Highlights of the Cooperation

between Belgium and CIP

André DevauxInternational Potato Center (CIP)

Ahmed Family in Egypt

More than a billion people eat

potatoes around the world

* From “Food Around The World” with Peter Menzel’s pictures from the book "Hungry Planet"

Namgay Family in Bhutan

The potato is the third most

important food crop in the

world

* From “Food Around The World” with Peter Menzel’s pictures from the book "Hungry Planet"

Ayme Family in Peru

The potato is recommended as a food

security crop as the world still faces

steady hunger rates

* From “Food Around The World” with Peter Menzel’s pictures from the book "Hungry Planet"

Rustic, Resilient, Nutritious Sweet potato

125g Daily

Vitamin AFifth most important

food crop in

developing countries

2 billions people suffer from hidden hunger

• Prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies -

Image from HarvestPlus

Potato and Sweet Potato-based systems represent an

increasingly important opportunity for the poor in terms of:

• Food security

• Poverty alleviation

• Improved health status

POTATOES and Sweet Potatoes FOR

SUSTAINABLE GLOBALFOOD SECURITY

Source: FAOSTAT

Percent change in crop production

of staple food crops in S.S. Africa ( 1994-2011 )

CIP Headquarters, Peru

Nairobi, Kenya

Bhutan

Kampala, Uganda

Addis Abba,Ethiopia

Quito, Ecuador

Manila, Philippines

New Delhi, India

Orissa, India

Nagaland, India

Beijing,China

Hanoi,Vietnam

Bogor,Indonesia

Lilongwe, Malawi

Maputo, Mozambique

La Paz, Bolivia

International Potato Center (CIP)

Tashkent,Uzbekistan

PRIORITY

INVESTMENT

AREAS

Andean South America

Higher altitude areas

of Sub-Saharan Africa

Central and western

Asia and the Caucasus

Indo-Gangetic basin of

Southern Asia

China

Pro-poor technologies: save costs,

by reducing use of inputs, which

favors adoption by poor farmers:

1. Improve livelihoods,

food security and

nutrition of small-scale

farmers (Agriculture

based countries)

2. Potato as a high value

crop: Pathway out of

poverty (Urbanized &

Transforming countries)

Access dynamic markets: Better

competitiveness, Inclusive value chain

development

Focus of CIP’s

RESEARCH

PORTAFOLIO

Pro-poor technologies: Genetic resources for better varieties

• More production and better quality

• Better nutrition, varieties with higher

nutrient contents : Vit. A, Iron and Zinc

(Biofortification)

• Adaptation to Climate Change (tolerance to

drought)

• Better seed production systems

• Pest control

1. Improve

livelihoods and

food security of

small-scale

farmers (Agriculture based

countries)

Examples of CIP

research

portfolio related

to potato

Access dynamic

markets: • Inclusive value chain

development

• Niche market

development

• Public-private

partnership

Examples of CIP

research

portfolio related

to potato

2. Potato as a

high value

crop: Pathway

out of poverty (Urbanized &

Transforming

countries)

Belgium-CIP Cooperation

• Since the creation of CIP in the 70’s

• Core budget support

• Belgian scientists at CIP

• Projects linked to UCL, KUL, Ghent, Gembloux

Universities and Agronomic Research Centres

(CRA) on potato research

• King Baudoin award received in several occasions

• Collaboration has helped CIP to reach 1 million ha

with its varieties in developing countries

Early collaboration

Highlands of East Africa (Rwanda, Burundi, Congo)

support to potato research (1978-1993)

• Effects on potato production, consumption and better

nutrition

• Impact evaluation with high internal rate of return

(84%)

• Gasore variety selected in collaboration with Belgian

Potato Research Program: early potato, disease

resistant. Adopted by farmers in Rwanda and Congo

Gasore: “Une superpatate méconnue”

• Re-introduced to Belgium and used in agro-industry in the 1990’s

• Exported to France for 15 years

• Used today in breeding program due to its resitance to diseases

Win-win collaboration between CIP and Belgium

Belgium – CIP Biotechnology

• Biotechnology collaboration with Ghent

University

• Combat the weevil responsible for 20% of

sweetpotato losses annually in East Africa

• Capacity strengthening

AHIPA (American yam bean) project in Sub-Saharan Africa

Ahipa has more protein

and micronutrient density that cassava

Collaboration with

UCL in Belgium

The real Belgian fries .. Conquering the world …

• Belgium is the largest exporter of

frozen potato products of the world !

CIP= POTATOES FOR SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY…

• Long term research collaboration Belgium – CIP

• CIP is interating directly with the Europeran Association

for Potato Research (EAPR)

• Collaboration with Belgian Universities to be

strengthened throug PhD students, joint research

projects with EU funding

• How do we stimulate public and private partnership?

• Social responsibility project : support to potato project in the Andes of

Ecuador

• Promotion and distribution of Andean native (exotic) potatoes in

Belgium?

The real Belgian fries .. Conquering the world …

Peru and the Andes are the birthplace of the potato…

a.devaux@cgiar.org

Thank you!