The U.S. government has announced a $40 million investment in the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known as CIMMYT, a Mexico-based research institute focused on crop science and agricultural innovation.
The funding is being framed as a strategic investment in food security and supply chain stability rather than traditional foreign aid. U.S. officials say the goal is to strengthen agricultural resilience in both countries at a time of increasing climate pressure and market volatility.
CIMMYT, headquartered in Mexico, is widely recognized for its work developing improved varieties of wheat and maize used around the world. According to officials, nearly 60 percent of U.S. wheat acreage is planted with varieties derived from CIMMYT research, underscoring the institute’s impact on American farm productivity.
Keep reading: Tijuana and U.S. Consulate Collaborate to Improve Water Quality
In Mexico, the funding is expected to support expanded access to higher-yield wheat varieties that are more resistant to pests, disease and extreme weather. It will also help maintain one of the world’s largest seed banks, which preserves more than 28,000 maize varieties and 124,000 wheat accessions, a key safeguard for global crop diversity.
Additional efforts tied to the investment include promoting farming practices that reduce fertilizer use and lower costs for growers, as well as expanding research trials and innovation hubs across Mexico. Supporters say those initiatives could help boost rural incomes and create jobs tied to agricultural development.
Officials in both countries described the move as part of broader U.S.-Mexico cooperation in strategic sectors, particularly agriculture, where the two economies are closely linked.raming the investment as a reflection of enduring national values of leadership and generosity translated into global action. It was noted that supporting institutions that generate these results is not assistance; it is a strategic investment in the strength of the United States.
