Last month, the CGIAR Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA) convened at CIAT in Cali, Colombia—a setting that reflects both CGIAR’s scientific legacy and its continued commitment to innovation and collaboration. The gathering offered the team an opportunity to convene and reflect on shared priorities within its current workplan.
The internal discussions touched upon enhancing coordination, make the most of on SPIA’s internal research and technical capacity, strategic communications and administrative topics. However, a key part of the visit was touring CIAT’s Genebank, which holds one of the largest collections of beans, cassava, and tropical forages in the world. We learned that the Genebank is vital for preserving living plant genetic resources by carefully storing seeds and tissue samples under controlled conditions, ensuring they remain available for future research and crop development.
SPIA members also visited the cassava genetics lab, where scientists like Winnie Gimode, Adrianna Bohórquez, and Luz Gómez are working to improve cassava plants. They use advanced research methods, including omics sciences, to better understand cassava genetics and to develop tools that help select the best plants for breeding. The team observed both manual and automated ways of extracting DNA and RNA, learning how these methods boost the reliability and speed of research.
Overall, these experiences highlighted the importance of working together to achieve meaningful progress. By strengthening coordination, communication, and research partnerships, SPIA is well-positioned to make a lasting difference in agricultural innovation moving forward, guided by its Country Studies Portfolio and Causal Impact Studies, while promoting the rigorous use of evidence.
