CGIAR Research Program on Maize (MAIZE)
The CGIAR Research Program on Maize (MAIZE) is an international collaboration between more than 300 partners that seeks to mobilize global resources in maize research and development to achieve a greater strategic impact on maize-based farming systems in Africa, Latin America and South Asia.
Led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as its main CGIAR partner, MAIZE focuses on increasing maize production for the 900 million poor consumers for whom maize is a staple food in Africa, Latin America and South Asia. MAIZE’s overarching goal is to double maize productivity and increase incomes and livelihood opportunities from sustainable maize-based farming systems.
MAIZE receives funding support from CGIAR Trust Fund contributors.
MAIZE Flagship Projects (FPs) and Cluster of Activities
FP1: Enhancing MAIZE’s R4D strategy for impact
• Foresight and targeting of R4D strategies
• Learning from M&E, adoption and impacts
• Enhancing gender and social inclusiveness
• Value chain analysis
FP2: Novel diversity and tools for improving genetic gains
• Informatics, database management and decision support tools
• Development of enabling tools for germplasm improvement
• Unlocking genetic diversity through trait exploration and gene discovery
• Pre-breeding: development of germplasm resources
FP3: Stress-tolerant and nutritious maize
• Climate resilient maize with abiotic and biotic stress tolerance
• Tackling emerging trans-boundary disease/pest challenges
• Nutritional quality and end-use traits in elite genetic backgrounds
• Precision phenotyping and mechanization of breeding operations
• Seed production research and recommendations
• Stronger maize seed systems
FP4: Sustainable intensification of maize-based systems
• Multi-scale farming system framework to better integrate and enhance adoption of sustainable intensification options
• Participatory adoption and integration of technological components
• Development and field-testing of crop management technologies
• Partnership and collaborations models for scaling
New CIMMYT maize hybrid available from the Latin America Breeding Program
CIMMYT is offering a new improved maize hybrid to partners, to scale up production for farmers in the region.
Getting to win-win: Can people and nature flourish on an increasingly cultivated planet?
Faced with dramatic biodiversity loss and a growing population, should farmers “share” or “spare” land? Agricultural scientists weigh in, yielding a new perspective.
BNI-enhanced wheat research wins 2021 Cozzarelli Prize
Study describing development of wheat with biological nitrogen inhibition ability from wild relative receives award for outstanding papers published in PNAS.
New CIMMYT maize hybrid available from Eastern Africa highland breeding program
CIMMYT is offering a new improved maize hybrid to partners, to scale up production for farmers in the region.
New CIMMYT maize hybrids available from Eastern Africa Breeding Program
CIMMYT is offering a new set of improved maize hybrids to partners, to scale up production for farmers in the region.
State-of-the-art maize doubled haploid facility inaugurated in India
The facility will offer maize doubled haploid production services to public and private sector partners in South Asia.
A decade of world-leading maize and wheat research
Legacy websites and photo exhibition mark the closing of the CGIAR Research Programs on Maize and Wheat, and their impact on sustainable agricultural development.
From diagnosis to action on social equity
Building on impact of GENNOVATE, scientists recommend integrating gender-transformative research and methodologies into the new CGIAR Initiatives.
New CIMMYT maize hybrids available from Southern Africa breeding program
CIMMYT is offering a new set of improved maize hybrids to partners, to scale up production for farmers in the region.
A new tool to strengthen the fight against fall armyworm in Asia
CIMMYT, USAID and partners announce the publication of a guide for integrated pest management of fall armyworm in Asia.
Tracing the evolution of 50 years of maize research in CGIAR
Publication reviews the history of CGIAR maize research from 1970 to 2020.
New CIMMYT maize hybrids available from Latin America breeding program
CIMMYT is offering a new set of improved maize hybrids to partners, to scale up production for farmers in these areas.
CRP Maize Annual Report 2020
For nearly a decade, the CGIAR Research Program on Maize has contributed to resilient, equitable and socially inclusive maize agri-food systems. 2020 proved this work to be more necessary than ever.
Waging war against the fall armyworm
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.
Breaking Ground: Natalia Palacios gets the most out of maize
From biofortification to cooking techniques, a CIMMYT scientist and her team test how to make this global staple as nutritious as possible.
