Research

Bioversity International is a research-for-development organization working with partners worldwide to use and conserve agricultural and tree biodiversity for improved livelihoods, nutrition, sustainability and productive and resilient ecosystems.  Bioversity International is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership for a food secure future.

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, the World Bank, Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) 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. 

Watch the short video (above) to find out more about some of the constraints and solutions to conserving and using agricultural biodiversity.

Research at Bioversity International focuses on:

• agrobiodiversity and ecosystem services
• commodity systems and genetic resources
• conservation and availability
• forest genetic resources
• nutrition and marketing diversity.

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.

Bioversity International is also a key partner in nine CGIAR Research Programs.