The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), located in Palmira, Colombia, is part of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. Since 1967, CIAT has been a leader in innovation and training in tropical agriculture. The Center is globally recognized for the “Future Seeds” genebank, which focuses on the conservation and use of crop diversity. It houses the global collections of beans, tropical forages, and cassava, supporting the FAO’s International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). Additionally, it is the first genebank to receive the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum v4 certification for its sustainability.
Training Professionals in Plant Genetic Resources for the Neotropics
* This topic is related to COP16 goal 13.
Future Seeds advances COP16 goals by offering a training platform for the next-generation germplasm curators in Latin America, utilizing a cutting-edge digital genebank platform. Integrating advanced molecular and phenomic technologies, it evaluates genetic diversity for nutritional traits, stress tolerance, and climate adaptation. Future Seeds builds research capacity in key Neotropical ecoregions—including the Andes, Caribbean, and Amazonia—which have been crucial in domesticating a third of today’s global food crops. By focusing on these biodiversity hotspots and training experts, Future Seeds aims to strengthen both conservation efforts and global food security. Additionally, Future Seeds provides high school students with hands-on exposure to biodiversity conservation, nurturing early interest in genetic resource conservation and sustainable agriculture.
Technological Innovation for Sustainable Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources
* This topic is related to COP16 goal 20.
CIAT develops advanced technologies to conserve orthodox seeds and in vitro and cryopreserved collections. We are creating a digital database that records the origin, DNA, genetic sequences, and properties of each material preserved under the ITPGRFA. We evaluate these collections for resistance to pests, diseases, poor soils, and climate challenges (drought, heat, floods), improving food security and nutritional quality in tropical regions. Our conservation and evaluation technologies and methodologies for plant genetic resources are applicable to national and regional collections, facilitating the development of new varieties and the transfer of knowledge and best practices. With our innovations, we drive sustainable agriculture and strengthen the resilience of global food systems.
Success story
Research
First Whitefly-Resistant Cassava Variety
Research conducted over more than 20 years was a collaboration between CIAT scientists and Corpoica (now Agrosavia), supported by the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Nataima-31 variety, resulting from crossing Ecuadorian (MECU 72) and Brazilian (MBRA 12) varieties, was tested in Tolima, achieving an average yield of 23.1 t/ha of fresh roots, surpassing the Aroma variety by 6.8 t/ha. Resistant to the whitefly Aleurotrachelus socialis Bondar, it has low levels of hydrocyanic acid, good culinary quality, and tolerance to physiological deterioration. It is suitable for human consumption and industrial use.
Strategic Partnership
Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI): Research Program
2024
The PTFI is supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, and its public charities RF Catalytic Capital Inc, FFAR and the Seerave Foundation. It is facilitated by the American Heart Association®, the Alliance of Bioversity, and CIAT.
With food biodiversity as a cross-cutting research theme, we collaborate with many partners worldwide. These partners play a crucial role in our projects as we integrate PTFI’s standardized tools and data on food composition to explore solutions for agriculture, climate change, and diet-related chronic diseases. It is through this collective effort that we can effectively address these challenges.
Bezos Earth Fund and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Using Forages to Reduce Methane Emissions from Livestock in the Global South
2023 – 2028
The project aims to identify and/or develop high-yielding, nutritious forages that reduce enteric methane emissions by enriching them with anti-methanogenic plant compounds. Specifically, the project aims to (i) examine existing forages in CGIAR gene banks for low methane production and (ii) identify accessions/cultivars with significant levels of anti-methanogenic compounds (AMCs) that reduce CH4 production.
Awards and Recognitions
Order of Leopold
2018
Awarded to Daniel Debouck for his 40 years of scientific work in genetic resources.
Crop Trust Legacy Award
2018
Recognition of Daniel Debouck as one of the “world’s guardians” of crop diversity.
LEED v4 Platinum
2023
First germplasm bank in the world to receive this certification for its environmentally sustainable design.
SUMe Impulse Awards by Saint-Gobain in Latin America
2023
Collaboration Opportunities
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