Bean program = Programa de fríjol

For more than 400 million people in the tropics, an inexpensive bowl of common beans is the centerpiece of the daily diet. It provides important quantities of dietary protein, complex carbohydrates, and valuable micronutrients. It also reduces the risk of chronic disease such as diabetes, cardio-vascular disease, and certain types of cancer. The primary mission of CIAT's Bean Program is to contribute to household and global food security in a way that is both eco-efficient and culturally acceptable. Our goals are to make bean production more profitable for small farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Africa; and to augment the nutritional value and supply of beans; targeting both resource-poor farmers and consumers, and specific groups such as people living with HIV/AIDS.