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2006 Annual Report

See the latest progress report of the Tropical Fruits Project, which presents project research highlights during 2006, as well as detailed descriptions of its major activities.

Download the summary (44 kb).

Download the report (702 kb).

Fulfilling the Promise of Tropical Fruits

Since its establishment several years ago, CIAT's tropical fruits project has channeled its efforts mainly in two directions. First, it is creating information tools that help partners decide what species can best be grown where. And second, it is developing methodologies and technologies that can be applied with numerous fruit species to accomplish key tasks or solve major problems.

See the complete text in the latest issue of our corporate annual report, CIAT in Focus 2004-2005: Getting a Handle on High-Value Agriculture

Contact: Alonso González

Getting a Handle on High-Value Agricultural Products

A group of about 40 experts in all aspects of high-value agricultural products—from production to processing and marketing—met at CIAT headquarters in early October to help the CGIAR address the question of how the poor, especially neglected groups such as rural women, can benefit from growing markets for these products. Convened by the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR) and the CGIAR Science Council, the workshop was organized by their secretariats in collaboration with CIAT, the World Vegetable Center (AVRDC), International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (Bioversity), and the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP).

The meeting was an important first joint initiative following the Science Council’s recent decision to establish “reducing poverty through agricultural diversification and emerging opportunities for high-value commodities or products” as one of five priorities for the research of the international centers during the period 2005-2015. With this aim in view, workshop participants moved toward a shared understanding of what HVPs are, reviewed strategies used in different regions for linking smallholders to HVP markets, identified high-priority issues for a shared research agenda, and began creating informal networks and alliances for addressing key themes.

Download the workshop report (365 kb).

The New World Fruits Database

A collaborative effort between Bioversity, CIAT, and CIRAD bore fruit as the New World Fruits Database, which collects and compiles information on the edible fruits and nuts of the Americas.

Listing 1256 species, belonging to 303 genera and 69 families, the Database should be a valuable aid to fruit growers, researchers, students and workers in development agencies seeking to understand the diversity of New World fruits. Information includes taxonomic and vernacular nomenclature, uses of fruits and their plants, geographic distribution, germplasm availability, and bibliographic references. Where possible, illustrations are given, together with links to crop experts and Internet sources.

Go to the database.

Contact: Daniel Jiménez

Course on Production of Warm-Climate Fruit Trees

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) held a First National Course on Production of Warm-Climate Fruit Trees at the Center's headquarters in Palmira, Colombia, from 22 to 26 November 2004.

The course, funded by the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR, its Spanish acronym), was directed toward Colombian professionals working in the areas of research, development, and technical assistance of warm-climate fruit tree production.

This course (in Spanish) was sponsored within the framework of the Agreement on Technical and Scientific Cooperation subscribed between CIAT and MADR.

Download the brochure (198 kb).

For more information on the CIAT-MADR training program, visit the Training and Conferences Web site.

About CIAT's Tropical Fruits Program

Growing tropical fruits is labor intensive and can provide steady employment and income even to families with very small parcels of land. The long production cycle of fruit trees also contributes to soil conservation. With demand for tropical fruits on the rise, this type of high-value agriculture represents a strong comparative advantage for tropical countries. CIAT recognizes that targeted R&D in this area has enormous potential to boost small-farmer competitiveness while promoting healthy agroecosystems.

To help partners in the public and private sectors promote the production, processing, and marketing of tropical fruits in rural communities, CIAT scientists will develop an interactive Web-based information system that indicates what tropical fruit species can be grown successfully in particular locations, based on agroecological similarities. They will also identify and help develop tropical fruit-based business opportunities.