World Food Prize Internship in Mexico June-August 2024

 Hey there!  My name is Olivia Marti and I recently graduated from Waukon High School in Waukon, IA. I will be attending Iowa State University this fall to Major in Agricultural Business, Agronomy, Seed Science, and International Agriculture. With my two-year Associative Arts degree from Northeast Iowa Community College, I am fortunate enough to enter as a junior this fall! This education and experience is what also pushed me to pursue agri-science.  In my freshman year of high school I began research on animal muscle tissue and how it can be repaired detached from the living organism. The next year as a sophomore, I spent the year abroad in Germany where I was able to learn the German language and conduct research on soil additives and SPAs. In my junior year of high school, I turned my focus towards hydroponic and aeroponic crop production systems and their influence in solving world hunger. And finally in my senior year of high school, I began conducting research on al...

  My First Week at CIMMYT!    - June 21st, 2024: I arrived at CIMMYT around 10:00 PM (22:00) where I checked into my room and ate supper. I have a suite in the Azteca building on site with my own bathroom and a kitchen in the center room! I read through the manuals to get to know the campus a little more and to get a better understanding of what times different buildings were open as well as services.  - June 22nd, 2024: Since I came late on Friday night, I had the whole weekend to explore before starting my internship on Monday! I got a tour from Jean-Flavien Le Basque of CIMMYT. We explored the main building, the administrative offices, the research centers, the residence halls, the playgrounds, the shops and cafeterias, and so much more! After that I went to the gym, worked on research in a common area, and played soccer with a few PhD students there.  - June 23rd, 2024: With it still being the weekend, I had plenty of time on my hands to finish getting settl...

 06/25/2024: The different varieties of corn and their purpose: One of the greatest factors in research at CIMMYT is the different traits of each corn crop and what it could be used for. On my third day in Mexico I was able to take a tour of the labs, one of which was a baking lab! Everyday they bake different types of breads and make different types of doughs to see which grain is best for which purpose. This is one way that they are able to better address need in other countries and help to fight world hunger.  Types of Corn Seeds Sweet Corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) : Uses : Sweet corn is primarily consumed as a vegetable due to its high sugar content. It’s commonly boiled, steamed, grilled, or used in salads and salsas. Baking : Sweet corn varieties are not typically used for baking bread or cakes due to their high moisture content and sweetness. Field Corn (Zea mays var. indentata) : Uses : Field corn, also known as dent corn, is cultivated for livestock feed, industrial...

  What are Hybrid Crops?: A hybrid corn crop is produced through controlled cross-pollination of two genetically distinct parent varieties or lines of Zea mays. This breeding process combines desirable traits from both parents, resulting in offspring that exhibit characteristics like improved yield, disease resistance, uniformity, and other beneficial qualities. This high quality of corn traits is due mainly to the genetic diversity that is accomplished through cross-pollination. Hybrid vigor, or heterosis, is a notable advantage where hybrids often show superior traits compared to their parent lines. Hybrid corn is widely used and harvested for its predictability in performance and higher yields, making it a cornerstone of commercial modern agriculture. Unlike open-pollinated varieties, hybrid corn seeds can not reliably be saved and replanted due to the variability of offspring traits. Modern hybrid corn breeding allows for a crop to produce more desirable traits that can be bene...

 In Mexican mythology, three main gods are connected to corn, an essential crop for ancient civilizations like the Aztecs. These gods are Centeotl, Chicomecoatl, and Xilonen. At CIMMYT, you can find these Gods in a few places, from murals to small statues. There is no question of their absence here, as CIMMYT prioritizes the history and other significance of corn as much as the science behind it.  Centeotl : Centeotl is the god of maize (corn). Often depicted as a young man, he represents the growth and nourishment that corn provides. As the primary food source, Centeotl was very important to the people. Chicomecoatl : Chicomecoatl is the goddess of agriculture, especially corn. Her name means "Seven Serpents." She symbolizes the fertility and abundance of corn. She is usually shown holding corn or other produce, representing the earth's richness and fertility. Xilonen : Xilonen is the goddess of young maize. She represents the tender, young corn that is just beginning to...