Texcoco, Mexico – November 5, 2025. CIMMYT and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance agricultural innovation, food security, and sustainable development across the Turkic countries.
The agreement was formalized on November 5, 2025, during the official visit of H.E. Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliyev, Secretary General of the OTS, to CIMMYT Headquarters in El Batán, Texcoco, Mexico.
The MoU, signed by Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, and Amb. Kubanychbek Omuraliyev, marks a new phase of collaboration between the two organizations to develop joint research and programs that promote sustainable and resilient agricultural systems across the member states of the OTS.
The new partnership will serve as a catalyst for innovation and regional cooperation, aligning CIMMYT’s 2030 Strategy with the Turkic World Vision 2040. Through this collaboration, both organizations aim to accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops, strengthen seed systems, and enhance food security across the Turkic countries.
“At CIMMYT, we are very proud of this agreement. It sets the foundation for great impact in a region responsible for feeding millions,” said Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT. “We don’t start from zero: 89 CIMMYT wheat varieties have been released in the region, 139 scientists trained, and 172 students obtained their master’s or PhD degrees. These numbers are great achievements, but this is just the start.’’
“This partnership will allow our member states to benefit from CIMMYT’s global expertise, while we contribute our own regional knowledge and innovation potential,” said H.E. Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliyev, Secretary General of the OTS. “Agriculture is one of the most important pillars of our economies, providing employment, food, and social stability.”
During his visit, Ambassador Omuraliyev toured CIMMYT’s world-class research facilities, including the Wellhausen & Anderson Genetic Resources Center, the Maize Quality and Nutrition Laboratory, and the Bioscience Complex, where CIMMYT scientists showcased their work on crop resilience, biodiversity conservation, and innovations in maize and wheat improvement.
This collaboration highlights the shared vision of CIMMYT and the Organization of Turkic States to strengthen agricultural innovation and cooperation at a regional and global level. By joining forces, both institutions aim to drive transformative progress in food systems, promote regional resilience, and ensure sustainable growth across the Turkic world.
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.
Learn more at www.cimmyt.org.
About the Organization of Turkic States (OTS)
The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was established in 2009 as an intergovernmental organization. Its primary objective is to promote comprehensive cooperation among Turkic States. Headquartered in Istanbul, Türkiye, the organization promotes collaboration in various fields to advance regional connectivity, development, and solidarity among its member states.
Learn more at www.turkicstates.org
For more information:
Nahyane Bakkali, External Communications Manager
Capacity development 
