Maize is an essential staple crop that plays an important role in food security. Over the last decade, the CGIAR Research Program on Maize has worked to understand and strenghten the nutritional potential of maize and maize products around the world.

MAIZE research has targeted those regions where 90% of the world's poor, climate-vulnerable farmers live. Against the backdrop increasingly virulent biotic stresses and a changing climate, MAIZE research has reduced poverty and improved livelihoods by developing and deploying stress-resilient varieties, improved agronomic practices, and supporting the growth of local seed-systems.

MAIZE’s Gender Strategy built gender awareness and social inclusion into its research design and implementation, engaging more women and young farmers to meet their needs and interests.

MAIZE has invested in science that equips maize farmers for more extreme and erratic weather, as well as threats from climate-driven pest and disease spread. This work includes breeding climate-resilient and pest- and disease-tolerant maize varieties, and spearheading global rapid-response efforts to threats like fall armyworm and maize lethal necrosis disease.

From Conservation Agriculture to helping smallholders preserve local landraces, MAIZE invested in approaches that respect planetary boundaries by supporting healthier ecosystems and the preservation of biodiversity.