So what better place to see first-hand how root and tuber crops are increasing farmer incomes and global food security? Peru, in the high Andes, at the La Molina headquarters of CIP and field stations.

Ian Johnson and Francisco Reifschneider with Willy Roca, Head of the Genetic Resources Conservation and Characterization Division, examining herbarium samples.

"Without continued work in agriculture, the world will be looking at a food deficit in the near future," said Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman, while participating in a dialogue with CIP staff during his visit in March 2004. "Agriculture is much more than food - it is central to the growth and prosperity of low-income countries, and there are new opportunities embedded within agriculture for improving environmental and human health." He congratulated CIP for its work in improving agriculture for the developing countries and referred to the Center as "one of the strongest CGIAR Centers."

The visitors interacted extensively with CIP scientists on critical challenges facing potato farmers such as biodiversity conservation, crop improvement, and sustainable management of natural resources.

A highlight of the trip was a visit to a in situ germplasm community bank maintained by indigenous Andean potato growers.

CIP maintains the world's largest bank of potato germplasm, including some 1500 samples of about 100 wild species collected in eight Latin American countries and 3800 traditional Andean cultivated potatoes. The collection is maintained under FAO auspices, and materials are made available to plant breeders worldwide.

Mr. Johnson praised CIP for its "good track record in scientific excellence and partnership building." He emphasized that the future for CGIAR Centers must continue to be in contributing the benefits of high quality agricultural research to the developing world, especially Africa, and partnering with other organizations to ensure that their research helped achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The visit to CIP was preceded by the Annual Board of Governors meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). In his address, Enrique Iglesias, President, IDB, emphasized the important role of agriculture in development, affirming that Latin America and the Caribbean must increase investment in agricultural research in order to be able to compete in international markets, reduce rural poverty and protect the environment.

For more information, www.cipotato.org