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.

Features

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

At international conference, plant nutrition experts highlight the important role of sustainability.

Publications

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

CSISA publishes policy and research note on how to develop balanced nutrient management innovations in the region.

Features

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Soil conservation means food security for farmers in Malawi.

In the media

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

Source: Culinary Backstreets (2 Dec 2019)

Food entrepreneur worked with CIMMYT researcher to create a fair market for farmers with surplus heirloom maize in Mexico.

Blogs

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Experts are developing data and dashboards to advise policymakers about the cost and feasibility of liming to increase maize productivity.

Features

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Study gives insight into Mexican consumers’ preferences and demand for blue maize tortillas.

Features

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Maize experts, as well as scientists from other key crops, from around the world came together to discuss these challenges and how to solve them at the 23rd Latin American Maize Reunion and 4th Seed Congress, held October 7-10 in Monteria, Colombia.

News

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Using existing sources of information, quantifying soil organic carbon would be a first step to increasing it, a crucial way to support climate change mitigation and agricultural resilience.

News

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

People across the country planted more than 350 million trees in a day to fight deforestation and climate change.

Features

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

Policies and technologies key to sustainable development in India’s breadbasket.

Press releases

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

Later rice planting in Haryana and Punjab leads to concentrated agricultural burning in the late fall and 39% higher peak fire intensity, contributing to poor air quality.

Photos

tag icon Climate adaptation and mitigation

How sustainable agriculture is helping mitigate air pollution in South Asia.

Videos

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

How CIMMYT fosters diversity in the workplace.

Features

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

Scientists track down the families in Morelos, Mexico, who donated maize landraces to CIMMYT in 1966-67. Would they still be cultivating them?

Features

tag icon Environmental health and biodiversity

With so much germplasm to categorize, what’s the best way to label them? Seeds of Discovery is working on the answer.