Research for development
CIMMYT grew out of a pilot program sponsored by the Mexican government and the Rockefeller Foundation in the 1940s and 50s and aimed at raising farm productivity in Mexico.
Under the scientific leadership of Norman E. Borlaug, the program developed higher yielding wheat varieties that were more resistant to diseases and provided stable yields in changing conditions for developing countries.
Award-winning research
The widespread adoption of improved varieties and farming practices that ensued was called the āGreen Revolutionā.
In 1970, Borlaug, who was leading wheat research at CIMMYT, received the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to the Green Revolution.
World Food Prize 2000 winners Evangelina Villegas Surinder K. Vasal.
Research for development
Over the years since its official establishment in 1966, CIMMYT has built upon this strong legacy of award-winning work.
Evangelina Villegas and Surinder Vasal received the Millennial World Food Prize in 2000 for improving the diets of millions of āthe world’s most underfed and poorly nourished citizensā through their work at CIMMYT to develop quality protein maize.
In 2014, former CIMMYT wheat director Sanjaya Rajaram received the World Food Prize for breakthrough breeding research that significantly help to alleviate world hunger. The same year the World Food Prize’s āNorman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Applicationā was awarded to Bram Govaerts.
Scientific excellence
CIMMYT scientists have won many other awards for research and field work in the past 50 years, the large number of trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques and medals, acknowledging scientific excellence are too numerous to list, but some highlights follow:
- Five Chinese Friendship Awards
Surinder K. Vasal ā 2001, Ken Sayre ā 2002, Hans Braun ā 2003, JosĆ© Luis Araus ā 2008, Ravi Singh ā 2015 - Two Australian CM Donald Awards
Tony Fischer ā 2004, Tim Reeves ā 2017 - Congressional Gold Medal
Borlaug, 2006 - CGIAR King Baudouin Award
CIMMYT, 2006 - Louis Malassis International Scientific Prize
Ken Sayer, 2010
Celebrating 50 years of research for impact
In 2016, CIMMYT brought together over 500 scientists, government officials, farmers and members of the international agriculture for development community to celebrate its 50th anniversary at a three-day conference from September 27 to 29.
The special event was a chance to reflect on the past and discuss how the socio-environmental challenges of the future will affect agriculture research for development, smallholder farmers and crop yields.
