Americas
CIMMYT has several offices in the Americas, including global headquarters in Mexico and a regional office in Colombia. Activities are supported by an additional 140 hectares of stations in diverse agro-ecological zones of Mexico. CIMMYT’s genebank in Mexico stores 27,000 maize and 170,000 wheat seed collections – key to preserving the crop genetic diversity of the region. CIMMYT projects range from developing nutritionally enhanced maize to mapping regional climate change hot spots in Central America. The comprehensive MasAgro project aims to increase wheat production in Mexico by 9 million tons and maize production by 350,000 tons by 2030. CIMMYT promotes regional collaboration and facilitates capacity building for scientists, researchers and technicians.
Leading nutritionist cites whole grains as critical for better nutrition and health
Nutrition, health and food security
People who eat whole grain foods have a lower risk of almost all chronic diseases and are less likely to gain weight as they age, according to nutritionist Julie Miller Jones.
Breaking Ground: Francelino Rodrigues on high-tech farming
Innovations
Francelino Rodrigues’ expertise in precision agriculture brings a high-tech element to CIMMYT’s field trials.
CIMMYT sends largest ever seed shipment to revitalize agriculture in Haiti
Nutrition, health and food security
CIMMYT will send 150 tons of renewed, improved maize seed to Haiti, the largest seed shipment to any country in the organization’s history.
CIMMYT renames lab to honor Evangelina Villegas, World Food Prize laureate
Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Villegas was recognized for co-developing quality protein maize.
Breaking Ground: Hands on experience gives Carolina Camacho insight into farming best practices
Innovations
Tending her own crops gives Carolina Camacho insights into the challenges farmers face that she could never have learned in a classroom.
A ton of seed shipped to the doomsday vault at Svalbard
Nutrition, health and food security
More than two-thirds of CIMMYT seed collections are now backed-up in the vault on an island in the icy Barents Sea, north of mainland Norway.
Maize seed and training aim to reduce aid dependency in Haiti
Capacity development
The Haiti Mayi project aims to kick-start a local seed sector, keep famine at bay, end dependence on international aid and reduce imports.
Scientists meet in Mexico to revolutionize ways of “watching” experimental plants
Innovations
200 world-class scientists from over 20 countries will gather in Mexico from December 13 to 15 for the 4th International Plant Phenotyping Symposium.
World Food Prize presentation updates delegates on key contributions of MasAgro
Capacity development
Transforming subsistence agriculture and unsustainable farming systems into productive and sustainable operations has been the key focus of scientist Bram Govaerts, 2014 recipient of the Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application.
CIMMYT and Cargill Mexico announce second food security and sustainability awards
For a second year in a row, $25,000 will be awarded to projects contributing to food security and sustainability in Mexico’s agricultural sector.
Mexico, funding, sustainability key to meeting agricultural challenges, “CIMMYT 50” delegates say
Nutrition, health and food security
Pushing the boundaries on technological innovation and sustainability must always be first and foremost, said Martin Kropff, director general CIMMYT.
New generation of hunger fighters needed, says Julie Borlaug at CIMMYT 50th anniversary
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Encourage youth willing to become “hunger fighters” to take up the challenges of farming despite erratic weather caused by climate change, drought, dwindling water supplies and nutrient-depleted soil.
CIMMYT museum highlights cultural aspects of maize and wheat
Capacity development
A new museum in Mexico provides historical background and context for scientific research into maize and wheat, emphasizing agricultural achievements in the developing world.
Beating the odds: Indigenous female scientist gets Mexico’s National Youth Award
Capacity development
CIMMYT PhD fellow Tania MartĂnez receives Mexican National Youth Award for her outstanding performance in academic achievement.
