Sylvanus Odjo

There is a Yoruba song my grandfather used to sing. It speaks of the maize grain (Erire ni T ‘Agbado) that leaves the village as a seed and returns as a full ear with shiny hair (corn silk). As a child growing up in Benin, I did not know that this image would define my scientific career. Today, working at the intersection of two continents, based in Mexico, rooted in West Africa, I still carry that song. And I still ask the question it poses: what happens between the seed and the full ear?

Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Supporting Information Filename Description jen70016-sup-0001-Supinfo1.docxWord 2007 document , 322.2 KB Data S1: jen70016-sup-0001-Supinfo1.docx. References 1976. “Weight Loss Caused by Development of Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. In Maize.” Journal of Stored Products Research 12, no. 4: 269–272. , , and . 2019.

In a world where environmental and agrifood challenges demand urgent responses, the CGIAR-led Positive Solutions for Nature (Nature+) initiative is transforming agriculture into a catalyst for ecological regeneration and sustainable development. In Colombia, CIMMYT has played a key role in implementing several activities under this initiative.