Ruben EcheverrĂa, Director General of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) headquartered near Cali, Colombia, gave a brown bag seminar on “An evolving LAC strategy … from international donors to country partnerships,” where he presented an overview of CIAT’s work and strategic initiatives.
An alumnus of CIMMYT, EcheverrĂa conducted part of his Ph.D. thesis research in the mid-1980s, in the field in Mexico and Guatemala. At the seminar, he emphasized the need for research centers such as CIMMYT and CIAT to embrace the private sector and partner with agribusiness to collaborate on new potential lines of research.
EcheverrĂa also discussed the donor environment in Latin America, and the need to build stronger connections with national governments for future support. In addition to the seminar, EcheverrĂa met with CIMMYT staff and key stakeholders to discuss continued collaboration between the centers and future partnership in Colombian maize projects.
EcheverrĂa presenting a CIAT study on changing global diets, which gained media attraction, including from National Geographic (in its infographic); the study shows how national diets since 1961 have become ever more similar. Photo: CIMMYT
Capacity development 