During his working visit to Mexico, the primary objective of which was to strengthen cooperation in agricultural research and innovation, the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), H.E. Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, visited the Headquarters of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and held a meeting with Dr. Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, in Mexico City on 5 November 2025.
Before the start of the meeting, Dr. Bram Govaerts introduced the Secretary General key facilities of the CIMMYT, including the Wellhausen & Anderson Genetic Resources Center, the Maize Quality and Nutrition Laboratory and the Bioscience Complex fields, where the delegation was briefed on CIMMYT’s scientific research, innovative technologies and seed development programs aimed at improving global food systems.
H.E. Ambassador Omuraliev emphasized that agriculture remains one of the most vital pillars of the economies and livelihoods of the Turkic States, providing employment, food, and social stability. He noted that the partnership between the OTS and CIMMYT will enable the Member States to benefit from CIMMYT’s vast expertise in agricultural research and innovation, particularly in areas such as maize and wheat improvement, climate resilience and food security.
Dr. Bram Govaerts stated that CIMMYT is proud of this agreement, which sets the foundation for achieving tangible impact in a region responsible for feeding millions. Dr. Govaerts emphasized that the partnership does not start from zero, recalling that 89 CIMMYT wheat varieties have already been released in the region, 139 scientists have been trained, and 172 students have obtained their master’s or PhD degrees — achievements that, as he underlined, represent only the beginning of a deeper cooperation.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on prospects for cooperation in the fields of agricultural innovation, food security, and sustainable development, and agreed to develop a Roadmap for the implementation of the MoU, identifying concrete areas of cooperation that will bring tangible benefits to the OTS Member States.
