Cali, Colombia—The Colombian government, through its Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development, has established a new, special agreement for technical and scientific
collaboration with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Signed on 6
August, this agreement builds on an arrangement begun in 1994.Under the new agreement,
the government will contribute nearly US$15 million to joint research initiatives over a
5-year period, beginning in 1999. By continuing to support such research with CIAT,
Colombia has confirmed its membership in the Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a
consortium of 40 countries and international organizations that finance agricultural
research conducted at 16 centers, including CIAT.
The CGIAR works to improve production of the crops and animals that provide over 75
percent of the food consumed in developing countries, while finding better ways to protect
natural resources in agriculture.
As a member of the CGIAR system, Colombia is responsible for helping plan and oversee
strategic research that is vital for feeding the world’s rapidly growing population,
for reducing poverty, and for halting soil erosion, deforestation, and other damage to
tropical environments.
The new agreement will encompass a wide range of cooperative undertakings, involving
Colombia's national agricultural research system, CIAT, and other partners. This work will
focus on the improvement of staple crops, the application of biotechnology to research on
biodiversity, the development of improved cropping systems and soil management practices,
support for small agroenterprises, and the use of geographic information systems to
monitor agricultural development and the environment.
"This historic agreement demonstrates Colombia's enormous support for the CGIAR,
and it underscores, once again, the country's leadership in the developing world,"
said Grant Scobie, CIAT's Director General. "The renewal of this agreement provides a
solid foundation for building an even more productive relationship than in previous years
through collaborative research that improves the well-being of the Colombian people,"
added Scobie.
CIAT has enjoyed strong ties with Colombia since its foundation in 1967. This
partnership has had significant economic impacts in the country and has better enabled
CIAT to fulfill its international mission.
Email Page Link to a Friend
|
