U.S. Government Grants $40 Million to CIMMYT to Strengthen Global Food Security and Climate-Resilient Agriculture
19 February 2026, US: The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) has welcomed a $40 million grant from the United States Government aimed at advancing global food security, enhancing agricultural resilience, and supporting open scientific collaboration to address emerging challenges in food systems.
The funding was announced during an official visit by a U.S. Government delegation and signals the continuation of a long-standing partnership between the United States and CIMMYT to promote science-led agricultural innovation that benefits farmers, markets, and consumers worldwide.
For more than eight decades, the United States and Mexico—along with philanthropic organisations and international partners—have played a central role in supporting collaborative agricultural research that helped transform global food production during and after the Green Revolution. The latest investment builds on that legacy, reinforcing a shared recognition that resilient and productive food systems are critical not only to feeding a growing population but also to economic stability, national security, and global prosperity.
“This award underscores the strength of a long-standing partnership built on science, trust, and shared purpose,” said Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT. “Food security and resilient agricultural systems are essential to global stability and prosperity. We are proud to continue working with partners in the United States and around the world to ensure farmers have access to the innovation, tools, and knowledge they need.”
According to CIMMYT, the funding will reinforce several core research and innovation platforms, including the development of drought- and heat-tolerant maize and wheat varieties designed to perform under increasingly erratic climate conditions. Resources will also support the conservation and utilisation of critical genetic diversity, which remains fundamental to breeding crops capable of adapting to future stresses.
The grant will further accelerate the deployment of digital and data-driven agricultural solutions, alongside strengthening early-warning and global surveillance systems to help safeguard crops from emerging pests and diseases—risks that are intensifying due to climate change and globalised trade.
These initiatives are expected to help farmers produce more with fewer natural resources, reduce exposure to climate shocks, and improve the resilience of supply chains. In turn, such measures can contribute to stabilising food markets and enhancing food availability both domestically and internationally.
CIMMYT, an apolitical research-for-development organisation, works with governments, national research systems, universities, and private-sector partners across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The organisation emphasised that diversified partnerships remain central to its long-term mission of improving livelihoods, strengthening sustainable farming systems, and ensuring that agricultural innovation remains inclusive and accessible.
With this renewed investment, CIMMYT aims to continue advancing science-based solutions tailored to the needs of smallholder farmers and vulnerable communities, while maintaining a collaborative global research framework capable of responding to rapidly evolving agricultural and food security challenges
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