At the core of the ROTATES project is CIRAD – the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development.
With a legacy spanning decades, CIRAD stands as a global leader in agricultural research for sustainable development, bridging science and society across continents.
With 1,750 staff members, including 1,200 scientists, and a network of over 200 international partners, CIRAD brings unmatched expertise in:
- Genomics, plant health & varietal improvement – advancing resilient crop varieties adapted to diverse agroecological conditions
- Cropping systems & value chain economics – optimizing production models and enhancing farmer livelihoods
- Agroecological transitions & biodiversity protection – fostering sustainable land use and ecosystem services
- Co-construction with local actors – ensuring that innovations are grounded in real-world needs and cultural contexts
CIRAD’s long-standing work on starchy root and tuber crops is foundational to ROTATES. These crops, often overlooked in European agriculture, are central to CIRAD’s mission of promoting agrobiodiversity, climate resilience, and food sovereignty across Europe, Africa, and the outermost regions.
CIRAD’s vision of “working together for tomorrow’s agriculture” perfectly embodies the spirit of the ROTATES consortium—collaborative, inclusive, and future-facing.
As project coordinator, CIRAD ensures that ROTATES is not just a research initiative, but a movement toward more diverse, equitable, and resilient agrosystems.