Led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the CGIAR Research Program on Maize (MAIZE) is designed to ensure that publicly-funded international agricultural research helps most effectively to double the productivity of maize-based farming systems, making them more resilient and sustainable and significantly increasing farmers’ incomes and livelihood opportunities, without using more land and as climates change and fertilizer, water, and labor costs rise. This strategy draws upon learning and experiences obtained through decades of extensive partnerships, feedback, successes, and challenges in work with national and international research and development partners, both public and private, and including many farming communities. It will also be enriched through new partnerships with institutions and individuals worldwide who share MAIZE’s commitment to reducing poverty and enhancing global food security and environmental sustainability.
Responding to stakeholders’ expressed needs, MAIZE activities and outputs are developed and shared by way of Strategic Initiatives on socioeconomics and policies for maize, sustainable intensification and income opportunities for the poor, smallholder precision agriculture, stress tolerant maize, research to double productivity, integrated post-harvest management, nutritious maize, mobilizing in breeding the full potential of maize genetic diversity, and new tools and methods for national institutions, entrepreneurs, and farmers.
MAIZE is implemented by traditional and newer partners who developed the strategy:
- Members of the CGIAR Consortium: CIMMYT, CIAT, ICRISAT, IFPRI, IITA, ILRI, IRRI, World Agroforestry Centre.
- National agricultural research institutes.
- Regional and international organizations.
- Advanced agricultural research institutes.
- Universities in developing and developed countries.
- Private sector organizations.
- Non-government organizations and farmer associations.
