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.
Climate-smart strategy for weed management proves to be extremely effective
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Results of an 8-year study show that weed density and diversity are greatly reduced when zero-tillage, drip-irrigation, and new crops are introduced to rice-wheat systems.
A new tool to strengthen the fight against fall armyworm in Asia
Capacity development
CIMMYT, USAID and partners announce the publication of a guide for integrated pest management of fall armyworm in Asia.
CIMMYT becomes partner of choice in PepsiCo and Grupo Trimex’s sustainability strategy
Environmental health and biodiversity
The food and beverage company will source wheat produced sustainably from a milling company that buys grain from farmers in the Bajío region of Mexico who will participate in CIMMYT’s research and capacity building networks.
Understanding decision support
Environmental health and biodiversity
Researchers study the design, delivery and use of digital decision-support tools for smallholder maize farmers in northern Nigeria.
India’s Groundwater Is In Trouble. And It Could Cause a Food Shortage for Millions By 2025, Study Finds
Environmental health and biodiversity
Source: Green Queen (11 Aug 2021)
A recent study of the groundwater in India revealed that, by 2025, large areas of the north-western and southern parts of the country will have “critically low groundwater availability”.
Preventing and protecting against wheat blast
Environmental health and biodiversity
Cross-regional collaboration brings wheat blast protection to farmers in Bangladesh and Brazil.
Maize and wheat science to sustainably feed the world
Climate adaptation and mitigation
New CIMMYT brochure highlights value of maize and wheat science to battle rising undernourishment.
Protecting plants will protect people and the planet
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Understanding the relationship between climate change and plant health is key to conserving biodiversity and boosting food production today and for future generations.
Waging war against the fall armyworm
Environmental health and biodiversity
CIMMYT and its partners worldwide continue to work on this complex challenge, so millions of smallholder farmers can protect their crops and feed their families.
Annual Report 2020 launched
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Working towards resilience, renewal and transition in our agri-food systems.
Maíz: en equipo, locos por la genética
Environmental health and biodiversity
Source: La Nación (26 Jun 2021)
An article in La Nación praises the work of a number of research institutions, including CIMMYT, for their use of science and technology to develop hybrid maize lines adapted to the needs of farmers, markets and consumers.
La Agricultura de Conservación, una oportunidad para afrontar los retos presentes y futuros de la agricultura
Capacity development
Source: Agroinformación (22 Jun 2021)
At the 8th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, Martin Kropff argued that “agriculture cannot take a toll on the environment”, praising conservation agriculture for its contribution to building resilience to drought.
Adult plant resistance (APR): the strategy to beat persistent pathogens
Environmental health and biodiversity
CIMMYT’s decision to focus on APR genes versus race-specific genes (R-genes) protects the livelihoods of millions of smallholder wheat farmers throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Report links wheat blast pandemic on three continents
Environmental health and biodiversity
Source: World Grain (19 Mar 2021)
Genetic analyses show that a destructive wheat blast fungus that travelled from South America to South East Asia is now established in Zambia under rain-fed conditions.
A challenge solved
Environmental health and biodiversity
Massive study of breeding lines across environments pinpoints genomic regions associated with yield potential and stress-resilience in bread wheat.
