Frommilpasto the Market: a Study on the Use of Metal Silos for Safer and Better Storage of Guatemalan Maize

........................................................................................................................2 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................3 THE NATIONAL MAIZE ECONOMY.............................................................................4 GUATEMALA’S AGRICULTURE AND MAIN MAIZE PRODUCTION AREAS........6 MAIZE SEED DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION IN GUATEMALA...................9 MAIZE PRODUCTION LIMITATIONS.........................................................................16 GAPS IN THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND FUTURE OPORTUNITIES FOR THE GUATEMALAN MAIZE PRODUCTION CHAIN.........................................................19 REFERENCES..................................................................................................................21 Scientific Manuscript Two: Traditional maize post-harvest management practices amongst smallholder farmers in the western highlands of Guatemala..............................27 ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................28......................................................................................................................28 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................29 MATERIALS AND METHODS.......................................................................................31 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION........................................................................................33 REFERENCES..................................................................................................................46 Scientific Manuscript Three: Assessment of smallholder farmer’s maize in the western highlands of Guatemala: insect and mold infestation, mycotoxin contamination, and proximate analysis.............................................................................................................49 ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................50......................................................................................................................50