The document discusses the 50-year partnership between CIAT (International Center for Tropical Agriculture) and the United States in agricultural research for development. It notes that in 1966, the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations proposed establishing CIAT in Colombia to build on the success of the Green Revolution. CIAT conducts research on crops, climate change resilience, sustainable agriculture, inclusive businesses, and impact assessments in Colombia and globally through partnerships. It explores opportunities to strengthen the USA-CIAT partnership in areas like the Future Seeds project in Colombia.

1. Ruben.Echeverria@cgiar.org
Peace, Rural Development, and Prosperity
through agriculture research for development:
50 years of CIAT partnership with the United States of America
Ruben Echeverria
April 2017
Cali, Colombia

2. Thank you! USAID, USDA, Land Grants, … Great partners
in Research for Development Impact.

3. Great ideas – do not require fancy formatting
1966: A Farsighted Proposal
Building on the success of the Green
Revolution, Dr. Lowell S. Hardin of the Ford
Foundation, and Dr. Lewis M Roberts of
the Rockefeller Foundation proposed the
establishment of an international research
center for Tropical Agriculture to be
headquartered in Palmira, Colombia.

4. CIAT Passports: Global
networks for research impact
Steve Beebe
Bean Breeder
Biofortification
CIAT’s bean breeding program
targets nutrition, health, through
increased iron and zinc. Improved
varieties reach across Latin America
and the Caribbean and Africa.

5. CIAT Passports: Global
networks for research impact
Jennifer Twyman
Gender Specialist
Creating equal opportunities and
improving rural development.
Strengthening gender equity and
women empowerment. CIAT has
been working on these issues for
years. Today, gender research
focuses on women’s contribution to
agriculture and the rural economy.

6. CIAT Passports: Global
networks for research impact
Mark Lundy
Market Systems, Producer Alliances
Inclusive markets for economic
development
Making smallholder agriculture
more market-oriented and
competitive by developing tools
and knowledge to strengthen value
chains, while also working with the
private sector to promote inclusive
business models.

9. CIAT mission for food security and rural development
impact

10. CIAT and the SDGs
– environmental,
social, and
economic welfare
for all

11. CIAT is a CGIAR Research Center

12. CIAT and the CGIAR – partnership for global impact
CIAT leads CCAFS and shares the coordination of HarvestPlus, and in 2017 launched
the new Platform for Big Data in Agriculture
CIAT also contributes importantly to other CGIAR research programs, building more
fundamentals of sustainable food futures.

13. CIAT in Review: 2016-2017 Annual Report

14. CIAT 50 years: Moments and milestones
Steve Beebe coins the term Biofortification
See more: http://ciat.cgiar.org/ciat50/#CIATforward

15. Why @CIAT
• Global reach across tropics
• Local focus linked to government,
research, NGO, and producer
partners
• Innovation engine targeting
agricultural and livelihood impact
• Food systems focused – producers,
nutrition, health, consumers
• Integrates climate, environment,
social dynamics, gender, soils, and
biotech solutions
• Strong partnerships with global
research institutes
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/56940 15

16. CIAT in Colombia: 50 years working for a
more productive, inclusive and sustainable
countryside
 Genetic improvement of crops
Increase yields, biofortification as a strategy for
public health and food security.
 Promoting resilient agriculture in the face
of climate change
Agro-climatic forecasts and management
options provided to growers.
 Creating environmentally sustainable
agriculture
I. Supporting development of NDCs.
II. Sustainable intensification of livestock systems.
III. Landscape restoration and conservation.

17. CIAT in Colombia: 50 years working for a
more productive, inclusive and sustainable
countryside
 Establishing models for inclusive and sustainable
businesses for producers and markets
I. Analysis of productive alliances and vulnerable areas.
II. Establishment of multi-actor platforms and definition of
sectorial strategies.
III. Performance indicators.
 Evaluating impacts of technology on producer’s
income and their families
I. Income.
II. Wellbeing.
III. Women’s empowerment.
IV. Sustainability.

18. Cacao in Colombia: Promoting cacao for post-
conflict development
Cacao for Peace
CIAT is contributing to a clear strategy for improving the supply
chain and producers’ competitiveness by:
I. Mapping climate suitability and investment options for Cacao.
II. Identifying barriers and options to access high-value markets.
III. Increasing productivity, quality and value of smallholder
production.
Gene sequencing Colombian cacao
CIAT worked with Granja Luker and Yale University to sequence 14
varieties of Colombian cacao. This genetic sequencing has the
potential to enable Colombian producers to be more productive
while supplying with a variety of flavors, aromas and colors to
specific markets.

19. 4/24/2017 19
Future Seeds: Global knowledge hub for crop diversity, research and
knowledge exchange

20. Supporting rural development:
• Improved varieties for new markets
• Income generation
• Food & nutrition security
Future Seeds and its relevance to
post-Conflict Colombia
This will require a strong agricultural
production base and a learning hub
for training in key areas.

21. CIAT has strong networks in Colombia

22. • Assist USAID/USDA to implement post conflict agenda in Colombia
• Showcase USA research and technology in Future Seeds project
• Support knowledge exchange:
• Exchange with American research institutions and universities
• Students internships and post-doc placement
• Co-development, and implementation of rural development projects
• Topics: Resilience to Climate Change; Markets and Producer Alliances;
Ecosystem Services; Restoration of Degraded
Landscapes; Silvopastoral Systems; …
CIAT has a broad mandate, global networks, and focus on
innovation in agriculture and rural development
Growing a USA-CIAT Partnership

23. CIAT: your research and development partner in the field,
and around the world.