Texcoco, Mexico – 11 November 2025 – H. E. Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation of Belgium, visited CIMMYT headquarters today to explore opportunities to deepen collaboration in support of global food security, agricultural innovation, and climate-resilient agrifood systems.
Welcomed by CIMMYT Director General Bram Govaerts and senior leadership, the Belgian delegation explored CIMMYT’s global impact through science-driven solutions that support smallholder farmers, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable intensification.
“Belgium will continue to be an important partner, and CIMMYT’s work embodies the values we promote, defend, and will continue to support,” said Minister Prévot.
A Legacy of Partnership
Belgium and CIMMYT share a partnership spanning nearly four decades, beginning in 1987 with Belgian-funded research to combat wheat diseases across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. This collaboration has expanded to include work on conservation agriculture, food safety, and joint initiatives with leading Belgian institutions such as UCLouvain, KU Leuven, and Ghent University.
CIMMYT and its partners have received the prestigious CGIAR King Baudouin Award three times, recognizing outstanding contributions to agricultural development. CIMMYT Director General Bram Govaerts, a Belgian national, has also been honored with the Belgian Development Cooperation Prize and the Christophe Plantin Prize.
Science in Action
During the visit, the delegation toured CIMMYT’s biodiversity and seed systems facilities, witnessing firsthand how research translates into practical tools for farmers. From safeguarding maize and wheat genetic resources to scaling climate-resilient cropping systems and mechanization, the visit highlighted CIMMYT’s role in shaping inclusive, sustainable agrifood systems.
Discussions focused on shared priorities such as resilient seed systems, sustainable soil and water management, and science–policy integration. The visit also showcased CIMMYT’s innovation hubs that connect farmers, researchers, governments, and the private sector to co-design scalable solutions.
Belgium’s continued support is vital to our mission of transforming agrifood systems for people and the planet,” said Bram Govaerts.
About CIMMYT
CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.
For more information:
Nahyane Bakkali, External Communications Manager
Climate adaptation and mitigation 
