Innovations
Working with smallholders to understand their needs and build on their knowledge, CIMMYT brings the right seeds and inputs to local markets, raises awareness of more productive cropping practices, and works to bring local mechanization and irrigation services based on conservation agriculture practices. CIMMYT helps scale up farmers’ own innovations, and embraces remote sensing, mobile phones and other information technology. These interventions are gender-inclusive, to ensure equitable impacts for all.
ICRISAT and CIMMYT Leadership Reaffirm Commitment to Impactful Collaboration
Climate adaptation and mitigation
CIMMYT and ICRISAT have joined forces to accelerate science-driven, locally grounded solutions that empower smallholder farmers in the face of climate change
Take it to the Farmer: partners trained on positioning & scaling climate-adaptive maize in rainfed marginal ecologies
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Resilient and ready for the future—new high-yielding, climate-adaptive maize (HyCAM) hybrids are built to withstand climate extremes. Guided by Dr. Norman Borlaug’s call to “Take it to the Farmer,” efforts are underway to deliver these seeds to smallholders across rainfed, marginal agroecologies in the Asian tropics, securing livelihoods and strengthening resilience
Mother Farmers: Cultivating Change and Growing Resilience
Climate adaptation and mitigation
In Kasungu, Malawi, Sarai Mkanasi is leading a farming revolution as climate smart mixed farming transforms livelihoods
Tips for diversifying crops and improving the functionality of agricultural systems
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Diversifying cover crops and legumes enhances the functionality of agricultural systems by strengthening the soil, reducing pest pressure, and increasing climate resilience
Fungal Resistance in Wheat: Biodiversity & Food Security
Environmental health and biodiversity
Source: Time News ()
Researchers identified rust-resistant genes in traditional wheat, aided by CIMMYT’s biodiversity efforts
Can organic fertilizers rebuild Zimbabwe’s fragile soils?
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe are restoring soil health and building climate resilience through farmer-led trials that integrate organic amendments and conservation agriculture practices
Pairwise Licenses Gene Editing Tools to CIMMYT to Fast-Track Smallholder Farming Systems’ Transformation
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Global Fulcrum™ license spans 20 countries for trait development in maize, wheat, sorghum, millets, pigeon pea, and groundnut
From CGIAR Research to Action: Strengthening Science-Policy Linkages
Capacity development
CGIAR is strengthening the link between research and policy by promoting simplified, impactful science communication and strategic engagement with policymakers to drive sustainable, evidence-based agricultural innovation
Building trust, bridging divides: How Zambia’s digital champions are paving the way for inclusive farming
Capacity development
In Zambia’s Southern Province, the Atubandike initiative is equipping local Digital Champions to bridge digital and social divides within farming communities-fostering trust, challenging exclusionary norms, and paving the way for inclusive, climate-smart agriculture that places every farmer’s voice at the heart of innovation
Fingerprinting bioinformatics pipeline cuts seed purity testing from days to clicks
Capacity development
A new bioinformatics-powered tool developed by CIMMYT is transforming seed purity testing by delivering fast, automated, and scalable genetic verification for dryland crops, empowering breeders and seed systems across Africa
Rita Devi’s Small Farmers Large Field model revives agriculture in Bihar
Capacity development
In Bihar, smallholder farmers like Rita Devi are transforming their livelihoods through collective action and innovative farming practices introduced by the Small Farmers Large Fields initiative
Women in agronomy: the journey of Carolina Cortez
Capacity development
Carolina Cortez, agronomist, promotes female leadership in agriculture and transforms the field with innovation and dedication
Positioning Soil Health on the Agenda: Bridging Science, Policy and Advocacy
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Coalition fo Action 4 Soil Health ()
CIMMYT, as co-leader of the VACS initiative, is driving global efforts to scale soil health solutions by linking science, policy, and climate-resilient agriculture
Small grains and new methods bring resilience to Zimbabwean farmers
Climate adaptation and mitigation
Source: Development and Cooperation (12 May 2025)
When the worm won’t wait: Battling Fall Armyworm with science, seeds and farmer-led solutions
Climate adaptation and mitigation
When the worm won’t wait, farmers fight back—with science in the seed and solutions rooted in the soil.