Image Source: ICRISAT

In a world where climate volatility increasingly threatens food systems, two of CGIAR’s leading research powerhouses—ICRISAT and CIMMYT—are doubling down on science-led collaboration. This week, top leadership from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) convened at ICRISAT’s global headquarters in Patancheru, India, to reaffirm their shared commitment to climate-resilient innovation.

The renewed alliance aims to accelerate breakthrough solutions for transforming food, land, and water systems—particularly those that serve the world’s smallholder farmers, who remain the most vulnerable to climate shocks.

“This alignment reflects our shared responsibility to push the boundaries of agricultural science for greater impact,” said Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT. “It will also bolster our new Center of Excellence for South-South Collaboration in Agriculture.”

Echoing the urgency, Dr. Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, added, “Collaboration is not just a strategic choice—it’s a necessity. By uniting our strengths, we can fast-track science-driven, locally grounded solutions that enhance resilience and equity in global food systems.”

Both institutions are integral to CGIAR, the world’s largest publicly funded agricultural research network, and their partnership signals a unified front in the race to deliver climate-adaptive technologies, preserve biodiversity, and ensure food security across the Global South.

As climate risks mount, this alliance represents not just scientific synergy—but a moral imperative to act, together.