Download - Maize

Outcomes
Public‐private partnerships to generate and provide better adapted and diverse maize hybrids to
smallholders in emerging markets, allowing them to produce grain that can feed 160 million people,
while strengthening the local breeding sector.
Methods
Through the International Maize Improvement Consortium, establish a demand‐driven collaborative
model for engaging and supporting NARSs and SMEs in delivering elite maize hybrids into more
difficult‐to‐serve markets.
Target smallholders in favorable growing areas not attended by the private sector (due to significant
germplasm adaptation gaps or smaller‐sized markets).
Participating members of the Consortium—NARSs and local seed companies—will have privileges
and obligations to receive germplasm and information.
Outstanding innovations
A demand‐driven approach that uses membership and performance contracts to improve research
quality and accelerate delivery to “pre‐commercial” smallholders.
Traits associated with high yield potential and efficient input use in tropical environments will be
studied through crop physiological analysis and era hybrid studies.
State‐of‐the‐art tools (doubled haploids, high‐density marker‐based genomic selection), originating
from Strategic Initiative 9 (SI 9), will be applied to the improvement of yield potential and stress
tolerance in higher‐rainfall environments.
Formalized intellectual property (IP) boundaries on research collaboration; each research partner
can use germplasm for further proprietary development while the jointly developed germplasm
remains in the international domain, for stimulating competitive market development.
Strategic Initiative 6: Integrated post‐harvest management
Genesis with partners and justification
Post‐harvest challenges are given very high priority by partners, in particular in eastern and southern
Africa, Nigeria and Indonesia. In specific regions, 30% and more of good harvests are lost to post‐harvest
insect pests, robbing farmers of the opportunity to achieve food security or generate income during
times of the year when grain prices increase. Mycotoxin contamination has led to severe health impacts
in eastern Africa and excluded countries from the benefit of export opportunities.
Outputs and expected impacts
Reduced post‐harvest losses and mycotoxin‐related health risks.
Integrated approaches to improving food safety and reducing post‐harvest losses, allowing farmers
in 15 countries to attain healthy diets and benefit from marketing opportunities.
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