Tropical fruits are seen as an attractive vehicle for sustainable rural development in many tropical countries, that is, to help develop:

Vibrant rural communities that provide a pleasant life and
healthy environment for their constituents and their
children principally through the wealth generated by
producing, processing and marketing tropical fruits.

Within this context, the CIAT Tropical Fruits Program's mission is:

... to use science, technology, and modern information technology to provide information and support to partners in the public and private sector who promote production, processing, and marketing of tropical fruits by rural communities, which leads to increased wealth and improved welfare for present and future generations in the countryside.