The Story of CGIAR
There are thousands of amazing centers and non-profits globally collaborating, and agriculture has been at the heart of global development for decades. But the way we organize, and fund agricultural research has shifted dramatically over time, and we can see this shift of philanthropy to collaboration in the CGIAR (Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers) system. CGIAR represents one of the most ambitious experiments in global collaboration, moving beyond single-foundation philanthropy to a networked, international model. Today, it is facing challenges of protectionism vs. the global science movement and budget tightening, which we will cover in future posts. Today’s post is the story of CGIAR in hopes that you will recognize the power that global collaboration has had in changing agriculture and food security.
The Origins
For over 50 years, this organization has been leading agricultural research that addresses the global challenges of hunger, malnutrition, and climate change. No small task. Since its inception in 1971, CGIAR has grown to have fifteen research centers (known as IARCs) and hundreds of partners conducting research. However, the CGIAR model of a non-profit with multiple centers under its operations, funded by the support of governments, industry, other organizations, and private donors, was a new venture when it began.
Philanthropists
Before CGIAR, non-profit agricultural models focused on developing and disseminating agricultural technologies, primarily through the efforts of national agricultural research systems and the collaboration between public institutions like universities and government agencies with private philanthropy. Key non-profit activities included public sector research, extension services to farmers, and the foundational work of organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation and Ford Foundation, which provided resources and funding to agricultural research and education efforts, including early support for some institutions that would later become CGIAR centers.
It was the Rockefeller Foundation, which was one of the giant funders of agricultural research at the time, which helped initiate the creation of CGIAR by hosting the 1969 Bellagio Center meetings. This meeting brought together various stakeholders to discuss the future of agricultural research, including how to strengthen research programs and provide advanced training for scientists from developing countries. It took private funders bringing other like-minded, goal-oriented persons and nations together, which launched a new wave of research systems, known as CGIAR.
The Green Revolution
Leading up to the formation of CGIAR, the world had been faced with a very modest form of agriculture. As other industries were advancing, agriculture was lagging behind, and many developing nations suffered as a result of poor yields, limited access to new technologies, or the unavailability of in-crop management tools like chemicals. Foundations like Rockefeller and Ford played a pivotal role in leading the green revolution, not just through their funds, but by fundamentally changing how agricultural science was organized and delivered.
In 1943, the Rockefeller Foundation launched the Office of Special Studies in Mexico, which later evolved into the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT, a centre within CGIAR). This initiative brought together plant breeders, agronomists, and economists to tackle low crop yields and food insecurity in Latin America. The result was high-yielding, disease-resistant wheat varieties, many of which were adopted globally.
The Ford Foundation joined forces with Rockefeller in the 50s and 60s to expand agricultural research into Asia. Together, they supported the creation of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI, a centre within CGIAR) in the Philippines in 1960. IRRI’s work on semi-dwarf rice varieties, such as IR8, dramatically boosted rice yields across Asia, helping avert widespread famine. Together, the breakthroughs in wheat and rice varieties helped avert famine in Asia and Latin America, credited with saving over a billion lives.
From Foundations to a Global Research Network
By 1971, it became clear that relying on one or two foundations was unsustainable. Agricultural challenges were global, and solutions required sustained, international collaboration. Thus, CGIAR was born out of a collective effort and recognition of a need for a coordinated global system, with the support of the World Bank, FAO, and UNDP. CGIAR began with the already established centers of the Office of Special Studies in Mexico (later CIMMYT) and IRRI, which became the working models of what global collaboration within CGIAR could look like.
Over time, CGIAR expanded to include 15 centers worldwide, covering not only staple crops but also livestock, fisheries, forestry, water management, and food policy. This shift marked a new model of international non-profit research, one that pooled resources from governments, multilateral agencies, and private donors to create a truly global public good.
The 15 International Agricultural Research Centers (IARCs)
Since its inception, CGIAR has grown to 15 Centers globally, and works with partners to cover six global regions to address major issues within “food, land, and water systems”. Of the centers, they represent four challenges and missions:
Crop Improvement & Staple Food Security:
Centers focused on developing improved varieties of major staple crops.
- CIMMYT: Maize & wheat improvement
- IRRI: Rice research
- AfricaRice: Rice research in Africa
- ICRISAT: Dryland crops (sorghum, millet, chickpea)
- CIP: Potatoes & sweet potatoes
- CIAT (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT): Tropical crops, beans, cassava
Livestock, Fisheries & Animal Systems :
Centers advancing animal agriculture and aquatic food systems.
- ILRI: Livestock systems
- WorldFish: Aquaculture & fisheries
Agroecosystems, Natural Resources & Climate Resilience:
Centers addressing land, water, forestry, and biodiversity for sustainable agriculture.
- ICARDA: Dryland agriculture in North Africa & West Asia
- IITA: Tropical agriculture in Africa
- IWMI: Water management
- CIFOR-ICRAF: Forestry & agroforestry
- Bioversity International (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT): Biodiversity for food & agriculture
- Alliance Bioversity International-CIAT: Biodiversity, climate resilience, tropical crops
Policy, Institutions & Global Food Systems:
Centers shaping governance, economics, and policy frameworks.
- IFPRI: Food policy research
The consortium was designed to be a long-term player in the international center model for agricultural research, shifting away from having sole foundations leading the charge, like Rockefeller and Ford. Therefore, it was suggested that a global effort be formed to create a more collective and efficient system that would have longevity and invested support beyond the great philanthropists of the time. Proudly, we can say that Canada is one of the founding members of CGIAR in the “global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future”.
In a crude attempt to share the role and impact CGIAR has played in agricultural history, I will do my best to give you the highlights. From its early role in CIMMYT – International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, which contributed to establishing the Green Revolution, saving the lives of over 1 billion people, to its current leadership in climate-smart agriculture, CGIAR has consistently delivered science-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. So far, it has developed over 1,000 improved crop varieties, including drought-tolerant maize, flood-resistant rice, and biofortified sweet potatoes, that have reached millions of farmers and improved food security across continents. It has also taken measures to safeguard over 770,000 accessions of crop genetic material in its gene banks, ensuring biodiversity and resilience for future generations. It has pioneered climate adaptation strategies, including agroforestry, water-efficient irrigation, and soil health management. Additionally, they directly contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals on zero hunger, climate action, gender equality, and sustainable ecosystems.
Success Beyond Crops
CGIAR’s work goes far beyond crops. It has advanced nutrition through innovations such as iron-rich beans and vitamin A-rich cassava, supported sustainable livestock and aquaculture systems, and helped shape global policy on food systems, gender equity, and rural livelihoods. With a footprint in 89 countries and a portfolio of over $900 million annually, CGIAR is not just a research consortium; it’s the backbone of global agricultural development.
CGIAR has become an agency that leads the agricultural innovation network and provides support to policymakers, our economy, environment, and nutrition. While you might not know much about them, they are an essential part of today’s agriculture and play an active role in the background of modern agriculture globally. The history and success of CGIAR and its centers are too rich to explain in one blog, so I first suggest you just look it up; you will be impressed. You’ll see how science, collaboration, and innovation have come together to shape the future of food.
What we need to remember and consider going forward is how the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations demonstrated that strategic philanthropy could catalyze global change. Their greatest legacy is not just the Green Revolution itself, but recognizing that agricultural research needed to be institutionalized, global, and sustained. CGIAR became the embodiment of that vision, ensuring that innovations like those pioneered at CIMMYT and IRRI could be scaled and shared across continents. I see CGIAR as more than just a research consortium; it’s now a public good. But the question I have is, will we continue to see the successes of CGIAR and global collaboration success to meet agricultural challenges as we lead into an area of protectionism, the question of global science, and questioning who should be paying for this partnership of research and global benefits?
