Agrobiodiversity
37 years of conducting research analyses on plants and soils
For 37 years, the Plant Physiology and Nutrition Laboratory at CIAT has been in charge of chemical analyses for different projects related to forages, beans, and the soils in which they grow.
Corpoica and CIAT: committed to developing a better seed collection management system
The Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation (Corpoica) and CIAT are part of a global community of practice committed to developing a set of tools that facilitate proper management of germplasm collections and respond to users’ needs, from small producers to associations.
What’s your beef? Why it might be time to give livestock a break
Climate-smart livestock systems are alive and well in southwestern Colombia – but can they reach other parts of the country and beyond?
High-iron beans: a new “superfood” for Colombia
New high-iron beans have been officially released in Colombia.
Why getting the right food on the table is central not just to the health of our children, but to the health of our continent
Dr. Robin Buruchara, Director for Africa for the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, talks about need to tackle malnutrition at the Africa Agriculture Science Week this week (June 13-17) in Kigali. We are in the midst of an emerging crisis. Now is the time...
More tools for Colombian rice producers to face climate challenges by 2030
When talking about agriculture, year 2030 is closer than it seems, especially when rice production is at risk in a country such as Colombia, where only in 2014, 1,758,739 tons were harvested and per-capita consumption reached 39.62 kg a year.
Among the effects associated with climate change, there is changing rainfall patterns and reduced water availability, a natural resource in high demand when growing irrigated rice. This, along with the commitment to reducing 20% of GHG emissions by 2030 that Colombia made during the last Conference of the Parties (COP21) held in Paris in December 2015, make it even more imperative to find alternatives that are sustainable for producers as well as the environment.
Eight bean lines with the perfect combination: drought resistance and high grain yield
NCB 280, NCB 226, SEN 56, SCR 2, SCR 16, SMC 141, RCB 593, and BFS 67, these are the technical names of the eight elite bean lines identified as parents to start new crossings improved for drought resistance at CIAT’s Bean Program. It has thus been reported in the recently published paper entitled Effective use of water and increased dry matter partitioned to grain contribute to yield of common bean improved for drought resistance.
IRRI, AfricaRice and CIAT strengthen their alliance in rice research
Matthew Morell, Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Harold Roy-Macauley, Director General of AfricaRice, and Ruben Echeverría, Director General of CIAT, met from May 19 to 24 at CIAT headquarters in Palmira, Colombia.
Water harvesting: CIAT-FLAR project receives high honor
A joint CIAT-FLAR initiative that has allowed farmers in Nicaragua to grow a bumper crop during dry seasons has been recognized for its exceptional innovation by FONTAGRO.
Paris climate agreement cannot be met without emissions reduction target for agriculture, new study suggests
This post is adapted from the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) blog. Scientists have calculated, for the first time, the extent to which agricultural emissions must be reduced to limit warming to 2°C in 2100. And, they...
About agrobiodiversity research at CIAT
CIAT develops more resilient and productive varieties of cassava and common bean, together with tropical forages for livestock. We also help improve rice production in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The superior crop varieties that result from our collaborative work offer many valuable traits, such as high yield and stress tolerance, which are vital for guaranteeing global food supplies in the face of rapidly rising demand, shifting disease and insect pressures, rampant environmental degradation, and the looming threat of climate change.
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This CIAT Blog was launched in January 2016. For articles related to agrobiodiversity prior to this date, visit our former blog. Please note the old AgBio blog is no longer updated.