The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is playing a crucial role in helping farmers adapt to the challenges posed by the climate crisis. As climate change accelerates, traditional farming methods are no longer sufficient to ensure consistent and reliable crop production. Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, emphasizes the importance of better information systems for farmers, as relying on past experiences is no longer viable due to the rapidly changing climate. CIMMYT is focused on providing farmers with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to adapt to these changes and safeguard their livelihoods.
CIMMYT’s approach includes providing data and information systems that support farmers in making informed decisions. These systems help farmers understand climate patterns and make adjustments to their farming practices. In addition, CIMMYT trains farmers on new agricultural techniques that improve soil health, enabling them to farm more sustainably and effectively. The organization also facilitates access to drought-resistant and pest-resistant crop varieties, ensuring that farmers can maintain stable yields despite climate shocks.
Govaerts highlights that the focus of CIMMYT’s work is no longer solely on increasing crop yields but on ensuring that farmers can maintain a minimum level of production regardless of climate disruptions. The fragility of the global food system means that any additional climate shock could push vulnerable communities over the edge, making resilience-building efforts even more critical.
To address these challenges, CIMMYT has shifted its focus to soil management, dedicating 50 percent of its programs to improving soil fertility, water retention, and carbon content. This shift represents a major change in their approach, as healthy soils are foundational to resilient farming systems. In addition to improving soil health, CIMMYT is working to scale the production of “opportunity crops,” such as finger millet, pigeon peas, taro, and amaranth. These crops are not only climate-resilient but also contribute to building healthy soils, making them an essential part of sustainable farming systems. Incorporating these nutrient-dense crops into traditional cereal systems is key to ensuring long-term food security.
CIMMYT is also involved in the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), an initiative launched by the U.S. State Department in partnership with the African Union and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. VACS aims to support the growth of opportunity crops by providing the infrastructure, data systems, and knowledge that CIMMYT has used to improve staple crops like maize and wheat. Despite the potential of these crops, they have historically received limited research and attention, which has hindered their development. VACS seeks to change this by focusing on the research and scaling of opportunity crops to make them more widely available to farmers in need.
As VACS gains momentum, it is evolving into a global movement. Govaerts points to the recent U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification in Saudi Arabia, where the initiative received significant support from international organizations. While VACS began in Africa, there is growing interest in Central America and the Pacific Islands, further demonstrating the global potential of the initiative. The efforts of Special Envoy for Global Food Security, Cary Fowler, have helped catalyze this movement, and Govaerts believes that continued collaboration is essential to ensure its success.
CIMMYT’s work is a vital part of the broader effort to create a more resilient and sustainable global food system. By focusing on soil health, climate-resilient crops, and innovative farming practices, CIMMYT is helping farmers build the resilience needed to withstand the impacts of climate change and ensure food security for future generations.
