The IPNI Global Maize Initiative is a coordinated research and technology transfer effort to narrow the gap between current and potential maize yields through improved crop and nutrient management while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Participating IPNI scientists (Directors) oversee project activities in their respective regions carried out by a center team consisting of collaborating scientists in research institutions and cooperating farmers, advisors and government representatives. A total of fourteen project center teams are currently being set up in China, India, Southeast Asia, North America, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina. This will form a network of research centers and scientists using common objectives working toward narrowing the yield gap. Anticipated deliverables include nutrient management decision support tools, crop management planning tools, global management and response databases, and guidelines for improving maize yields and nutrient management in each region.

Initial funding for the initiative is through the existing IPNI research budget with plans to focus on center team estimation of the existing yield gap in each local region, the nutrient and crop management factors most likely preventing farmers from narrowing the yield gap, definition of specific treatments and measurement protocols, and establishment of at least one long-term field site per center where typical practices can be compared to an improved system with the greatest probability (or likelihood) for approaching site yield potential. The center teams will also be asked to work with IPNI to explore external funding for regional activities with project expansion determined by funds available. The extent of environmental measurements, such as nutrient loss to air or water or carbon sequestration, will be determined by regional interest and external funding. A data management system will be developed that assures statistical compatibility of data from multiple locations and is structured to allow curation of the data for future use. This will include a structure for assembling currently existing omission plot data from IPNI regions.