International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is an international organization for the improvement of barley, lentils and beans, which is working to improve arid zones by improving irrigated technologies and pasture lands. In the regions of central and western Asia, North Africa (CWANA), ICARDA implements projects to improve soft and hard wheat, Kabul chickpeas and fodder legume and farming systems. ICARDA is also working to improve the land management system, to diversify the production system and products of livestock and crop production with added value. Social, economic and political research aimed at eradicating poverty is also an integral part of ICARDA’s activities.

 

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

The main activity of CIMMYT is research on maize, wheat and triticale, aimed at increasing the productivity of these crops. The Center has an international network for the collection and exchange of genetic resources. Scientists from 125 countries use CIMMYT services. The Center assists the partnering countries by developing scientific programs for them, consulting, introducing new technologies, disseminating scientific and technical information, organizing international conferences, symposiums and other meetings.

 

International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

It conducts and coordinates scientific research at the international and national levels on the full range of rice-growing issues, develops scientific and practical recommendations for rice cultivation. The institute has an international center of genetic resources with a network of institutions for genetic assessment of rice; international gene bank of rice; a network of institutions for protecting rice from pests and diseases.

 

AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center

Previously known as Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center is an international non-profit institution which researches and develops crop production. The Asian Development Bank (Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, the U.S. and Vietnam) established the center in 1971 in the south of Taiwan. The main goal of the center is to reduce malnutrition and combat poverty in developing countries by improving the production and consumption of vegetables.

 

International Potato Center (CIP)

The International Potato Center seeks to reduce poverty and achieve food security on a sustained basis in developing countries.

The Center works to achieve this through scientific research and related activities on potato, sweet potato, other root and tuber crops. The Center was established in 1971 in Lima, Peru. The Center conducts scientific research in six areas: the development of potato production systems; the creation of a potato gene bank; provision of integrated control of potato diseases and pests; post-harvest processing; information exchange.

 

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

IWMI is an organization that researches the use of water resources in agriculture and the environment. IWMI is headquartered in Sri Lanka, and research projects are being conducted in 21 countries. Many studies of the institute unite groups of experts in economics, agronomy, hydrology, sociology and management, and medical scientists. IWMI is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The Institute is funded mainly by governments, private foundations, international and regional organizations, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).