Agrobiodiversity Research Area

Food must be both nutritious and affordable. By using cutting-edge science to improve both crops and farming practices, CIAT is addressing these issues head on, while rising to the challenges of poor soil fertility, climate change, and access to markets.

Genetic Resources Program
The world is losing biodiversity at a startling rate. CIAT's Genetic Resources Unit operates one of the largest gene banks in the world, helping to conserve these precious resources and carry out valuable research into the properties they contain. More...
[Genetic Resources website]

Bean Program
Beans are the 'meat of the poor'. They are a vital source of nutrition and income the tropics. CIAT and its partners have been working to improve the micronutrient content of beans, and provide farmers with crops able to withstand tough growing conditions. Through our flagship PABRA project, an estimated 35 million African farmers now grow beans developed by CIAT and our partners. More...

Tropical Forages Program
For the poor, animals matter. Livestock are a vital source of income and nutrition. CIAT has developed improved forages that can help increase meat and milk yields and farmers' incomes. Forages developed by CIAT and local partners in Latin America now cover an area larger than the United Kingdom, with a value of around US$20 billion. More...

Cassava Program
Cassava is an essential staple in many parts of the tropics, able to grow in poor soils and withstand drought. This high-energy root crop also has important industrial uses, particularly in Asia. Improving production and increasing the options available to small farmers has been CIAT's focus for over 30 years. Now over half of cassava varieties now grown in Asia were developed by CIAT, and yields have increased by nearly 50%. More...

Rice Program
Rice is one of the most important staple crops in Latin America and the Caribbean, but an increasing population means there is ever-growing demand. Improving yields, pest tolerance, and nutritional quality are central themes in CIAT's Rice Program. In collaboration with national research programs in the region, 60% of rice varieties consumed in Latin America originated from germplasm developed by CIAT. We are developing more. More...