1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 Research and Innovation funding
CIAT

13. 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

14. CIAT
Thank you!