International Maize Improvement Consortium – Asia (IMIC-Asia)

B.S. Vivek and P.H. Zaidi

International Maize Improvement Consortium-Asia

● A partnership with seed entities

● A partnership that promises to deliver impact through

development of hybrid maize for targeted priorities

IMIC-Asia: A partnership Open to all Indian and non-

Indian seed entities in Asia

Broadens germplasm

portfolio of seed entities

Targeted impact

Strengthens human

resource capacity of seed

entities (breeding, seed

business management)

Fosters public-private linkages

Based on an annual

membership fee

IMIC-Asia

● Project Started: 1 July 2010

● I Phase: 5 years

IMIC-Asia: An Expanding Partnership

2010 2011

Members 25 28

0

5

10

15

20

25

# M

em

be

rs

Membership

Gold Members: 21

Silver Members: 7

Small Medium Big

National Regional Multinational

Varied portfolio and capabalities -Many lack germplasm - Many need training - Most need a Hybrid Testing Network

Seed Companies

Farmer

Small Medium Big

National Regional Multinational - Many lack germplasm - Many need training - Most need a Hybrid Testing Network

Seed Companies

CIMMYT

+ Genebank

+ Training

+ Network–NARS NGOs ARIs…

Business Unusual

FOCUS

NARS

IMIC-Asia

Sub-Projects

● Sub-Project 1: Germplasm development and

distribution

● Sub-Project 2: Training

● Sub-Project 3: Evaluation of Hybrids

SUB-PROJECT 1: GERMPLASM DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION

IMIC-Asia: Priority Traits

Bright Orange / Yellow Rust, turcicum and

maydis blights

Drought Tolerance

Tackling PFSR: an

IMIC strategic priority

Medium to late maturity

Agronomic performance

High density tolerance

Heat stress tolerance

Sub-Project 1: Germplasm development and distribution ● Provide early and advanced generation CIMMYT

lines through field days

● Data on per se performance for all traits

● Ready-made CIMMYT hybrid combinations for

marketing by member companies

SUB-PROJECT 2: TRAINING

Sub-Project 2: Training Activity 2.1 Management of Maize Breeding Programs Advantages

● Customized training given to the breeder keeping in

mind the needs of the company

● Especially suited to trainees from companies that

are

small to medium in nature

wish to grow in the maize seed business through having

their own portfolio of hybrid products

Sub-Project 2: Training Activity 2.2 Data Management

● To make informed decisions: data turn around is critical to

breeding operations, especially that of maize

● The elements of quick data turn around:

Fast data capture

Quick data analysis

Availability of visualization tools to finalize selection

Sub-Project 2: Training Activity 2.3 Group Training on Breeding

● Managing drought trials

● DH training

● Seed Business Management

SUB-PROJECT 3: HYBRID TESTING

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid Testing Why the need? ● Unlike wheat, maize has more genotype x environment interaction

=> a hybrid good at a location need not be good at another location

● Breeding for identified target environments is crucial to derive

maximum return to investment

● Climate change is real: erratic rainfall, global increase in

temperature

● Seed company needs performance data to enter the market in

another country

● Information in advance to entering All India Coordinated Maize trials

(=> complementary trials and not meant to replace any existing

trialing systems)

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid Testing Why the need?

● Such testing demands careful planning, logistics and resources Many companies lack the logistic and resource capability

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid Testing CIMMYT’s role: Coordination

● Each member seed company submits proprietary hybrids to CIMMYT

● CIMMYT forms the trials

● CIMMYT handles seed export and despatch

● Data is collected by collaborators

● CIMMYT gets the data back

● CIMMYT analyzes and summarizes data

Sub-Project 2: Training

Consortium

Su

b-P

roje

ct 1

:

Ge

rmpla

sm

(1.1

, 1.2

)

Sub-Project 3: Testing

Doubled Haploidy

Molecular Breeding

Activity 1.3: Ready-made hybrids

Default Optionals

IMIC-Asia: Expanding Activities

Visit to Rasi Seeds, Attur (IMIC partner)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Entries Sites

2010

2011

IMIC Trials: Sub-Project 3

IMIC-Asia: expanding relevance

Visit to Foliage Crop Solutions,

Attar: a new member

Visit to Krishidhan Seeds, Jalna

Related Consortia

● ICRISAT

Hybrid Parents Research Consortium – Pigeon Pea

Sorghum

Millet

● IRRI

● bvivek@cgiar.org