Press and News CIAT and Ingredion strengthen collaboration on next-generation sustainable waxy tapioca development in Colombia
To accelerate the transition from scientific discovery to real world impact, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT has entered into a long term collaboration with Ingredion (Ingredion Incorporated and Ingredion Colombia S.A.) to develop, scale, and commercialize improved waxy cassava varieties for industrial use in Colombia’s Caribbean region. The collaboration focuses specifically on waxy cassava (waxy tapioca), a key raw material for specialty starch applications, and is designed to strengthen sustainable value chains while supporting small and mid scale farmers.
Building on nearly five decades of cassava research, the Alliance is advancing improved cassava lines tailored to local production environments, combining higher marketable root yields, strong field performance, and starch functionality aligned with industrial demand. The traits developed under this collaboration originate from the Alliance’s international in trust germplasm collections and have been advanced through its cassava breeding program in full compliance with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
The Alliance has partnered with Ingredion due to the company’s global expertise in starches and specialty ingredients, and its proven ability to responsibly scale agricultural innovations from field to market. Ingredion is a leading ingredients solutions provider serving food, beverage, pharmaceutical, paper, and industrial markets worldwide, with deep capabilities in processing, product development, and customer integration. Under the collaboration, Ingredion cofunds research and agronomy activities, manages on farm testing, scales propagation and seedstake systems, trains growers, and integrates improved waxy cassava into commercial processing pipelines.
Ingredion and the Alliance have worked together since 2019, building a strong and trusted partnership around a shared purpose: enabling sustainable production of waxy tapioca in Colombia while creating long-term value for farmers, processors, and end users. Over time, the program has continued to grow and evolve, strengthening local seed systems, improving agronomic practices, and laying the foundation for a more resilient and sustainable future for waxy cassava cultivation in the region.
To enable the significant investments required for variety development, validation, and farmer engagement, the Alliance has granted Ingredion a limited, time and geography restricted exclusivity to plant and commercialize selected improved lines in Colombia’s North Coast. This framework supports responsible scaling while safeguarding the Alliance’s public good mandate. Access to the original in trust materials remains unrestricted for research purposes by public‑sector institutions that advance the CGIAR Vision (research exemption), and materials will be made available in the event of declared food security emergencies for the duration of the emergency (food emergency exemption). This framework supports responsible scaling while safeguarding the Alliance’s public good mandate. Access to the original in trust materials.
The Parties will implement an agreed planting and production plan with local farmers, sublicensing planting material under controlled seed stake systems; farmer participation is expected to increase over time, subject to local conditions. Joint agronomy training, field days and extension services will support adoption of best practices to lift yields and improve seed stake viability.
Through this collaboration, improved waxy cassava varieties adapted to increasingly challenging climatic conditions are expected to enhance farm productivity, strengthen local seed systems, and open new value chain opportunities. By combining scientific innovation with market access and agronomic support, the partnership contributes to rural livelihoods, sustainable agricultural development, and the long-term competitiveness of Colombia’s waxy tapioca sector. Farm productivity, strengthen local seed systems, and open new value chain opportunities. By combining scientific innovation with market access and agronomic support, the partnership contributes to rural livelihoods, sustainable agricultural development, and the long-term competitiveness of Colombia’s waxy tapioca sector. Practical agronomy support and training will help reduce crop losses and improve stem viability, while monitoring and reporting will allow the Alliance and partners to track adoption and socio economic outcomes.
The collaboration aligns with the Alliance’s Intellectual Assets Policy and the CGIAR Principles on the Management of Intellectual Assets.
