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 The
earliest form of CBN as a network was the Cassava Advanced
Research Network (CARN), founded in 1988. It has since
then evolved through the globally structured Cassava
Biotechnology Network (CBN) of 1992 to 1998 to the present
regional CBN for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
Although its goals have remained constant over the years,
the methods for achieving them in the most efficient
manner possible have continued to evolve.
When CARN was founded in 1988 few cassava biotechnology
projects were operating, and only at two IARCs-CIAT,
Cali, Colombia, and IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria-and some advanced
laboratories in the Northern Hemisphere. Three motivating
factors for forming CARN were:
-
A
strong conviction that a network system would encourage
the development of cassava biotechnology research
themes around a common strategic agenda that would
be globally relevant
-
Cost
effectiveness, by linking advanced laboratories
in developed countries with each other and with
researchers from less developed countries (LDCs)
-
The
Network's strategic value for stimulating cassava
biotechnology development in the LDCs
Thanks
to the generous support provided in 1992 by the Netherlands
Government in the form of a 5-year project through their
DGIS/BIOTECH
Program, CARN was transformed into the CBN. From the
outset, CBN's concept was built around regional and
local networks of researchers and end-user groups.
CBN
Review and Change of Methodology
Midway
into the DGIS-funded project, the CBN received a review,
which focused on the two key issues of sustainability
and anchorage. The review recommended:
-
Continued
focus on tasks in which the CBN excelled, that is,
information exchange and linking different actors
-
Greater
emphasis on establishment of local and regional
networks of researchers and end-users
-
Decentralization
to appropriate regional organizations
-
Streamlining
of global CBN governance and clarifying its role
within CIAT
CBN-LAC
 Arising
directly from these recommendations is the current CBN-LAC,
the funding for which was provided jointly by the IDRC
and the DGIS since 2001. The main goal of enhancing
cassava's status remains immutable and the Network envisions
achieving this by following its main complementary thrusts
of strategic use of social science expertise in decision
making; further adaptation of key biotechnologies, with
the participation of end-users; and informed awareness.
The
project's LAC phase is building on the success of the
CBN's first phase to enhance regional ownership and
future sustainability of the Latin American Cassava
Biotechnology Network. Experiences with CBN-LAC are
expected to lead to the establishment of a sustainable
global network, or network of networks, that includes
Asia and Africa.
As
mentioned in the section "Farmer Participatory
Research", the CBN's strategy
remains that of linking different stakeholders so that
biotechnology R&D efforts can be targeted and transferred
effectively to intermediate users, and through them,
to end-users. That is, R&D efforts involve needs
assessment, strategic and applied research, technology
transfer, impact assessment, and feedback to NARDI researchers.
Through these latter researchers, small-scale cassava
farmers and processors should ultimately benefit from
CBN's efforts.
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