In pursuit of a better world: crop improvement and the CGIAR.

Stefania Grando, Yunbi Xu, Peter Wenzl, Jacob van Etten, Sandra P Valdes-Gutierrez, Philip Thornton, François Tardieu, Michael Selvaraj, Sindhujan Sankaran, Steven Prager, Eng Hwa Ng, Eileen Nchanji, Gloria Mosquera, Charlie Messina, Carlos E Jara, Graeme L Hammer, Jana Kholová, Robert Fungo, Daniel Debouck, Peter Craufurd, Mark Cooper, David Connor, Joshua N Cobb, Paul Chavarriaga, Salvatore Ceccarelli, Andrew P Barnes, Vania Azevedo, Destan Aytekin, Elizabeth Arnaud, Jairo Arcos, James Cock, Milan Oldřich Urban

Journal: Journal of experimental botany 2021;72(14):5158-5179

PMID: 34021317

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Abstract

The CGIAR crop improvement (CI) programs, unlike commercial CI programs, which are mainly geared to profit though meeting farmers' needs, are charged with meeting multiple objectives with target populations that include both farmers and the community at large. We compiled the opinions from >30 experts in the private and public sector on key strategies, methodologies, and activities that could the help CGIAR meet the challenges of providing farmers with improved varieties while simultaneously meeting the goals of: (i) nutrition, health, and food security; (ii) poverty reduction, livelihoods, and jobs; (iii) gender equality, youth, and inclusion; (iv) climate adaptation and mitigation; and (v) environmental health and biodiversity. We review the crop improvement processes starting with crop choice, moving through to breeding objectives, production of potential new varieties, selection, and finally adoption by farmers. The importance of multidisciplinary teams working towards common objectives is stressed as a key factor to success. The role of the distinct disciplines, actors, and their interactions throughout the process from crop choice through to adoption by farmers is discussed and illustrated.

Address: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad-502324, India.; International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Km 17 Recta Cali-Palmira, CP 763537, A.A. 12 6713, Cali, Colombia.; HarvestPlus, Km 17 Recta Cali-Palmira, CP 763537, A.A. 12 6713, Cali, Colombia.; Bioversity International, Parc scientifique Agropolis II, 1990 Boulevard de la Lironde, 34397 Montpellier, France.; HarvestPlus, Washington, DC, USA.; SRUC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.; Independent Consultant, Corso Mazzini 256, 63100 Ascoli Piceno, Italy.; RiceTec Inc., PO Box 1305, Alvin, TX 77512, USA.; Department of Agriculture and Food, The University of Melbourne, Australia.; Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.; CIMMYT, 1st floor, National Plant Breeding and Genetics Centre, NARC Research Station, Khumaltor, Lalitpur, PO Box 5186, Kathmandu, Nepal.; International Center for Tropical Agriculture, PO Box 6247, Kampala, Uganda.; School of Food Technology, Nutrition & Bio-Engineering, Makerere University, PO Box, 7062, Kampala, Uganda.; Independent Consultant, Hacienda Real, Torre 2, CP 760033, Cali, Colombia.; Corteva Agriscience, 7200 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA 50131, USA.; International Center for Tropical Agriculture, African hub, Box 823-00621, Nairobi, Kenya.; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT); México-Veracruz, El Batán Km. 45, 56237, Mexico.; Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, 1935 E. Grimes Way, PO Box 646120, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.; INRA Centre de Montpellier, Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France.; CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture 37 and Food Security (CCAFS), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.; Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), El Batan Texcoco 56130, Mexico.

DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab226

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MeSH Terms: Agriculture, Farmers, Humans