Conserving
and using genetic resources of tropical American fruits
Tropical fruits can be grown successfully on smaller farms, providing a socially and environmentally favourable alternative to the devastating expansion of ranching. Fruit farming also stimulates the development of small, rural processing industries. Perennial fruits offer solutions for the sustainable development of fragile zones such as the Andean valleys and the Amazon Basin. Cultivating fruit is also a way to diversify land use and move away from monocultures such as coffee growing in southern Brazil and Colombia and chive farming in the Colombian highlands.
Global demand for tropical fruits is expected
to increase by 40% by 2005. In the Americas, IPGRI supports research on tropical
fruits and promotes their conservation and use. This approach is providing
farmers with ways to diversify their agriculture, secure a food supply and
increase their income.
In the Americas region, IPGRI has collaborated
closely with CIRAD-FLHOR in its research on fruit crops. Research is conducted
primarily through projects with networks and national organizations. The work
includes a strong bibliographical component to respond to the large demand for
information from local scientists. Research is being undertaken on the Mesoamerican
Sapotaceae, Andean passion fruits, pineapple and papaya. In addition, support has been provided for the
development of
projects on cherimoya (Annona cherimola) and the Solanaceae.
Collaborative research on specific fruit crops
passiflora
pineapple
papaya
cherimoya
Information resources on fruit crops from the Americas
Bibliography on Neotropical Fruits
New World Fruits Database
