The conservation of crops, crop wild relatives and trees ensures the resources needed to adapt and enhance agriculture remain available for future generations. Clonal crops such as banana, cassava and potato, which are vegetatively propagated require different approaches for conservation.

CGIAR research has played a major role in agricultural development and world food security for more than 40 years, in particular, helping to improve the livelihoods of billions of rural poor. Today, in an important landmark for the continuation of its research, the CGIAR Consortium achieved International Organization status and recognition. Bioversity International is one of the 15 CGIAR Consortium Research Centres.