcome indicators. This ‘near-null’ effect is due to the fact that maize storage losses in our study region are relatively lower than previous studies suggested—around 10% of the quantity stored—likely because of the widespread use of an alternative to protect maize during storage, for example a cheap but highly toxic fumigant. These findings are important for policies that seek to promote improved storage technologies in these settings.

Hermetic Storage Randomised Controlled Trial CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA STORAGE PILOT FARMS SEASONALITY WELFARE MAIZE

Highlight of CIMMYT East Africa maize product profile-3 (EA-PP3, highland)

Adefris Teklewold (2023, [Objeto de congreso])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA MAIZE BREEDING MARKET SEGMENTATION HYBRIDS GENETIC GAIN INBRED LINES

Estimation of general and specific combining ability effects for quality protein maize inbred lines

Adefris Teklewold Dagne Wegary Gissa (2022, [Artículo])

General Combining Ability Specific Combining Ability CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA COMBINING ABILITY MAIZE PROTEIN QUALITY INBRED LINES DATA ANALYSIS

Genomic prediction of yield performance among single-cross maize hybrids using a partial diallel cross design

Junjie Fu XUECAI ZHANG (2023, [Artículo])

Genomic Prediction Prediction Model Genetic Effects Hybrid Performance CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA MAIZE GENETICS HYBRIDS PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

Highlights of the 2023 Southern Africa regional trials coordinated by CIMMYT

Xavier Mhike (2023, [Objeto de congreso])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA HYBRIDS SELECTION MAIZE FOLIAR DISEASES DROUGHT STRESS

Tackling Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) in eastern Africa through effective phytosanitary approaches

Suresh L.M. Yoseph Beyene Dan Makumbi Manje Gowda Prasanna Boddupalli (2023, [Objeto de congreso])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA MAIZE NECROSIS DISEASE MANAGEMENT PLANT HEALTH GENE EDITING GERMPLASM