Global Partnership for Cassava Genetic Improvement

The Global Partnership for Cassava Genetic Improvement is a new initiative launched by FAO which brings together 30 of the world's leading experts in cassava research to improve cassava through advanced biotechnologies. The root crop cassava provides a vital source of nutrition and income in the tropical countries. It is cultivated throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America where more than 600 million people depend on it as a basic source of calories. It is typically grown by poor farmers, especially women on marginal land. In spite of the importance of cassava as a basic source of calories, cassava production is relatively limited. In Africa, average yields are 8 tonnes per hectare compared to potential yields of over 80 tonnes per hectare.

Over the past 30 years, cassava productivity has increased far less than other important basic food crops such as rice, wheat and corn. Drought, insect pests and bacterial and viral diseases are some of the reasons for this limited increase. Another reason is the relatively little scientific research carried out to improve the crop.

The aim of the Global Partnership for Cassava is to coordinate research efforts and global investment in the improvement of cassava focusing on the development of a more nutritious crop (by raising the levels of protein and micro-nutrients) which is at the same time more productive and profitable to grow. The Partnership includes FAO, IFAD and IAEA as well as various international research centres and institutes for crop improvement, biotechnology and agriculture. The initiative forms part of the Global Cassava Development Strategy which was initiated by IFAD in 1996 and is now hosted by FAO.

For more information, visit the web site of the Global Cassava Development Strategy.

Click here to read the Network's case study on the Consultative Group on Cassava which was set up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2000 as a response to the deteriorating state of cassava in the country.