Scientists from 42 countries around the world gathered in Nigeria for the 16th Triennial International Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC). Root and tuber crops are important for the diets and livelihoods of 2 billion people, the majority in developing countries.
The ISTRC, formed in 1967, is the only forum in the world for bringing together root and tuber crop scientists and researchers under the same roof.
The symposium was held 24-28 September 2012 and was hosted by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria. It was attended by more than 360 people including scientists, students, donors and policy makers. The theme of the symposium was 'root and tuber crops, development and climate change'.
A total of 207 oral presentations were accepted along with 142 posters. Adjacent open meetings were hosted by a number of initiatives including some funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and some by the EU.
Professor Keith Tomlins of the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of the University of Greenwich was elected as the new President, succeeding Professor Andrew Westby. Keith said; "Research into root and tuber crops is often neglected. Through the ISTRC I am keen to support early career scientists to gather new knowledge to support the diets and livelihoods of the 2 billion people in developing countries who consume these crops".
NRI were involved quite significantly in the proceedings, and several staff members gave presentations. Andrew Westby gave the keynote address on "realising the potential of tropical root and tuber crops". Other presentations were given on; pro-vitamin A retention in dried orange sweet potato (Aurelie Bechoff), gender issues in cassava value chains (Lora Forsythe), value chain analysis of yam sectors (David Phillips), social networks and cassava value chain development (Helena Posthumus) and the sensory acceptability of root and tuber crops in Africa (Keith Tomlins).
Three PhD students from NRI also gave presentations; Jaquelino Massingue gave an evaluation of a trader-focused marketing strategy for the sustained uptake of orange flesh sweet potato. Julius Okwadi presented his work on uptake of orange fleshed sweet potato in Uganda, and Milton Otema presented the status of sweet potato weevil resistance in sub-Saharan Africa.