View source for Organization:International Center for Tropical Agriculture

{{Short description|International research institute in Columbia, member of CGIAR}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = International Center for Tropical Agriculture
| image_size = 210px
| logo = Logo of The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.png
| abbreviation = CIAT
| merged = The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT <ref>[https://ciat.cgiar.org/alliance/ The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT]</ref>
| formation = 1967
| type = [[Social:Intergovernmental organization|Intergovernmental organization]]
| status = International organization
| purpose = Research for development
| headquarters = Cali-Palmira
| location = Colombia
| leader_title = Director General
| leader_name = Juan Lucas Restrepo <ref>[https://www.bioversityinternational.org/about-us/who-we-are/staff-bios/single-details-bios/restrepo-juan-lucas/ Juan Lucas Restrepo]</ref>
| parent_organization = [[Organization:CGIAR|CGIAR]]
| website = {{url|https://alliancebioversityciat.org/}}
}}

The '''International Center for Tropical Agriculture''' (known as '''CIAT''' from its 
Spanish-language name '''''Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical''''') is an international research and development organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger while protecting natural resources in developing countries. It is based in Palmira, Colombia, where it employs over 300 scientists.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Aldwinckle|first1=Jack|title=Scientists have engineered the food that will help save a starving, warming planet|url=http://qz.com/369495/scientists-have-engineered-the-food-that-could-save-a-starving-warming-planet/|work=Quartz (publication)|date=25 March 2015}}</ref>

CIAT is one of the 15 specialized research centers of the [[Organization:CGIAR|CGIAR]] and is also the headquarters for the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).

In 2019, CIAT joined with Bioversity International (as the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT) to "deliver research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ciat.cgiar.org/alliance/|title=Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT|website=www.bioversityinternational.org|language=en|access-date=2020-02-06}}</ref>

==Grain legume research==
CIAT has a seed depository of 37,000 varieties of beans at a center in Colombia and, as of 2013, was engaged in research on developing better varieties of grain legumes. The goals are tolerances to drought, low phosphorus soils, and heat; in addition to improved nitrogen fixation. CIAT coordinated the activities of the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) in 29 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. This effort was supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)<ref name=CIAT021213>{{cite web|title=Grain legumes come out of the shadows with major research programme|url=http://www.ciatnews.cgiar.org/2013/02/12/grain-legumes-come-out-of-the-shadows-with-major-research-programme/|publisher=International Center for Tropical Agriculture|access-date=February 19, 2013|author=Neil Palmer|date=February 12, 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Organization:Bioversity International|Bioversity International]]
*[[Organization:International Institute of Tropical Agriculture|International Institute of Tropical Agriculture]]

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{CGIAR Centers}}

==External links==
*[https://alliancebioversityciat.org/ International Center for Tropical Agriculture]
*[http://www.ccafs.cgiar.org CCAFS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627092628/http://www.ccafs.cgiar.org/ |date=27 June 2013 }}



[[Category:International research institutes]]



{{Sourceattribution|International Center for Tropical Agriculture}}