14 September 2026, Philippines: The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and CIMMYT are strengthening their collaboration to advance CGIAR’s vision of a more integrated, efficient and data-driven crop breeding system.
Through a new collaboration, led by CIMMYT with funding support from the Gates Foundation, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will provide substantial technical and operational contributions. The investment aims to modernize breeding pipelines across a portfolio of high-priority crop-and-region combinations, sharpening product profiles, improving trial design and data quality, and strengthening ties with national research systems, so that CGIAR and national breeding programs can advance and release new varieties faster and more predictably.
The initiative is part of a broader CGIAR effort to modernize crop breeding systems and strengthen food security in low- and middle-income countries through Breeding for Tomorrow, CGIAR Science Program bringing Centers together around a shared vision for modern crop breeding.
The partnership will leverage the complementary expertise of both CGIAR Centers to enhance crop breeding efficiency through shared services, common tools, harmonized processes, regional collaboration, and data-driven decision-making across CGIAR breeding networks in Southeast Asia.
IRRI will play a central role in delivering technical, operational, and coordination support across these breeding networks.
Key areas of collaboration include strengthening shared genotyping services, expanding the adoption of CGIAR’s digital breeding tools, streamlining breeding workflows and logistics, and enhancing analytics and bioinformatics capacity across the network.
Through its Genotyping Services Laboratory and Digital Solutions teams, IRRI will help deliver these priorities by providing CGIAR and partner breeders with access to shared breeding services and supporting the adoption of the Breeding Analytics Pipeline, Bioflow, and the Enterprise Breeding System (EBS). Together, these tools will enable more efficient, data-driven breeding decisions. The collaboration will also promote compliance with global standards for data sharing, intellectual property, and open access, ensuring that research outputs are widely accessible and can be effectively shared and reused.
The project will also support capacity development and business process management to standardize operations across breeding programs and build long-term institutional capability.
These activities will be coordinated and align with the vision of the Breeding Resources Area of Work within CGIAR Breeding for Tomorrow, which provides world-class shared breeding and research services to CGIAR and national partner breeding teams worldwide.
“Our partnership with IRRI has repeatedly shown what’s possible when two of the world’s leading crop research institutions align their expertise and move with urgency”, said Dr Bram Govaerts, CIMMYT Director General. “This project builds on that track record, putting shared breeding infrastructure and technical know-how directly into the hands of CGIAR and national breeding programs, to reach farmers faster. Every improved variety we deliver sooner translates directly into food security and livelihood gains.”
The project is expected to deliver measurable outcomes, including operational genotyping services, improved sample logistics systems, increased uptake of digital breeding tools, and strengthened analytical capabilities across breeding programs.
“This agreement highlights the significance of strong partnerships in achieving widespread impact,” said Dr. Yvonne Pinto, IRRI Director General. “By leveraging our expertise and aligning with CGIAR’s shared vision, we are developing more efficient, collaborative, and responsive breeding systems that meet the evolving needs of farmers and food systems worldwide.”
IRRI and CIMMYT will continue to engage closely with partners across Asia and Africa to support the implementation of the project and lay the groundwork for expanded efforts in future phases.
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