Bioversity International and CIAT explore opportunities to tackle food system challenges together

Communiqué n.1

Finding ways to handle the complex and urgent issues of feeding the world sustainably, managing climate change and operating within planetary resource boundaries are high on the global agenda. New research, solutions, innovations and stronger partnerships are critical to transforming global food and farming systems.

The leadership of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) are exploring a stronger strategic partnership that would advance our missions and enhance our impact. We have identified six areas for closer collaboration; i) conserving and using crop diversity to meet farmers’ needs; ii) promoting diet diversity to improve nutrition; ii) marketing diversity to improve livelihoods; iv) advancing seed and plant genetic resource policies; v) using agro-biodiversity to sustain agro-ecosystems; vi) using agro-biodiversity for climate adaption. In addition, both Centers are taking innovative approaches to working with the private sector, advanced research institutions and leading universities, as well as international financial institutions.

In the coming weeks we will continue assessing the scientific complementarities and synergies and explore how we might organize ourselves to work together more closely to achieve greater impact at scale while increasing our flexibility and agility to respond to emerging challenges. We will consult all stakeholders as we continue to explore these opportunities.

Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Chair, Bioversity International Board of Trustees

Geoffrey Hawtin, Chair, CIAT Board of Trustees