Bram Govaerts
Full visit: February 23-27, 2026
Mini visit: November 6-10, 2023
Full visit: March 14-18, 2022

• Director General (Secretary General and CEO) International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
• ADW-PAL term: 2019-26
• Subject Area: Life Sciences
• Faculty host: Johannes Lehmann (Professor, CALS-Crop & Social Sciences) 

Bram Govaerts is the Director General (Secretary and CEO) of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), appointed for a five-year term (2023–2028). A globally recognized scientist in bioscience engineering and soil sciences, Govaerts pioneers transformative, sustainable agricultural innovations that reimagine farming systems, safeguard natural ecosystems, and strengthens food security worldwide. He champions science for impact, forging bold, cross-sector alliances that integrate cutting-edge research with real-world practices, driving systemic change across agri-food landscapes.

Under Govaerts’ leadership, CIMMYT has advanced initiatives such as the Opportunity Crops and Soils movement (formerly Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils – VACS), supported by the U.S. State Department and the African Union as part of its mission to scale up nutrient-dense, climate-resilient crops (“opportunity crops”). CIMMYT has also redirected nearly half of its programs toward soil health management—boosting fertility, water retention, and carbon storage to strengthen climate resilience and secure long-term agricultural sustainability.

Recent Achievements
Prestigious Award from Belgium
In November 2025, Govaerts was honored with the title Commander of the Order of the Crown, by Belgium’s King (represented by Vice Prime Minister Maxime Prévot) during a ceremony at the Belgian Embassy in Mexico City. This distinction recognized Govaerts for his exceptional service to humanity in the advancement of scientific innovation and sustainable agriculture. (News source.)

New Strategic Partnerships
Memorandum of Understanding (November 2025): Oversaw a strategic MoU between CIMMYT and the Organization of Turkic States, aimed at advancing climate-resilient crops, strengthening seed systems, and aligning CIMMYT’s 2030 strategy with the Turkic World Vision 2040. (News source.)

Joint CIMMYT–IFPRI Research Hub (January 2026): Led the launch of a new office and research hub in Washington, D.C., focused on the advancement of “innovative technologies, evidence, scaling strategies, and policy solutions to fight hunger, poverty, and malnutrition equitably and sustainably,” accelerating the path from discovery to impact. (News source.)

Govaerts holds a Ph.D. in Bioscience Engineering – Soil Science, a Master’s in Soil Conservation and Tropical Agriculture, and a Bachelor’s in Bioscience Engineering from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. He is ranked among the top global experts in Agronomy, Conservation Agriculture, and Soil Quality.