Biodiversity and Germplasm

• Belowground biodiversity (BGBD) project
  The project's main goal is to generate information and knowledge that can be used to better manage and conserve BGBD in tropical agricultural landscapes. Funding: Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Region: Brazil, Ivory Coast, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico and Uganda. (Project leader: Jeroen Huising).
  
  
• Cultivar development for rice agribusiness in Brazil
  This project aims to identify new irrigated and highland rice cultivars for national and international markets, and to provide economic, social and nutritional benefits for Brazilian society. Funding: Embrapa. Amazon region: Rondônia, Brazil. (Project leader: Marlei Utumi).
  
  
• Genotype evaluation of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) in Rondônia.The project objective is the evaluation of a new elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) genotype to be better adapted and more productive in the Western Amazon. Amazon region: Rondônia State, Brazil. (Project leader: Joao Paulo Guimaraes Soares).
  
  
• Maize improvement for family agriculture in Rondônia
  This project aims to make intra-population improvements (half-sibling families) in Suwan DMR, CMS 33, BR 5109, and native varieties (landraces) of maize populations in the Brazilian Amazon. The goal is to develop open pollination varieties with good adaptability to the main biotic and non-biotic stresses of Rondônia state and the Amazon region. Funding: Embrapa. Amazon region: Rondônia, Brazil. (Project leader: André Rostand Ramalho).
  
  
• Theobroma grandiflorum active germplasm bank in Rondônia
  This research aims to identify, evaluate, select, and maintain a Theobroma grandiflorum (Cupuacu) collection in Rondônia, with the objective of contributing to crop expansion on a sustainable basis. Funding: Embrapa. Amazon region: Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil. (Project leader: George Duarte Ribeiro).
  
  
• Peach palm provenance genetic improvement from a Yurimaguas population for heart of palm production in Rondônia. The project aims to evaluate and select peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) provenances to support scientific selection processes and future steps toward genetic improvement. Funding: Embrapa. Amazon region: Porto Velho and Machadinho d'Oeste, Brazil. (Project leader: Marilia Locatelli).
  
  
• Multi-strata shade coffee (Robusta) cultivation in the Amazon
  This project evaluates biophysical, environmental and economic interactions among Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) cultivation with tree associations in Rondônia. Funding: Embrapa. Amazon region: Machadinho d'Oeste, Rondônia, Brazil. (Project leader: Vanda Gorete Souza Rodrigues).
  

For further information on any of the above projects, contact asb@cgiar.org.