International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT) is a non-profit international agricultural research and training organization focusing on two of the world’s most important cereal grains – maize and wheat – and related cropping systems and livelihoods.

CIMMYT’s research addresses challenges encountered by low-income farmers in the developing world including food and nutritional insecurity, environmental degradation, economic development, population growth and climate change.

With a focus on agri-food systems, CIMMYT is currently working to:

• Improve the food and nutrition security, and livelihoods of farmers and rural populations.
• Increase the resilience of agri-food systems, and maize and wheat varieties, to the impact of climate change, pests and diseases.
• Develop approaches that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use land, water, energy, nutrients and labor more efficiently.
• Provide nutritious food options for low-income consumers.
• Ensure the biodiversity of maize and wheat is used more widely and equitably.
• Provide technologies and know-how to farmers and local entrepreneurs and help them to become the engines of economic growth.
• Develop the capacity of individuals and institutions in partnership with world-class universities, national agricultural research and extension systems, the private sector, and researchers from other organizations.

CIMMYT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership committed to a food-secure future.