CIMMYT and Colombia: deep roots and innovations strengthen maize farming systems

CIMMYT has worked since 1975 with Colombian farmers and partners, fostering sustainable development in agriculture and particularly in the production of maize, a major crop in national agrifood systems. More than 60 percent of Colombia’s maize is consumed by humans and a large portion is used in feeds and forage. Still the country imports upwards of 70 percent of its maize requirement, much of that low-priced yellow grain from the US used in animal feeds, and national maize grain yields average only 3.6 tons per hectare. Colombia’s dependence on maize imports makes it vulnerable to natural disasters and conflicts that affect global grain trade and prices. According to “Maize for Colombia: 2030 Vision,” a 2019 strategy published by CIMMYT and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the challenge for Colombia is to raise national maize productivity and competitiveness, particularly from traditional farms, while conserving the environment and natural resources and improving rural livelihoods.