Innovations are new or significantly improved outputs or groups of outputs, including management practices, knowledge or technologies.

In 2020, CGIAR revised its approach to reporting innovations, allowing for reporting on genetic innovations to include associated innovations related to individual improved lines and varieties. This reporting approach allows for a more accurate representation of the full range of genetic innovations. As such, the total number of innovations for 2020 is significantly higher than in previous years, with a total of 1,821 innovations reported.

Compared to previous years, the new reporting approach led to an increase in the percentage of genetic innovations, with 78% of reported innovations in 2020 relating to genetic innovation (compared to 51% in 2019). Most of these innovations (77%; 1,092 innovations) were at the end-of-research stage.

Other types of innovations reported in 2020 included those related to production systems and management practices (8%), research and communication methodologies and tools (8%), social science (4%), biophysical research (2%) and 1% other.

From the total number of innovations in 2020, 6% (104) had been taken up by next users, which is a 79% increase from 2019. Fifteen percent (265) of innovations were available for uptake, and 13% (235) had been piloted. Sixty-seven percent (1,218) were at the end-of-research stage.

Most innovations in 2020 were global (54%; 981 innovations). At the national level, a significant percentage of innovations were linked to India (13%; 241 innovations) and Mexico (7%; 134 innovations). Eight percent (146) of innovations had a regional focus.

Innovations overview

Explore our innovations for 2020.