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The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
reorganized its research agenda to increase its competitiveness
and generate new products of world coverage.
The agenda that for many years focused on 14 major projects
in multiple areas will now concentrate on six product-based
programs (knowledge and technologies) that aim to support
the poor farmers of the tropics in their pursuit of a more
competitive agriculture.
Beans, cassava, forages, soil management, and high-value
crops will be the Center's priorities with worldwide mandate,
while it will continue research on rice for Latin America.
Restructuring has been on the table since late 2005 when
the need to target the Center's research to better address
new global realities became evident. In tandem, donor contributions
worldwide have been showing a new trend regarding the funds
allocated to Latin America. For example, in year 2000 Latin
America received 25% of international aid worldwide, while
in 2006 it only received 8.5%.
"This reduction obeys political reasons. At no time
has the scientific quality of CIAT been questioned",
clarified Director General Joachim Voss. "Although the
work conducted in Latin America has important benefits for
other regions of the world, direct relationships cannot always
be seen," continues Voss, explaining that most aid funds
are currently allocated to Africa and Asia where the levels
of poverty are much more acute that in Latin America.
The necessary budgetary adjustments and the reorganization
of the research agenda have implied staff cutbacks. Starting
this year, the new operational model involves multidisciplinary
teams whose mission is to produce international public goods
that benefit the poor of tropical Asia, Africa, and Latin
America.
"With this new model, we can begin to identify the needs
of resource-poor communities and help find solutions. This
comprehensive multi-stage process begins with basic research
and culminates with the development of products that have
a positive impact on the end user. CIAT is not the only actor
in this chain of activities. It involves advanced research
institutes, national governments, the public and private sectors,
and many local and international NGOs", explained the
Director.
CIAT is an international organization established 40 years
ago in Colombia, with headquarters in Palmira, Valle del Cauca.
It works with the contributions of 60 donors worldwide.
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