Research

Research to improve agriculture is the single most effective investment in economic development for poor countries. Studies by donor agencies, such as the Department for International Development in the UK  [1], the World Bank  [2], Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC  [3]) and others show over and over again that the return on investments in agricultural research and development is higher than for every other sector. Independent studies confirm this.

That is why, in the wake of recent food price crises, donor governments agreed to double their support for agricultural research and development.

Bioversity maintains its historical commitment to the conservation of agricultural biodiversity, so that the diversity is available for use. Research to improve conservation and use is an essential component of this work.

Research at Bioversity focuses on

• improved nutrition  [4]
• greater sustainability  [5]
• conservation and use  [6]

Bioversity works to understand how diversity can directly deliver the improved food security people need.

Other research centres, with whom we work closely, are using the diversity inherent in crops and livestock indirectly, as a source of traits to breed into improved new varieties and livestock breeds.