Crops to End Hunger

Challenge

Within CGIAR-NARES breeding programs, the low utilization of mechanization is limiting effectiveness and potential genetic gains. Manual management restricts the number of crosses and progeny assessments that can be performed, also affecting the uniformity and quality of nurseries and trials.

Crops to End Hunger aims to procure advanced equipment, upgrade infrastructures and establish sustainable service fees at key breeding research stations in Africa. The goal is to transform them into multi-crop hubs delivering high-quality data and supporting breeding programs across the continent.

Four improvement areas to unlock genetic gains

The project focuses on four specific areas: mechanization, irrigation, seed processing and storage, and adequate shared services for breeding programs. 

• Mechanization equiping beneficiary stations with essential equipment such as planters, field preparation machinery, and harvesting tools, accompanied by training and ongoing assistance.
• Irrigation systems, often outdated and inadequate, are replaced by state-of-the-art systems, tailored to stations’ needs and powered by solar energy wherever feasible. The goal is to double the irrigation capacities of the participating stations.
• Seed processing equipement are setup, to safeguard germplasm and enhance integrity of breeding materials, including threshing and cleaning machines, seed storage, cold storage facilities, etc.
• Stations’ shared services and service catalogue are being developed by the project, which assists breeding stations in improving their services, including field preparation, planting, weeding, irrigation, seed processing,etc. Fee structures is established to ensure sustainability by accurately reflecting operational costs.

Projects mapping to this theme:

• Facilities Upgrade and Mechanization Improvement
• Upgrading Infrastructure and Facilities for Accelerated Breeding and Genetic Gain in Cassava
• Enhancing genetic gain of crops for resilience through modernization of ISRA-CNRA Bambey/Senegal research station
• Kiboko Research Station Upgrade
• Upgrading CIP-NARES East Africa potato breeding hub infrastructure
• Speed Breeding Facility to Enable a Two-Year Breeding Cycle
• Mechanization to enable direct seeding in rise breeding operations: Phase 2

Implementation dashboard