King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), a leading global research institution focused on sustainable agriculture and staple-crop innovation.  

As global food systems face increasing pressure from climate change, crop diseases and rising demand, food security has become a strategic priority for Saudi Arabia. Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s National Strategy for Agriculture emphasize the importance of strengthening agricultural resilience and advancing technologies that support stable food supplies in arid and heat-affected regions. Maize and wheat — two crops central to global nutrition — are particularly vulnerable to environmental stress, underscoring the need for new approaches to crop improvement. 

The collaboration brings together CIMMYT’s global expertise in maize and wheat breeding with KAUST’s strengths in genomics, bioinformatics and computational agriculture. By integrating advanced data-driven tools into crop improvement pipelines, they aim to accelerate the development of resilient, high-yielding varieties suited to arid and heat-stressed environments — supporting long-term food security for the Kingdom and the wider region. 

Dr. Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, said: “This partnership exemplifies the type of bold, science-driven cooperation needed to deliver resilient crops and sustainable food systems for the future. By combining CIMMYT’s mission-driven agricultural research with KAUST’s world-class expertise and regional leadership, we can unlock new innovations that support farmers and food security across the Global South.” 

Signed by Dr. Erwan Arzel, Director, Research Funding and Services, and Dr. Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, the MoU focuses on collaborative research in genomic selection, data analytics, and digital breeding technologies. This agreement not only strengthens scientific capabilities in modern crop improvement but also includes capacity-building programs - including workshops, technical exchanges, and specialist training - to support national talent development in advanced agricultural sciences. 

Professor Mark Tester, Chair of the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security, said: “Adapting to environmental change requires truly innovative approaches to food security that account for variable climates and limited water. We must focus on scientific expertise, bring together the brightest minds in the world, and move with pace. This partnership brings together two world-leading institutions with complementary strengths to tackle pressing issues in food security.” 

This collaboration builds on KAUST’s growing body of research on climate-resilient agriculture, including recent work mapping how heat, salinity, and water scarcity shape crop productivity in changing environments. Combining CIMMYT’s global breeding expertise with KAUST’s climate-resilience research can accelerate practical solutions that strengthen Saudi Arabia’s food security and support sustainable agricultural systems across the region.