Second PROTA International Workshop and Investors' Forum
24-26 September 2007
Background and justification
Information on the plant resources in tropical Africa, which is accumulating at an exponential rate, is stored in different formats and locations and is therefore inaccessible to most of its potential users. The Plant Resources of Tropical Africa (PROTA) programme aims to make this existing wealth of information available for education, extension, research, industry and government through web databases, a multi-volume handbook and CD-Roms. In documenting and disseminating existing but dispersed information on the 7,000 useful plants of tropical Africa, PROTA follows a 3-step approach: 1) knowledge synthesis; 2) conclusions through stakeholder consultations; 3) pilot projects on candidate technologies. This process has been completed or is advanced for 3 commodities (vegetables, dyes and tannins, cereals and pulses). For other commodities (vegetable oils, medicinal plants and timbers) the knowledge synthesis is ongoing. In addition, candidate pilot projects have been identified and are in progress.
PROTA is nearing the end of its first implementation phase (2003-2007). Therefore, the time is right to review impact and progress. In addition, it is necessary to chart the way forward for the next phase (2008-2012) with stakeholders and investors/donors.
Goal and objectives
The overall goal is to contribute to food security and sustainable development in tropical African countries. The specific objective is to contribute to the sustainable use of more of Africa’s heritage of useful plants.
Expected outcomes
- Information on various commodity groups updated
- Progress and findings of candidate pilot projects elaborated
- Recommendations on how to improve stakeholder consultations and pilot projects on candidate technologies formulated
Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Dutch Government (DGIS)
