Environmental health and biodiversity

The world needs better management of water, soil, nutrients, and biodiversity in crop, livestock, and fisheries systems, coupled with higher-order landscape considerations as well as circular economy and agroecological approaches.

CIMMYT and CGIAR use modern digital tools to bring together state-of-the-art Earth system observation and big data analysis to inform co-design of global solutions and national policies.

Our maize and wheat genebanks preserve the legacy of biodiversity, while breeders and researchers look at ways to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture.

Ultimately, our work helps stay within planetary boundaries and limit water use, nutrient use, pollution, undesirable land use change, and biodiversity loss.

News

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

A research team in Mexico has been awarded the BGRI Gene Stewardship Award for their groundbreaking work on wheat breeding.

News

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

SAWBAR bestowed the Sh. VS Mathur Memorial Award 2022 upon CIMMYT scientist Ravi Singh for his pioneering work to enhance wheat productivity in India.

News

tag icon Capacity development

The developments will create capacity for national and international research and improve processes for disease screening in wheat.

Projects

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity
Publications

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

CIMMYT scientists seek alternatives to synthetic nitrogen using biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in order to reduce a significant driver of climate change.

Publications

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

Evidence suggests conservation agriculture can maintain the sustainability of agri-food systems in regions impaired by soil salinity and sodicity.

Publications

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

Genetic analysis of the Afghan wheat landrace KU3067 reveals resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust, which can be used to develop further disease-resistant wheat varieties.

In the media

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Source: Corteva (10 Aug 2022)

Genetic analysis plays a vital role in tackling crop diseases such as wheat stem rust, which can be financially devastating for farmers.

Publications

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

This metagenomics study examines how application of organic material alters soil microbial populations and functionality in soil from permanent beds with residue retention.

News

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

In 2009, a team of wheat scientists from CIMMYT, ICARDA, FAO, and national partners set off on a five-year expedition across Central Asia to collect as many landraces as they could find.

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity
Senior Research Associate
Press releases

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

Cropping diversity, soil-enriching crops, and adding organic material to soils can boost food-crop yields for farmers who can’t apply fertilizer.

Blogs

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

“Strong partnership” highlighted as CIMMYT and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board review progress in managing acid soil.