CIMMYT and FAO Collaborate to Enhance Climate-Resilient Agrifood Systems

In a significant move toward resilient agrifood systems, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), a CGIAR Research Center, have formed a strategic relationship. The goal of this partnership, which was established in a Memorandum of Understanding, is to further the VACS (Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils) program.

Fostering and growing the VACS initiative—which emphasizes the production of diversified, nutrient-dense, and climate-resilient crops in healthy soils—will be greatly aided by the FAO-CIMMYT relationship. The cooperation has the potential to enhance collaboration and advance the FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–31, which centers on improved productivity, nutrition, environment, and life, as highlighted by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.

The goal of the VACS movement, which was started in 2023 by the US Department of State in cooperation with the FAO and the African Union, is to create agrifood systems that are sustainable. In addition to enhancing nutrition, it strengthens agricultural resilience against climate change by using opportunity crops and fostering healthy soils. The program focuses on traditional, nutrient-rich crops that are often disregarded yet are essential for nutrition and food security, such as mung beans, cowpeas, sorghum, and millet.

Several significant initiatives have already been made possible by the VACS program. Among them is the Quick Wins Seed Systems Project in Africa, which promotes the use of dryland grains and legumes that are adaptable to climate change. Additionally, the program helps smallholder farmers by linking them with markets and agricultural services, as well as by giving them access to local, healthy crop seeds. Furthermore, the VACS Fellows program strengthens regional agrifood systems by training breeding specialists from Africa. Through partnerships with CGIAR, Mexico, and Norway, Innova Hubs connects farmers in Central America with markets, cutting-edge technology, and premium seeds.

Using their combined experience, the new FAO-CIMMYT alliance seeks to improve and simplify operations across the VACS movement. It aims to create a thorough VACS plan, include donors in resource mobilization, and promote cooperation between significant VACS implementers and funders. Through initiatives like the VACS Champions program and the Community of Practice, the alliance will help increase stakeholder participation. It also seeks to monitor success using a strong outcomes management framework, influence policy, and highlight the value of various crops and good soils.

The Director General of CIMMYT, Bram Govaerts, stressed that the cooperative effort is consistent with CIMMYT’s 2030 Strategy. The goal of the approach is to increase the nutritional value and climatic resilience of agrifood systems. Govaerts emphasized that in order to maintain and restore soil health, farmers must be equipped with climate-smart farming strategies and robust seeds.

In order to build robust and sustainable agrifood systems that can endure climate change and guarantee food security for future generations, our partnership is a critical first step.