A team of academic, governmentand industry researchers has completed a first draft of the cassava (Manihot esculenta) genome. The project is an important first step in accelerating the pace of research on this subsistence crop and addressing some of the many limitations that face cassava farmers around the world.

The impetus for the genome sequence began in 2003 with the formation of The Global Cassava Partnership (GCP-21), co-chaired by Dr. Claude Fauquet, director of the International Laboratory for Tropical Agriculture Biology (ILTAB) at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (DDPSC) in St. Louis, and Dr. Joe Tohme of CIAT in Cali, Colombia. This, in turn, led to a 2006 proposal by Fauquet, Tohme and 12 other international scientists to DOE JGI's Community Sequencing Program, which was selected for a pilot project.

See the News Release.

Regional consultation on the future of agriculture for Latin America and the Caribbean

Representatives from the agricultural research sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) met at CIAT on 19 and 20 October to participate in the Regional Consultation on Agricultural Research for Development for LAC. This consultation formed the basis of what is presented at the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) to be held in March 2010 in Montpellier, France.

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New issue of Challenges & Innovations now available

The fifth issue of CIAT's e-newsletter, Challenges & Innovations, is now online. It includes news of an exciting discovery that could radically reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer, the latest in the long-running "Enola" bean biopiracy saga, as well as a closer look at CIAT's new research structure. This edition also features a Cassava Special.

See this e-newsletter.

New Video

Cassava: fuel of the future?

The recent trial of cassava fuel to power a CIAT car attracted worldwide media attention. Now you can see it for yourselves. This short video documents the use of CIAT's high-starch cassava varieties, together with small-scale processing plants developed by Clayuca, to produce ethanol from cassava.

As Clayuca's Bernardo Ospina explains, using the fuel to power a car is just an example of what is possible.

The video is 2 minutes long and is in English. You can find the scripts in both English and Spanish below.

See the script in English and Spanish.

News Releases

Cassava "accident" brings tolerance hope
When a consignment of carotene-rich cassava roots was packaged and sent for bioavailability tests, there was the usual, hopeful wait for results. Ten months later and those results, soon to be officially announced, suggest that the carotene contained in yellow-flesh of the so-called "egg yolk" cassava has good bioavailability, meaning it can be easily absorbed by humans, and converted into the essential micronutrient vitamin A. This in itself is great news for CIAT and researchers working as part of the CGIAR-wide HarvestPlus program. But the story doesn't end there.

See the News Release.

Car fuelled by cassava is a world first
The first vehicle completely powered by a biofuel made from cassava roots is already on the move in the department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

The test run is being carried out using a CIAT pick-up truck. CIAT, together with Clayuca, a consortium that supports cassava research and development in Latin America and the Caribbean, recently inaugurated a pilot small-scale processing plant that produces hydrated ethanol using cassava, sugar sorghum, or sweet potato as raw material. This fuel contains 4%-5% water, hence its name of hydrated ethanol.

See the News Release.

Job Openings

Soil Scientist/Agronomist

CIAT is seeking to fill the position of Soil Scientist/Agronomist for the African Soils Information Service (AfSIS) Project of the Tropical Soil Fertility Research Area of CIAT. The position will be based in Arusha, Tanzania.

Closing date for applications: 30 November 2009.

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Project Leader
The Tropical Soil Fertility Research Area of CIAT is seeking to fill the position of Project Leader for the project Putting Nitrogen Fixation to Work for Smallholder Farmers in Africa (N2fixAfrica). The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Closing date for applications: 30 November 2009.

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Monitoring and Evaluation Scientist
The Tropical Soil Fertility Research Area of CIAT is seeking to fill the position of Monitoring and Evaluation Scientist for the project Putting Nitrogen Fixation to Work for Smallholder Farmers in Africa (N2fixAfrica). The position will be based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Closing date for applications: 30 November 2009.

More information
System and Legume Agronomist
The Tropical Soil Fertility Research Area of CIAT is seeking to fill the position of System and Legume Agronomist for the project Putting Nitrogen Fixation to Work for Smallholder Farmers in Africa (N2fixAfrica). The position will be based in Kisumu, Kenya.

Closing date for applications: 30 November 2009.

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Plant Cell and Tissue Culture Specialist
CIAT is opening a post-doctoral position for a plant cell and tissue culture specialist. The position will be based at CIAT headquarters (Cali, Colombia).

Closing date for applications: The position is open until a suitable candidate is identified.

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Communications Internship for Global Agricultural Research Center in Colombia
The Corporate Communications and Capacity Strengthening unit of CIAT is looking for an intern to help with writing, editing, and public relations. The position will be based at CIAT headquarters (Cali, Colombia).

Closing date for applications: 31 December 2009.

More information

News Releases

New legal decision against bean pirate
A US citizen who claimed he had "invented" a new bean, and took out a patent on the yellow "Enola" variety has once again had his claim defeated in the courtroom. But despite the result, the case raises important questions about the effectiveness of biopiracy laws, and their ability to adequately protect small farmers.

See the News Release.
Social bio-refinery for poor communities inaugurated
A small-scale ethanol processing plant, which uses cassava, sugar sorghum, and sweet potato as raw materials, has been unveiled at CIAT to mark the 10th anniversary of Clayuca—a consortium that supports cassava research and development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

See the News Release.

I National Course on Real-Time PCR Applied to Pathogen Detection in Plants and Seeds

I National Course on Real-Time PCR Applied to Pathogen Detection in Plants and Seeds CIAT cordially invited researchers, graduate students, and professionals in plant diagnosis to participate in the I National Course on "Real-Time PCR Applied to Pathogen Detection in Plants and Seeds" that was held at CIAT headquarters in Palmira (Valle del Cauca, Colombia) from 3 to 6 August 2009.

The course aimed to train participants in the management and application of this technique in the diagnosis of agriculturally important pathogens.

Contact: Elizabeth Álvarez

More information (in Spanish).

News Release
Bean varieties released in Ecuador using CIAT materials and methodology

Bean varieties released in Ecuador using CIAT materials and methodology Ecuador's National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIAP), through its National Program of Andean Legumes and Grains, released three new bean varieties applying the CIAL participatory methodology, designed by CIAT, and using plant material developed by this Center.

See the News Release.

Posthumous homage to Robert D. Havener

Posthumous homage to Robert D. Havener A heartfelt homage to honor the memory of Robert D. Havener was carried out on the CIAT campus last 5 June.

During the ceremony, presided over by the CGIAR Chair Kathy Sierra and members of the Executive Council (ExCo), a pink trumpet tree of the Bignoniaceae family, locally known as guayacán, was planted next to the main entrance.

Dr. Havener, a very dear friend of the Center, served as interim Director General from 1994 to 1995. Member of the Center's Board of Trustees during the periods 1992-94 and 1995-98, Havener served as its chair from 1996 to 1998. His administrative work helped CIAT overcome delicate financial situations caused by the world crisis. Dr. Havener passed in August 2005.

Several members of the ExCo who had known Bob Havener personally shared different anecdotes and highlighted his great personality and the valuable work he did in favor not only of CIAT but of the CGIAR.

See video.

CIAT Annual Report 2008 online

The CIAT Annual Report 2008 is now online. It contains details of some the Center’s important advances in research to tackle hunger and poverty in the tropics. It also features financial results, together with the outlook and challenges for 2009 and beyond.

See the report.

Download the report (full text, 1347 kb).