Message from the MAIZE Director:
The CGIAR Research Program on Maize (MAIZE) continues to achieve significant development outcomes and impacts through varietal release, scale-up, delivery and adoption of CIMMYT and IITA-derived climate-resilient and nutritionally enriched maize varieties. In 2018, national partners released 81 unique CGIAR-derived maize varieties across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Of these varieties 14 were hybrid combinations, showing that regional/multinational seed companies use MAIZE improved germplasm to develop and release improved maize hybrids. 20 of the released varieties are nutritionally enriched – provitamin A, quality protein maize (QPM), high-zinc – the result of the MAIZE partnership with the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH; HarvestPlus).
As you will read in this report, MAIZE and partners have made great strides in 2018 combatting major pest and disease challenges such as maize lethal necrosis (MLN) and the devastating fall armyworm (FAW).
MAIZE researchers found that sustainable intensification practices in combination with stress tolerant maize led to higher yield gains during the El Nino year in Southern Africa.
Meanwhile, a crop growth modelling study quantified the impact of climate change on maize and found combined drought and heat stress tolerance has a benefit at least twice that of either one alone.
None of this work would be possible without the generous and continued support from our funders, in particular, stable CGIAR Window 1 and 2 funding. The CGIAR Research Program on Maize (MAIZE) receives W1&W2 support from the Governments of Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom (DFID), United States (USAID) and the World Bank.
We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to all MAIZE partners, funders and stakeholders for their active participation and support. We hope you enjoy this year’s Annual Report as we look back upon our outcomes and achievements in 2018, while working towards enhancing our impact in 2019 and beyond.
B.M. Prasanna
Director of the CGIAR Agri-Food Systems Research Program on Maize
Curbing the spread of maize lethal necrosis in Africa
When Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) was identified in Africa for the first time in 2011, scientists feared the worst. However, rapid and coordinated action among public and private institutions across sub-Saharan Africa has helped contain the spread of the deadly disease, averting a potential food security disaster in the region:
Financial Summary
MAIZE greatly appreciates the contributions of all Window 1 and Window 2 funding partners for their support during Phase I through the CGIAR Fund. Without these donors MAIZE work in Phase I (2012-2016) and Phase II (2017-2022 ongoing) would not have been possible.
The CGIAR Research Program on MAIZE (MAIZE) is an international collaboration between more than 300 partners that seeks to mobilize global resources in maize research and development to achieve a greater strategic impact on maize-based farming systems in Africa, South Asia and Latin America.
Led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as its main CGIAR partner, MAIZE focuses on increasing maize production for the 900 million poor consumers for whom maize is a staple food in Africa, South Asia and Latin America. MAIZE’s overarching goal is to double maize productivity and increase incomes and livelihood opportunities from sustainable maize-based farming systems.
Writers/Editors: Jennifer Johnson and Carolyn Cowan
Contributors: Lone Badstue, Frederic Baudron, Yoseph Beyene, Anani Bruce, Olaf Erenstein, Bruno Gerard, Manje Gowda, Victor Kommerell, Sudha Nair, Marilia Nutti, Gerphas Ogola, Matthew O’Leary, Natalia Palacios, B.M. Prasanna, Dil Rahut, Felix San Vicente, L.M. Suresh, Regina Tende, Claudia Velasco
Photos: Amador Aguillón, CIMMYT, Carlos Alfonso Cortés, M.DeFreese, HarvestPlus, Jennifer Johnson, Peter Lowe, Matthew O'Leary
Infographics and maps: Jennifer Johnson, Sam Storr and Nancy Valtierra
Spark production: Jennifer Johnson and Carolyn Cowan