Nutrition, health and food security

As staple foods, maize and wheat provide vital nutrients and health benefits, making up close to two-thirds of the world’s food energy intake, and contributing 55 to 70 percent of the total calories in the diets of people living in developing countries, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. CIMMYT scientists tackle food insecurity through improved nutrient-rich, high-yielding varieties and sustainable agronomic practices, ensuring that those who most depend on agriculture have enough to make a living and feed their families. The U.N. projects that the global population will increase to more than 9 billion people by 2050, which means that the successes and failures of wheat and maize farmers will continue to have a crucial impact on food security. Findings by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which show heat waves could occur more often and mean global surface temperatures could rise by up to 5 degrees Celsius throughout the century, indicate that increasing yield alone will be insufficient to meet future demand for food.

Achieving widespread food and nutritional security for the world’s poorest people is more complex than simply boosting production. Biofortification of maize and wheat helps increase the vitamins and minerals in these key crops. CIMMYT helps families grow and eat provitamin A enriched maize, zinc-enhanced maize and wheat varieties, and quality protein maize. CIMMYT also works on improving food health and safety, by reducing mycotoxin levels in the global food chain. Mycotoxins are produced by fungi that colonize in food crops, and cause health problems or even death in humans or animals. Worldwide, CIMMYT helps train food processors to reduce fungal contamination in maize, and promotes affordable technologies and training to detect mycotoxins and reduce exposure.

Publications

tag icon Nutrition, health and food security

Reduced wheat exports from Russia and Ukraine are causing an increase in price rises in countries where food security is already a concern.

News

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At the International Maize Congress, Bram Govaerts emphasized the importance of collaborative research to work towards healthy diets and sustainable systems.

News

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CIMMYT is offering a new improved maize hybrid to partners, to scale up production for farmers in the region.

Publications

tag icon Nutrition, health and food security

Genetic gain for yield in CIMMYT varieties distributed in Afghanistan shows an increase over a 14-year period.

In the media

tag icon Nutrition, health and food security

Source: Eastern Daily Press (15 Oct 2022)

A tiered approach is needed to tackle food crises and wheat shortages triggered by the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

Videos

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The CIMMYT–China collaboration over four decades has added some 10.7 million additional tons of wheat to China’s national wheat output.

In the media

tag icon Nutrition, health and food security

Source: Mexico Business News (14 Oct 2022)

Bram Govaerts discussing the development of seed systems that work for smallholder farmers.

News

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

Maize and wheat seeds stored in Svalbard are essential for protecting global biodiversity for future generations.

Features

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CIMMYT’s agrifood systems research looks at how to better connect farmers to consumers in a sustainable way, allowing for higher benefits from farming and increased access to nutritious cereal-based food for consumers.

Features

tag icon Gender equality, youth and social inclusion

For World Food Day, discover how CIMMYT is improving food security, livelihoods and nutrition in South Asia, with support from ACIAR.

Features

tag icon Gender equality, youth and social inclusion

High-yielding purple maize, introduced into Peruvian agriculture by Alicia Medina Hoyos, is attracting global attention.

News

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A range of maize varieties that are high-yielding, climate resilient and nutritious are being introduced for the first time in Nepal.

News

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Wheat experts gather at the Second International Wheat Congress to discuss resilience and sustainability, aiming to increase collaboration in the advancement of the crop.

Projects

tag icon Nutrition, health and food security
Press releases

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

The results of the Plan MaĂ­z initiative were presented and, looking ahead, one of the goals is to ensure that 20% of the maize and wheat from this project is sourced through regenerative agriculture practices by 2025 and 50% by 2030.