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[Research
Highlights] [Networking Highlights]
Research
Highlights
During
the Network's life so far, several cassava biotechnologies
have been developed that should prove useful to end-users:
-
 Techniques
for improving cassava vegetative propagation systems
and producing clean planting materials
Techniques
for improving biological pest control through
disease-detection techniques
-
Techniques
for improving postharvest handling, for example,
fermentation, where more effective microbial strains
have been identified
-
Opportunities
for increasing and modifying starch quality for
agro-industrial purposes
-
Opportunities
for introducing resistance to pests such as the
stemborer and diseases such as root rots and CBB
into local varieties of interest to farmers through
genetic engineering and molecular markers
-
A
modified cyanogen biochemistry to optimize food
security. This initially focused on blocking the
cyanogen pathway until CBN case studies revealed
that farmers prefer high-cyanogen cassava because
the cyanogen protects against pests, vermin, and
theft. Current research seeks to preserve the benefits
of cyanogenesis for cassava production (food security)
while improving cassava food safety and reducing
postharvest handling requirements
-
Opportunities
for lengthening cassava's root-storage capacity
through genetic engineering to delay postharvest
deterioration
-
A
molecular genetic framework map made available
-
Publicly
available PCR-based molecular markers for germplasm
characterization and improvement
Networking
Highlights
Information
Sharing
The
CBN has provided biotechnologists with information on
the needs of cassava farmers, processors, marketers,
and consumers. This information has been obtained from
national cassava research programs, international centers
(i.e., CIAT in Latin America and Asia, and IITA in Africa),
as well as through cassava-oriented networks. In Latin
America, the CBN has had access to farmer groups through
CIAT's Integrated Cassava Projects, which work with
farmer-processor cooperatives organized around local
processing facilities.
CBN-LAC
Small Grants 2003
Applications
were received and processed in 2002. Successful grantees
are being contacted.
Read the complete
announcement (228 kb).
Research
Stimulation
 The
CBN has played an active "championship" role
to stimulate cassava research, encouraging and providing
assistance in project submissions on priority topics.
Furthermore, it has served as a broker, building coalitions
between NARDIs and donors, and supporting the formulation
and execution of research proposals through its Small
Grants Scheme, which receives funds of about US$100,000
per year.
Currently,
more than 200 projects are active in 35 countries with
about 1500 researchers and, in addition, a similar number
of collaborators from applied disciplines in NARDIs
and NGOs. More than 40 CBN Small Grants have been awarded,
about half of which went to national programs in cassava-growing
countries. Another third of these Grant projects linked
national cassava programs with leading biotechnology
laboratories throughout the world. Several awards were
made to small-farmer organizations and processing cooperatives.
The CBN also supported case studies with farmers and
village processors in China and Tanzania.
Information
Dissemination
Another important area of activity is information exchange.
So far, five international scientific meetings have
been held, involving researchers from international
agricultural research centers (IARCs), NARDIs, and universities.
Proceedings are published and distributed through the
Network. The CBN also publishes a semi-annual newsletter,
which includes a directory of relevant biotechnology
projects.
Linkages
In
addition, the CBN has established numerous informal
linkages with other networks and organizations with
similar goals to inform them about activities and exchange
information.
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