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Developing disease-free cassava in BurundiBurundi is one of the signatories of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources. Thanks to the Treaty, which came into force on 29 June 2004, more than 115 countries worldwide are part of a unique 'gene pool' designed to preserve plant varieties that are crucial to producing our most important food sources.
Burundi was also severely hit by an aggressive plant virus that decimated cassava harvests throughout the Great Lakes region and brought hunger to thousands of people. The urgency of developing disease-free cassava and getting it to the people who needed it most, led to a highly fruitful alliance of genetic researchers in their laboratories and agronomists more accustomed to the rough life of emergencies, with the support of EU/FAO cooperation.
Reportage: Charmaine Wilkerson Video engineer: Stuart Mabey
Reportage: Charmaine Wilkerson Video engineer: Stuart Mabey
Produced by:
Charmaine Wilkerson
Reference:
8976
