The International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC) and The Cassava Partnership for the 21st Century (GCP21) have partnered with the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agriculture Sciences (CATAS) and the Guangxi Cassava Research Institute to organise the first World Congress on Root and Tuber Crops, which is scheduled to hold in Nanning, Guanqxi, China, from January 18 to 22.


The Congress will promote dialogue between root and tuber crops stakeholders, researchers and private sector farmers, and facilitate discourse about more than 23 topics on root and tuber crops. It will also provide a forum for experts in the science, technology and private sector to discuss the best ways to enhance these crops and identify the solutions to major problems in the relevant value chains.

Root and tuber crops (RTCs), which include cassava, sweet potato, yams, potato, and other root crops are vital to the food security of many countries, and contribute substantially to animal feeds and agro-industries. The annual world production of root and tuber crops is 765 million tonnes (mt), which consists of potatoes (33mt), cassava (237mt), sweet potatoes (130mt), yams (53mt), and taro and other aroids (12mt). The world consumption of tropical root and tuber crops is 110kg/capita/year.

The congress organisers said progress in research and development in root and tuber crops has a major impact on upgrading food security and commercial development in the developing world.