Commodity Systems and
Genetic Resources
Invest in a sustainable,
food secure future
Our vision is a world in
which smallholder farming
communities in developing
countries are thriving and
sustainable. Bioversity
International’s Commodities
research team is improving
livelihoods and sustainability
focusing on important
tropical crops that feed and
provide income for millions
of people.
The Challenge
Our Progress
Three tropical commodity crops of high diversity –
banana, cacao and coconut – provide the basis for
income and nutrition of more than 500 million people
worldwide. Smallholder farmers play a crucial role in
the production of these crops, which are threatened
by various pests and diseases. Minimizing yield
and income loss while managing and preventing
disease are major concerns for farmers. At the same
time, there are emerging opportunities, such as the
increasing demand for fine or flavour cocoa and
products derived from banana, plantain and coconut.
Smallholder farmers require support to gain access
to clean planting material, help conserve genetic
diversity locally, better manage pests and diseases
and help their product be successful in local or
global markets.
For almost 30 years, Bioversity International has
played a leading role in ensuring sustainability
of commodity crops. We maintain the world’s
largest banana genebank collection and diseaseresistant varieties are now available in more than
50 countries. Our research teams in Africa, Asia,
Latin America and the Caribbean are looking
at ways to help manage current and emerging
banana diseases by facilitating the access to
quality planting material and promoting integrated
pest and disease management and soil health.
Our global networking around coconut helps to
minimize the spread of a devastating coconut
disease and to ensure the sustainable conservation
of its genetic diversity. In Latin America and the
Caribbean, our partnerships around the genetic
diversity of cacao help link smallholder farmers
with specialty markets for fine or flavour cacao.
Our Response
Bioversity International’s Commodity Systems and
Genetic Resources programme researches banana,
coconut and cacao from genetics to farm to market.
Our scientists facilitate access to the genetic
diversity of these crops; improve pest, disease
and soil management; identify opportunities for
smallholder farmers to generate higher added value
through business organization, post-harvest and
processing technologies; and help identify marketing
opportunities for the products. We support banana,
cacao and coconut research networks.
Bioversity International is a member
of the CGIAR Consortium. CGIAR is
a global research partnership for a
food secure future.
Bioversity International is
registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization in the US. Bioversity
International (UK) is a Registered UK
Charity No. 1131854.
In 10 years, some indicators of success include:
- increased number of banana varieties conserved in
genebanks and available as planting material;
- increased number of banana producers with higher
income due to improved disease management;
- increased number of banana, coconut and cacao
growers with higher income due to processing and
product differentiation.
www.bioversityinternational.org
Where We Work
Together with our international, regional and local
partners, we work throughout the tropical belt in
which the three commodities thrive, including all the
centres of their genetic diversity:
• Banana: Central and East Africa, South and
Southeast Asia, China, Latin America and the
Caribbean
• Cacao: West Africa, Latin America and the
Caribbean
• Coconut: Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania
Photo: Cacao in Ghana, coconuts in Malaysia, banana bunches in Honduras
Photos/Bioversity International
In George’s Words
Creating Impact
Research focus areas
Tools, strategies, guidelines and policies oriented to:
> integrated conservation and diversification of commodity genetic resources
> management of pests, diseases and beneficial organisms
> farmers’ access to quality planting materials
> increased production in healthy ecosystems
> development of value chains to improve farmers’ income and wellbeing.
Research products
shared and used
through network of
partners
Our Partners
> International organizations and research institutes, donors and
foundations, NGOs, private companies
George Ouma, Kenyan
banana farmer and Bioversity
partner, won a ‘Best Farmer’
Ugunja district award in 2012.
> Regional networks and consortia, such as BAPNET, BARNESA,
CIALCA and MUSALAC, and crop networks for banana (MusaNet,
GMGC and ProMusa), cacao (CacaoNet) and coconut (COGENT)
> Development banks, national universities and agricultural
research centres, NGOs and community-based organizations in
project countries
“This recognition gives us the
incentive to continue. Running a
good farm is hard work, but as
we say on the farm: Work like a
donkey and dine like a king.”
Development
outcomes
Research
outcomes
Smallholder farmers and their
organizations with:
> better access to seed systems
> higher adoption of quality planting
materials and best practices
for managing production and
commercial risks
> increased benefits from their
participation in value chains.
National research and development
partners and decision-makers with:
> increased access to, and enhanced
use of, banana, cacao and coconut
genetic resources
> higher capacity for research and
development of conservation and
use of commodity genetic resources,
management of pests, diseases
and soil health and value chain
development.
Wider use and adoption of
research beyond target groups
and by policymakers
Research replicated
in different regions,
countries and contexts
Invest in a sustainable
food secure future
In order to achieve these goals we need to
increase investment in vital research for
development. Here is our financial plan to
achieve impact from 2013 to 2017.
USD
Programme costs
$ 64.1 million
Funds already secured
$ 5 million
Committed/anticipated funds $ 42.4 million
Remaining funds required
$ 16.7 million
Impacts
> improved conservation of
commodity genetic resources
> more resilient production and
livelihood systems
> access to value chains with
more environmental and
social responsibility
www.bioversityinternational.org
FEEDBACK
> Smallholder households, their business organizations, and
cooperatives, particularly disenfranchised groups in terms of
gender, ethnic origin, social status, and age.
Contact us
Bioversity International
Jo Coombes, Head of Development
tel: (0039) 066118215 / (0039) 0661181
mobile: (0044) 1621 780290
[email protected]
Photo: George Ouma, banana farmer in Kenya and Bioversity partner.
Credit: Bioversity International/E. Karamura