The world faces pressing challenges in food security, climate resilience, and sustainable agricultural development. To address these critical issues, CIMMYT is committed to driving innovation and fostering collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and partners worldwide. Science and Innovation Week 2025 (SIW) serves as a platform to advance research, exchange knowledge, and accelerate solutions that will shape the future of agrifood systems.
Science and Innovation Week 2025 will take place at CIMMYT Headquarters in El Batán, Texcoco, Mexico, from February 24 to 28, 2025. This event will bring together CIMMYT’s leading scientists and thought leaders from around the world to discuss cutting-edge research and strengthen cross-disciplinary collaboration. Together, we will explore strategies to enhance CIMMYT’s 2030 strategy and ensure that our research remains impactful, inclusive, and aligned with global sustainability goals.
Key themes and priorities
SIW 2025 will focus on priority areas that are critical to CIMMYT’s mission. These “hills and mountains” represent strategic areas of investment necessary to drive high-impact research and innovation. The week’s discussions and sessions will be guided by the following key themes:
- Advancing Data Capabilities: Strengthening data-driven decision-making and digital transformation to improve research outcomes.
- Integrating Gender and Social Inclusion (GEYSI): Ensuring that agricultural innovation benefits diverse communities, especially marginalized and underrepresented groups.
- Strengthening Partnerships: Enhancing cross-sector collaboration to accelerate the impact of research initiatives.
- Tackling climate change: Addressing the challenges of climate resilience in agriculture through innovative solutions and adaptation strategies.
Plenary Sessions:
The Science and Innovation Week 2025 plenary sessions will bring together CIMMYT scientists and global experts to advance agricultural innovation and collaboration. Discussions will focus on data capabilities, GEYSI, partnerships, and climate resilience within CIMMYT’s 2030 strategy. These sessions will shape the week’s agenda and reinforce CIMMYT’s leadership in agricultural research.
24 February
| Session 1 (09:00-10:30) | Plenary 1: 2030 Strategy in Focus: Strategy, Structure, Culture. |
| Session 2 (11:00-12:30) | Plenary 2: Snapshot of CIMMYT science, CIMMYT Climate Action Plan. |
| Session 3 (14:00-15:30) | Plenary 3: GEYSI (panel) |
| Session 4 (16:00-17:30) | Plenary 4: Science Communication |
25 February
| Session 1 (09:00-10:30) | Emerging topics breakout groups |
| Session 2 (11:00-12:30) | Plenary 5: Data use for food and water systems/How can data be used to serve our mission? |
| Session 3 (14:00-15:30) | Breakout groups: Data universe in CIMMYT |
| Session 4 (16:00-17:30) | Plenary 6: Breaking the Cycle: Climate, Conflict, Cost of living and the Future of Food Security |
26 February
| Session 1 (09:00-10:30) | Plenary 7: Operations update |
| Session 2 (11:00-12:00) | Plenary 8: CIMMYT inc. |
| Session 3 (12:00-13:00) | CIMMYT Inc Market Place |
| Session 4 (14:00-15:30) | Emerging topics breakout groups |
| Session 5(16:00-17:30) | Plenary 9: Innovation Sprints |
27 February
| Session 1 (09:00-10:15) | Plenary 10: Partnership: what does this mean for how CIMMYT works? |
| Session 2 (10:40-11:40) | Breakout groups: Partnership, influence and advocacy breakout groups |
| Session 3 (11:50-12:30) | Plenary 11: Partnership at CIMMYT |
| Session 4 (14:00-15:30) | Plenary 12: Engagement |
| Session 5 (16:00-17:30) | Plenary 13: Keynote address and send off. |
