FAO, Rome and Hotel Aran Mantegna, Rome 25-27 June 2012 FAO-EPSO Consultation Plant Sciences for Sustainable Crop Production: Strengthening Partnerships between Europe and Developing Countries   Working Group 1: Cassava Value Chain FAO, Rome and Hotel Aran Mantegna, Rome 25-27 June 2012

The Crop Cultivated on more than 100 million ha per annum in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Starchy storage roots is the major source of dietary energy for over 200 million people in the sub-region 95% of all cassava in sub-Saharan Africa is grown by resource-poor, subsistence farmers Increasingly more important not only as food but as feedstock, substrate for biofuel and source of industrial starch Many countries of SSA have special Presidential Initiatives on boosting the economic returns on the crop Rambo crop: Elevated levels of CO2 led to 100% increase in root DM CIAT

Brainstorming Session Major hurdles: What stops cassava from becoming the corn of the tropics? Is cassava still an orphan crop? Major constraints in cassava production and marketing Adding value to cassava for human health and commercial production in Africa CIAT

Constraints being addressed Biotic stresses Diseases: Viruses -- ACMD, brown streak virus; CBB Pests: CGM; whitefly; stem scale; African root and tuber scale Abiotic stresses, including climate change Drought, heat CIAT

Constraints being addressed Quality Low contents of protein; Low bioavailability of zinc, iron, calcium and copper Toxic cyanogenic glucoside Starch content and quality DM content Postharvest Physiological Deterioration CIAT

Constraints being addressed Mechanization Plant architecture Harvestability --- root shapes Niche market and industry traits bioethanol; waxy starch; high amylose contents; etc. CIAT

Constraints being addressed: Novel Methodologies, Initiatives Genetic transformation Risk of non-acceptance in Europe and implications for export Metabolomics profiling -- IITA, CIAT, CIP -- being developed under the auspices of a CRP ETH can support with statistics Other expertise e.g. system biology available in Europe and can be leveraged CIAT

Constraints being addressed: Novel Methodologies, Initiatives Phenomics – discussions ongoing between CIAT and Australian group European phenomics network (Montpellier and Germany) could be leveraged Possible Gates-funded initiative for control of whitefly -- IPM; genetic transformation and classical plant breeding High quality planting materials – genotype-independent low cost tissue culture CIAT

Constraints being addressed: Capacities not adequately covered by EPSO Agronomy Mindful that genetic improvement must be deployed in tandem with improved cultural practices. Strategic partnerships and mechanisms are required to compensate for missing capacities Interventions relating to postharvest processes, markets, etc. must constitute part of an overall package for benefits of the plant science R&D to be realized. CIAT

Strengthening of Capacities Preferentially target in-service training of scientists whose return to jobs are assured Cohorts of EU training institutions and SSA counterparts modeled after COPs? Ongoing initiatives include the IRD model with staff working on site with counterparts in SSA, e.g. Burkina Faso Use of existing platforms e.g. BECA, WACCI, ACCI. Model of Cornell interventions suitable for Europe? CIAT

Strengthening of Capacities Farmer-specific interventions: FAO’s FFS as model to bridge the gap left by weak extension services? Mainstream capacity strengthening as in-built component of partnerships? CIAT

Winning Partnerships The CGIAR’s CRPs as vehicle Humidtropics: Integrated Systems for the Humid Tropics Roots, Tubers, and Bananas EC is funding more than 50% of the CGIAR consortium. Opportunity for increased participation of EPSO? CGIAR as important broker of partnerships for EU-SSA collaborations Strengthening of national capacities including research infrastructures integral to partnerships Strategize for tapping into the EC’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation funding CIAT

Winning Partnerships Ensure relevance, secure buy-in, pool resources, etc. by leveraging existing frameworks AU’s CAADP, Agricultural Investment Plan, etc. Regional networks – CORAF, ASARECA Regional economic development entities FAO’s TAP CIAT

CIAT Thank you!