Biotech Updates

ICRISAT Strategies for Climate Change and Desertification

September 21, 2007

The billions of poor and malnourished people of Asia, Africa and South America are the most vulnerable to climate change. But, with advances in science, knowledge-based interventions, and significant donor support from the developed and developing countries to support research, these people can be made less vulnerable, according to Dr. William Dar, Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and the Chair of the Committee for Science and Technology of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

ICRISAT, which focus on research and development of semi-arid crops, is finding ways to address the current climate uncertainty, land degradation and water scarcity. These initiatives include improved climate variability analysis; projects to overcome land degradation and water scarcity; use of improved crop management options; improved crop breeding; and a pro-poor BioPower strategy.

The full press release can be viewed at: http://www.icrisat.org/Media/2007/media14.htm