| Abstract |
I'd like to welcome you to CIMMYT home of the Green Revolution and the center of origin of international agricultural research. I'm going to add to the information presented in the short video you just saw. The reason for CIMMYT's location in this lovely setting is historical. Our work grew out of a research program established by Mexico and the Rockefeller Foundation in 1943, 61 years ago. The program was led by Dr. Norman Borlaug. It made Mexico self-sufficient in basic grain production in the 1950s. The Center draws upon Mexico's ecological diversity and its strong research system. We work on five research stations in this country, taking advantage of the diverse agro-ecological conditions. to develop products for farmers worldwide. Our highland locations for wheat and maize are here and in Toluca, on the other side of Mexico City. We also breed wheat at a dry, sea-level station in northern Mexico. Finally, we have two more stations for maize-one tropical and the other subtropical. Our roots are Mexican, but we operate through 13 regional offices. These keep us close to partners and beneficiaries in Africa, Asia, and all of Latin America and make CIMMYT a partnership-based organization with an effective world reach. CIMMYT has had great success as a commodity center. Dr. Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his efforts at CIMMYT and in its predecessor organization. He and his partners began the Green Revolution, a clear model of successful international collaboration. We now take for granted the global exchange of public goods like knowledge and germplasm. Back then, this was a big innovation, and it was formalized through the creation of the CGIAR. Even now, CIMMYT-related maize and wheats are sown on more than 80 million hectares in developing countries. Their annual economic value is calculated at three billion dollars. The cropping systems we and partners develop and promote are more productive, sustainable, and profitable. Thousands of researchers we train become key partners in our work. Despite these achievements, many people in developing countries still cannot grow or buy the food they need. They live lives of poverty, hunger. and vulnerability. This year and last, my staff and I have worked to build and implement a new strategy. At the heart are people, especially those people who have yet to benefit from the first Green Revolution. We have a new mission, and have restructured our research agenda to include four eco-regional programs. These focus on cropping systems, involve stakeholders and farmers, and put more of our muscle into delivering impacts. Then there are two global programs. One is concerned with the collection, conservation, and use of crop genetic resources. The other works across programs to develop and apply strategies for managing and sharing knowledge. With these changes. we now feel ready to help more farmers escape poverty, to live with dignity and hope. The presentations you will see this morning provide some examples of how this happens. One way we help is to provide small-scale farmers and their families with more robust crop varieties. Their traits include tolerance to drought and poor soils, or resistance to diseases and pests. They provide stable yields and food security in both good and bad years. We obtain these traits from our seed collections and many diverse sources. Farmers obtain food security and a safe base for trying new technologies or income-generating activities. We also work with farmers to select varieties for traits they consider valuable, and not just yield. Through their participation, farmers gain control and receive a more useful product. What we learn helps us to work more effectively. Diverse and healthy cropping systems are another form of "insurance" for smallscale farmers. They promote cropping diversity and add resilience to farming systems and household economies. Finally, crops like maize are tied closely to culture and depend on people to grow them. CIMMYT is working to understand how farmers manage their maize diversity. We are also supporting those who chose to continue growing cherished, local varieties. These are just a few of the principles today's field tour will demonstrate. I hope you enjoy it! This booklet describes what you will see at each station and gives contact information for the presenters. Please feel free to write or call our staff regarding questions or suggestions! |
ICAR Research Data Repository for Knowledge Management