In this episode, Robin Davies speaks with Dr Bram Govaerts, the Director General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). This is the second in a three-part series on the CGIAR network of agricultural research centres. You can hear Robin’s interview with the Executive Managing Director of CGIAR, Dr Esmahane Elouafi, in episode 320, and his interview with Dr Aly Abousabaa, Director General of ICARDA, in episode 322.

CIMMYT is a non-profit research organization dedicated to improving livelihoods through maize and wheat science and is one of the 15 research centres that make up the CGIAR network. With a focus on developing countries, CIMMYT works to enhance food security, nutrition, and agricultural sustainability. The centre is renowned for its vast gene bank, housing over 28,000 maize and 140,000 wheat varieties, and its pivotal role in the Green Revolution.

Govaerts brings a wealth of experience in agricultural innovation and sustainable farming practices. With a PhD in Bioscience Engineering and Soil Science from KU Leuven in Belgium, Govaerts has been instrumental in developing and implementing transformative agricultural strategies. His work has earned him several accolades, including the Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application in 2014.

In this episode, Govaerts discusses CIMMYT's 2030 strategy, which focuses on nutrition, resilience, and system-wide approaches to agriculture. He highlights the organisation's efforts in climate adaptation, including the development of drought-tolerant maize varieties and conservation agriculture practices. Govaerts also emphasises the importance of gender equity and youth empowerment in agriculture, and the need for increased investment in agricultural research to address global food security challenges in the face of climate change.

Devpolicy Talks is the podcast of the Australian National University’s Development Policy Centre. Our producers are Robin Davies, Amita Monterola, Jackie Hanafie and Finn Clarke.

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