The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) came about at a time of both trouble and triumph for developing country agriculture. In the early 1960s, stagnating food production, made worse by bad weather, aroused fears of mass starvation across South Asia. The region’s plight fueled concerns of a global food crisis. But within just a few years, the spread of high-yielding wheat varieties forced the specter of famine into retreat. The victory inspired new faith in the power of science to banish hunger for good. This is the story of what CIMMYT and its partners have achieved in the 50 years since then, and of how they’ve translated research into tangible benefits for farmers and consumers. The story includes as well a forward look to new troubles and triumphs that await us in the years to come.