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.
CIMMYT makes progress on some of the world’s top problems: 2022 Annual Report, “Harvesting Success”
CIMMYT presents its 2022 Annual Report.
In sub-Saharan Africa, mineral fertilization and agroecology are not incompatible
Should mineral fertilizer use be increased in sub-Saharan Africa? A team of African and European agronomists* provide a nuanced response to this question in an article published in Outlook on Agriculture. Their analysis is based on a review of the existing scientific literature and on years of field experience in sub-Saharan Africa.
Exploring alternative solutions: the case for synthetic mulch in a changing world
With the competing uses of maize residues as a source of feed and energy, CIMMYT has been at the forefront of developing and testing water conservation trials in Mutoko and Buhera, Zimbabwe, to meet the growing needs of farmers.
Fodder Technology Chops Backbreaking Labor in Half for Bangladeshi Women
Source: AgriLink (31 Mar 2023)
The fodder chopper implemented by CIMMYT has been a game-changer for female farmers and wider rural economies in Bangladesh.
Preventing nitrogen loss in maize
CIMMYT and JIRCAS research aims to identify the mechanisms plants use to mitigate nitrogen losses.
LIPS-Zim empowers smallholder farmers
Source: NewsDay (7 Sep 2023)
CIMMYT in partnership with various research institutions, seeks to increase livestock production and productivity by farmers through the Livestock Production Systems in Zimbabwe (LIPS-Zim) project.
Realizing the Potential of Neglected Crops in Latin America
CIMMYT highlights the value of neglected crops in Latin America through new methodologies and initiatives.
Steering towards success
Inaugural Rwanda National Seed Congress paves the way for sustainable seed industry growth.
Agroecology alliance calls for more food at less cost to nature in Congo Basin
Source: Mongabay (28 Aug 2023)
CIMMYT research, Prasanna Boddupalli, emphasise the importance of reorienting food production systems and agricultural policy across the Congo Basin.
Smallholder Mexican farmers adopt resource-conserving innovations: slowly and in bits
Supporting a gradual, step-wise adoption of conservation agriculture — along with livestock and residue management, use of new crops and improved varieties, and appropriate mechanization — appears promising.
A Mexican farm research program gains praise and interest for use abroad
The Mexican government-supported research-for-rural development initiative MasAgro has raised maize and wheat yields and farm profitability while mitigating farmers’ risk and agriculture’s ecological and climate impacts.