Open Access

During 1999-2000, the CIMMYT MAize Program and partners in maize research systems of developing countries worldwide recorded significant accomplishments. Among other things, they developed, tested, and promoted stress-tolerant maize for sub-Saharan Africa and brought about the release of new, high-yielding quality protein maize (QPM) hybrids and varieties in more than a dozen countries. Two CIMMYT researchers were co-recipients of the 2000 World Food Prize for their leading efforts during the 1970-80s to develop QPM. There was a sizeable expansion in the use of CIMMYT highland maize germplasm by seed companies and farmer associations in Mexico- where nearly half the world's 6.3 million hectares of highland maize is located. CIMMYT researchers homed in on the biochemical bases for resistance in maize to post-harvest storage pests, a development that should greatly facilitate breeding for this important trait. Finally, the Program advanced recently-begun work to develop and deploy productivity-enhanding, resource-conserving maize technologies appropriate for farmers' circumstances and the fragile hill environments of Nepal. Details of these efforts, selected from the Maize Program's global research agenda, are provided, along with supporting date, contact information for Program researchers, and a list of Program publications for the period covered.

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