The first two weeks of July were spent traveling in eastern and southern Africa, participating in an external review and annual meeting for the Improved Maize for African Soils project (IMAS http://www.cimmyt.org/en/projects/improved-maize-for-african-soils/about-imas-project). The IMAS project is a public-private collaboration between the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa (ARC), the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Pioneer-DuPont, and CIMMYT. The project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID. The objective of the IMAS project is to improve the productivity of maize grown under nutrient poor conditions commonly encountered by small-holder farmers in Africa. The IMAS team works to identify, develop, and disseminate maize varieties with improved grain yield under extremely low fertility.
Nitrogen fertilizer cost is the largest constraint on maize productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. With the exception of a strong commercial farming sector in South Africa, the majority of maize farmers in the region apply very little nitrogen fertilizer compared with other areas of the world. This is especially true for small-holder farmers with limited capital to purchase inputs. Lack of fertilizer production capacity coupled with infrastructural limitations result in six fold higher fertilizer costs in sub-Saharan Africa compared with other geographies. Nitrogen fertilizer rates in sub-Saharan Africa are more than 10 fold lower than North America. Use of maize varieties which can most efficiently utilize the limited available soil nitrogen has the potential to improve farming profitability for millions of African farmers.
CIMMYT scientists have been focusing on productivity of maize under drought and low nitrogen conditions since the 1980s. Dr. Greg Edmeades pioneered maize physiology research on abiotic stress tolerance and conducted a recurrent selection program for grain yield under drought and low nitrogen conditions for over 20 years at CIMMYT research stations in Mexico. Two populations which were improved during this era have produced a number of key stress tolerant donor lines currently used in African breeding programs. Dr. Edmeades has since retired from a distinguished career both with CIMMYT and Pioneer, however he continues to make significant contributions to crop breeding for resource-poor farmers in a number of ways. He is currently serving on the IMAS oversight committee, and continues to be a valuable resource to breeding programs throughout the developing world.
CIMMYT scientists have been focusing on productivity of maize under drought and low nitrogen conditions since the 1980s. Dr. Greg Edmeades pioneered maize physiology research on abiotic stress tolerance and conducted a recurrent selection program for grain yield under drought and low nitrogen conditions for over 20 years at CIMMYT research stations in Mexico. Two populations which were improved during this era have produced a number of key stress tolerant donor lines currently used in African breeding programs. Dr. Edmeades has since retired from a distinguished career both with CIMMYT and Pioneer, however he continues to make significant contributions to crop breeding for resource-poor farmers in a number of ways. He is currently serving on the IMAS oversight committee, and continues to be a valuable resource to breeding programs throughout the developing world.
Since inception in 2009, the IMAS project has spear-headed the development of an extensive network of testing sites to evaluate maize yields under nitrogen-depletion. This task is much more difficult than it sounds. The impact of soil variability on maize grain yield is exacerbated under nutrient deficiency, and the ability to confidently identify superior performing varieties under low nitrogen conditions is confounded. In order to select the best varieties under severe nitrogen limitation, increased replication and careful plot management are required. The establishment of an expansive and growing low nitrogen trial network in eastern and southern Africa involving private and public institutions in several countries is one of the most significant accomplishments of the project to date.
IMAS has made a number of important contributions in just a few years. Identification of the best existing hybrids and open-pollinated varieties and promotion and dissemination of these products is well underway. Breeding pipelines to develop new and improved varieties with higher yield under nitrogen limiting conditions have been established and are producing exciting results. Technical support for both public and private breeding programs in the region has enabled the growth of the testing network and has increased focus on productivity under low fertility conditions throughout the maize seed sector. It is tremendously exciting to be a part of the IMAS project. With continued focus and extensive collaboration, the project should have far-reaching impacts well into the future.______________________________
Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Psalm 85:11-12
