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.
Waging war against the fall armyworm
Environmental health and biodiversityCIMMYT and its partners worldwide continue to work on this complex challenge, so millions of smallholder farmers can protect their crops and feed their families.
Annual Report 2020 launched
Climate adaptation and mitigationWorking towards resilience, renewal and transition in our agri-food systems.
MaĂz: en equipo, locos por la genĂ©tica
Environmental health and biodiversitySource: La NaciĂłn (26 Jun 2021)
An article in La NaciĂłn praises the work of a number of research institutions, including CIMMYT, for their use of science and technology to develop hybrid maize lines adapted to the needs of farmers, markets and consumers.
La Agricultura de ConservaciĂłn, una oportunidad para afrontar los retos presentes y futuros de la agricultura
Capacity developmentSource: AgroinformaciĂłn (22 Jun 2021)
At the 8th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, Martin Kropff argued that “agriculture cannot take a toll on the environment”, praising conservation agriculture for its contribution to building resilience to drought.
Adult plant resistance (APR): the strategy to beat persistent pathogens
Environmental health and biodiversityCIMMYT’s decision to focus on APR genes versus race-specific genes (R-genes) protects the livelihoods of millions of smallholder wheat farmers throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Report links wheat blast pandemic on three continents
Environmental health and biodiversitySource: World Grain (19 Mar 2021)
Genetic analyses show that a destructive wheat blast fungus that travelled from South America to South East Asia is now established in Zambia under rain-fed conditions.
A challenge solved
Environmental health and biodiversityMassive study of breeding lines across environments pinpoints genomic regions associated with yield potential and stress-resilience in bread wheat.
Four questions with CIMMYT’s Maize Genebank Curator
Environmental health and biodiversityHow to preserve and share the genetic biodiversity of maize.
How biodiversity conservation can help manage future pandemics — for plants and for humans
Environmental health and biodiversitySource: The Counter (21 May 2021)
Dave Hodson discusses why conservation may be the key to our survival.
A conservation conversation
Environmental health and biodiversityIn a Q&A, Thomas Payne reflects on how CIMMYT’s wheat genebank can be a model for maintaining biodiversity in agricultural systems.
Agricultura regenerativa: la ruta sustentable de Grupo Bimbo
Environmental health and biodiversitySource: Forbes MĂ©xico (7 Apr 2021)
Through regenerative agriculture prices, Grupo Bimbo, a partner of CIMMYT, is revitalizing and ensuring the sustainability of Mexico’s agricultural sector.
World Health Day 2021
Climate adaptation and mitigationFive CIMMYT solutions for a fairer, healthier world.
Nepal launches digital soil map
Environmental health and biodiversityDigital platform provides information that will help increase crop productivity and improve soil health.
Grupo Bimbo impulsa agricultura regenerativa de maĂz y trigo
Capacity developmentSource: Milenio (29 Mar 2021)
Through the Sustainable Wheat and Sustainable Maize projects, Bimbo strives to ensure the sustainability of Mexico’s agricultural sector, benefitting over 940 smallholder farmers through yield enhancement and cost reduction strategies.
Experts point ways to better crops and farmer incomes
Environmental health and biodiversityA new annual event examines root and soil health’s importance for food security, livelihoods and climate resilience and marks the launch of a community for root and soil health action.