Purpose The
Third Taro Symposium will review progress in taro research,
analyse needs and priorities, develop a strategy for future work
in taro research and development, explore new ways to use
genetic diversity and improve taro quality and production, and
stimulate international collaboration, information exchange and
networking Background Taro
is one of the most ancient of crops, and still a key component
of sustainable livelihoods in the relatively fertile and
high-rainfall environments of the Pacific, South-East Asia, West
Africa and the Caribbean, where it has special cultural, dietary
and economic importance. It ranks 14th worldwide among staple
crops, with nine million tonnes produced globally from some two million hectares. In the Pacific, where it is of greatest
significance, it is considered an essential component of every
meal. The corms are baked, roasted or boiled,
and have great importance as a gift on formal occasions, but the
leaves also represent a significant source of vitamins,
especially folic acid. In addition to being an important
traditional food crop, taro is a significant export commodity in
a number of countries, such as Fiji and Cook Islands. This
list of countries was longer before 1993, because the
crop also faces important problems, especially taro leaf blight.
Taro leaf blight devastated production in Samoa and threatens other
Pacific Island countries. The recent rebound in Samoan
taro cultivation, however, is also evidence that these problems can be
overcome, in particular through the management, deployment and
use of genetic diversity. Unfortunately,
this diversity is fast disappearing from many parts of the
world, in part because of dietary changes and urban migration,
as well as pests and diseases. These recent trends make it
important to review the challenges faced by taro farmers
worldwide, and the successes of research over the past half a
decade, since the Second Taro Symposium. Organisers The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and the French agricultural research organisat ion CIRAD
Who should
participate? The
symposium will emphasise international collaboration,
information exchange and networking with a view to developing a
strategy for future work in taro research and development. Anyone with an interest in taro is encouraged to participate.
Funds may be available for a limited number of
participants from developing countries. Participants will include: researchers
Themes Taro
Diversity, Ethnobotany and Conservation Germplasm
collecting, characterization and evaluation, measuring genetic
diversity and erosion, in situ and ex situ conservation, safe
exchange, traditional knowledge and ethno botanical studies. Pests
and Diseases Studies
of important pathogens and pests affecting production,
characterization of viruses and other pathogens, biology and
epidemiology of major diseases, studies on taro beetles and
other taro pests,
methods for control and management of pests and diseases,
integrated pest management, novel approaches to manage pests and
diseases Production
Constraints Crop
husbandry constraints, harvesting and handling, weed control,
soil and water management, mechanical cultivation and harvesting Breeding
and Distribution of Improved Materials Conventional
breeding programmes,
Participatory plant breeding programmes, improved varieties, use
of novel technologies to improve taro, multiplication of
planting material and distribution New
Products and Product Development Review
of taro products and processing, nutritional aspects both pre-
and post-processing, enhancing traditional products using
appropriate technology, snack foods, industrial uses, taro
flours, starches, industrial additives, baby foods, novel
products, new technologies, vacuum packed products, frozen
products Quality
Standards and Marketing Production
methods, cleaning and grading, quality assessment, packaging,
export and quality standards, new and niche markets, transport,
shipping and quarantine Poster Session A display area will be available for posters. Please inform the organisers if you would like to have a poster presentation.
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Secretariat
of the Pacific Community (SPC)