Research project BL/12/LeapAgri02 (Research action BL)
Project description
Context
Banana (Musa spp.) is the fourth most important crop in the LDC's, providing a staple food for more than 400 million people. Yield and the value chain is far below its potential for many small holder farmers. In Africa, about 200 of cultivars of highland, plantain and dessert bananas are cultivated and production is mainly aimed for the local market. In contrast, the banana production and import in Europe is limited to a few cultivars. EU production accounted only for about 12.6% of total consumption in 2012.
Objectives
The project aims to improve the exploitation of the already existing and available genetic resources of banana, including newly developed elite hybrids and farmer’s favorite accessions. All stakeholders of the banana value chain will be included through consultation ( inclusive approach where stakeholders can follow the ongoing research that will bring the products of tomorrow, long term resilience is needed to intensify agricultural production in a way that it will address the UN SDG's). The selected banana varieties need to be resilient to water availability constraints that hamper production and have to address the qualitative and quantitative increasing demand for food. The project strengthens the partnerships between scientists, farmers & consumers & all stakeholders of the banana value chain. This facilitates the different stages of product development towards a effective and sustainable banana production. The information & products generated will respond to stakeholders’ demands & made suitable for field use, in different agro-ecosystems & crop conditions representative of intensive & self-consumption conditions, with a high impact on yields.
This research bridges (i) novel and innovating methodologies handled by highly skilled scientists using a new low-cost phenotyping technology and the ecotron facility developed in Europe and (ii) robust field evaluation by specialists and promising scientists of drought tolerance in the main production areas from Africa and Europe. Both natural varieties and newly developed hybrids coming from Africa will be used, with support of expertise from Europe & Africa in cultivating bananas under high and low input conditions.
The University of Liège is responsible for the following WP's-tasks:
- WP - 3.1 : Scanning in the field of microbes and identification of species/varieties of the most beneficial species/varieties
- WP - 3.3 : Evaluation of the climate resilience via the Ecotron
The University of Liège is partner in the following WP's :
- WP - 4.1 : Evaluation of ICIA promissing selected cultivars
- WP - 5 : Capacity enhancement
