I am pleased to present CIMMYT’s annual report for 2023. It shows how CIMMYT is rising to the challenges of a rapidly changing world by leading implementation of groundbreaking initiatives and projects with a systems approach to agricultural transformation in more than 80 countries where we currently work. It is no longer enough to feed the world and its growing population. We must also adapt to climate change, help vulnerable countries remain food secure in the face of geopolitical disruptions, and improve nutrition in some of the poorest parts of the world. In 2023, CIMMYT researchers and partners rose to the occasion, with innovation and collaboration, striving to solve tomorrow’s problems today.
The year 2023 saw a renewed global focus on food security. At CIMMYT we stepped up our efforts, prioritizing research that directly addresses the needs of smallholder farmers, particularly those in
vulnerable regions. Following our first and very successful Science & Innovation Week in March, we finalized our 2030 strategy Science and Innovation for a Food and Nutrition Secure World in August, 2023. As a result, our strategic pillars – Discovery, SystemDev, and Inc. – have become the cornerstones of our continued success.
Through Discovery, CIMMYT listened to the experts in African food systems to identify the traits needed for tomorrow’s climate-adapted varieties of crops, such as maize, as well as dryland crop like millets and legumes. Our science shows how plant breeders need to develop wheat adapted to warmer nights, not just hotter days. In Nepal, nutritious new maize hybrids are helping to fight the hidden hunger of micronutrient deficiency. Our groundbreaking research revealed that it may soon be possible to breed maize that releases less nitrogen into the atmosphere. Through SystemDev, CIMMYT is collaborating with women and men farmers to deploy heat-adapted crop varieties, as countries like Pakistan and Bhutan become more self-sufficient in cereals. Maize and wheat farmers in
India and Mexico were adapting to climate change with conservation agriculture. New data tools are crafting policy to lower greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, and giving advanced warning to plant disease outbreaks, as appropriate machinery is helping to make farming a sustainable and attractive career option in many countries.
CIMMYT is a global thought leader and change agent for climate resilience, sustainable and inclusive agricultural development for a food- and nutrition-secure future. That is our Vision, which we fulfill by living our core values of respect, excellence and teamwork.
CIMMYT’s impact wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our incredible partners around the world. From national research institutions to universities, private companies, and farmer organizations, our collaborative approach allows us to combine scientific expertise with on-the-ground knowledge, as we co-create solutions that are locally relevant and sustainable.
As we move forward, CIMMYT remains laser-focused on delivering our 2030 strategy objectives. We are addressing critical development issues, advancing knowledge, gender equity and inclusion,
building strong partnerships, and ensuring a broader legacy for future generations. We have expressed in this annual report some further steps needed to increase impacts and scientific breakthroughs.
Our work relies on the unwavering support of our donors and collaborators. Your investments allow us to continue developing innovative solutions that empower smallholders, adapt to and mitigate climate change, while creating a food-secure future for all. We express our sincere gratitude for your continued partnership.
