Enviro News Asia, Colombia — The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT has strengthened its long-term collaboration with Ingredion Incorporated and Ingredion Colombia S.A. to develop and commercialize next-generation waxy cassava varieties in Colombia’s Caribbean region.
The partnership focuses on advancing waxy cassava, a key raw material for specialty starch applications, with the aim of improving sustainable value chains while supporting small and medium-scale farmers.
Building on decades of cassava research, the Alliance is developing improved crop lines with higher yields, stronger field performance, and starch characteristics suited to industrial demand. These innovations are derived from international germplasm collections and developed in line with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Ingredion contributes its expertise in scaling agricultural innovations, including co-funding research, managing on-farm trials, expanding seed systems, and integrating improved cassava into commercial processing. The company serves multiple industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and industrial manufacturing.
The collaboration builds on an ongoing partnership since 2019, which has strengthened seed systems, improved agronomic practices, and supported sustainable cassava production in the region.
To support large-scale investment, the Alliance has granted Ingredion limited, time-bound exclusivity to commercialize selected cassava varieties in Colombia’s North Coast. The agreement maintains research access for public institutions and includes provisions for food security emergencies.
The program also includes farmer engagement through training, field demonstrations, and extension services to promote best practices and improve productivity.
Through this initiative, the partners aim to enhance farm yields, strengthen local seed systems, and create new value chain opportunities, while improving resilience to climate challenges.
The collaboration aligns with CGIAR principles on intellectual asset management and reflects a broader effort to combine scientific innovation with market access to support sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods in Colombia. (*)
