In a press release of 5 November 2002, FAO announced that a new partnership to promote and coordinate global investment in the genetic improvement of cassava, an important source of nutrition in tropical countries, has been established. It aims to develop and use biotechnologies such as genomics to produce cassava planting material with improved traits. Founding institutions of this "Global Partnership for Cassava Genetic Improvement" include FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (ILTAB). See http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/news/2002/10541-en.html (in English, French and Spanish) or contact [email protected] for more information.

18/11/2002