Environmental health and biodiversity

The world needs better management of water, soil, nutrients, and biodiversity in crop, livestock, and fisheries systems, coupled with higher-order landscape considerations as well as circular economy and agroecological approaches.

CIMMYT and CGIAR use modern digital tools to bring together state-of-the-art Earth system observation and big data analysis to inform co-design of global solutions and national policies.

Our maize and wheat genebanks preserve the legacy of biodiversity, while breeders and researchers look at ways to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture.

Ultimately, our work helps stay within planetary boundaries and limit water use, nutrient use, pollution, undesirable land use change, and biodiversity loss.

In the media

tag icon 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

News

tag icon Capacity development

CIMMYT’s Dr. Velu Govindan wins the 2025 Derek Tribe Award for advancing climate-resilient, nutrient-rich wheat to boost global food security.

Blogs

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

Yuridia Hernández leads a network of women producers in the Mixteca region of Oaxaca who, like the land they cultivate, regenerate, sustain, and transform their plots through sustainable practices and collective work. 

In the media

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

Source: Development and Cooperation (12 May 2025)

News

tag icon Capacity development

IMIC-Africa Field Day 2025 brought together science, seed innovation, and collaboration across Africa to fast-track resilient, high-yield maize solutions from lab to farm.

Blogs

tag icon Capacity development

Empowering rural women in Quintana Roo through training and inclusive innovation, this initiative strengthens native maize conservation, enhances food security, and promotes gender equity in agriculture

News

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

CIMMYT is helping farmers in Colombia conserve native maize, strengthen seed systems, and connect with niche markets through the CGIAR led Nature+ initiative, promoting biodiversity, inclusion, and sustainable livelihoods

News

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

At the 2025 Munich Security Conference, CIMMYT led the call to endorse the Munich Statement on Agriculture, Biodiversity, and Security, highlighting resilient food systems and agricultural biodiversity as cornerstones of global peace and stability

In the media

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

Source: Mexico Business News ()

The State of Mexico, CIMMYT, and UNAM are supporting native corn preservation through financial aid, research, and seed donations to enhance biodiversity and sustainable farming

Blogs

tag icon Capacity development

Farmers Fabián and Tomasa cultivate with both tradition and science, using sustainable practices that nourish their land and their community

News

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

At COP29, CIMMYT highlighted science-driven innovations to transform food systems and strengthen climate resilience

Features

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

Sundhani Tharu, a farmer from Nepal, is transforming her community through sustainable farming practices, blending tradition with innovation to nurture healthier soils, crops, and lives

Blogs

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

The Seed Systems and Market Intelligence team of CIMMYT’s Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Programme met in Kenya for a three-day retreat to review cutting-edge research on seed systems and market dynamics.

In the media

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

Source: AP News ()

The Rockefeller Foundation’s grant to CIMMYT supports regenerative agricultural research in Mexico, advancing sustainable solutions for food security, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation

In the media

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

Source: Mexico Business News ()

CIMMYT and Heineken Mexico’s “Cultivando un México Mejor” program aims to combat climate change impacts on barley production through conservation agriculture, targeting 100% sustainable barley by 2030