The Toralapa Tour

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PROINPA A SANREM partner for progress
A profile of PROINPA, host for the SANREM CRSP
2007 Annual Meeting, with images of collaborative
programs and projects in Bolivia.
Technician Cesar La Fuente works with apple
seedlings propagated under aseptic conditions at
the Tissue Culture Laboratory in the Toralapa
Research Center.
SANREM CRSP is supported by the United States
Agency for International Development and the
generous support of the American people through
Cooperative Agreement No. EPP-A-00-04-00013-00
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What is PROINPA?

• Fundación PROINPA Foundation for Research and
  Promotion of Andean Products is a SANREM CRSP
  partner in South America.
• Originally part of the Bolivian Institute of
  Agricultural Technology, which closed in 1997,
  PROINPA is a scientific organization that helps
  farmers by promoting technological innovation,
  food security, and the conservation and
  sustainable use of the Andes genetic resources.

Researchers Lilian Pinto and Massiel Ovando
analyze plant specimens treated with silver stain
gel.
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PROINPAs mission

• PROINPA generates and disseminates knowledge,
  products, and services through collaboration with
  public and private organizations, including
• Universities
• Ministries
• Municipalities
• Financial agencies
• Donors and foundations
• Companies and professionals and
• Producer associations.

Storage rooms at PROINPAs laboratory in
Cochabamba keep plant specimens sterile and at
controlled temperature and humidity.
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PROINPA-SANREM partnership
SANREM CRSP Phase III, managed by Virginia Tech,
began in 2004 with five long-term research
projects, three with activities in South America.
PROINPA is a partner in two Watershed-Based
Natural Resource Management in Small-Scale
Agriculture Sloped Areas of the Andean Region,
directed by Jeff Alwang at Virginia Tech and
Adapting to Change in the Andean Highlands
Practices and Strategies to Address Climate and
Market Risks in Vulnerable Agro-Ecosystems,
directed by Corinne Valdivia at the University of
Missouri-Columbia.
Above, Corinne Valdivia speaks with Chris Kosnik
of USAID, left, and PROINPA Director Antonio
Gandarillas. Below, Jeff Alwang with Ilich
Figueroa and Ruben Botello of PROINPA.
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A first-hand look

• A highlight of the SANREM CRSP 2007 Annual
  Meeting was a daylong tour of PROINPAS
  headquarters and laboratories in Cochabamba, and
  its experiment station at Toralapa, 71 km. away
  in the Tiraque watershed.

Annual meeting participants view the Tiraque
watershed on their way to PROINPAs Toralapa
Research Center.
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at PROINPAs projects

• SANREM Program Director Theo Dillaha and wife
  Rebecca Caldwell take in a vista of grain fields
  at the Tiraque watershed.

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A rich gene pool

• PROINPA is known globally for its contribution
  and commitment to agricultural development.
  Because Bolivia is one of the worlds most
  biodiverse countries, the genetics of its native
  plants are of great scientific interest. PROINPA
  maintains the Bolivias official germplasm bank
  for Andean tubers, roots, and grains.
• At Toralapa, researchers also are experimenting
  with alternative crops, including medicinal
  plants, strawberries, peaches, and bananas. The
  aim is to identify fruits and vegetables that can
  be grown and marketed profitably by local
  farmers.

In a Toralapa greenhouse, researchers are
experimenting with strawberries as an alternative
to traditional crops.
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At left, Technician Angela Meruvia of PROINPAs
Community Unit explains research with the rich
variety of potato, oca, isaño, and papalisa
native to the Andes. Top right, Ximena Cadima,
who is responsible for genetic resource
thematics, describes the areas 1,700 varieties
of potatoes.
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Connecting with the community
SANREM and PROINPA researchers meet with local
farm families at the Toralapa Research Station.

• One of PROINPAs primary goals is to teach local
  farmers new agricultural technology such as
  tilling methods, crop rotation, and proper use of
  pesticides and fertilizers. PROINPA, like SANREM,
  is committed to including women in its outreach.

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Sensitivity to gender issues
At a breakfast organized by SANREM Gender
Coordinator Maria Elisa Christie, 20 annual
meeting participants discussed how to increase
womens participation in SANREM projects. Topics
included collaboration on publications and
improving womens access to markets, knowledge of
soils, and participation in governance and
natural-resource management.
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Sending the message
SANREM Gender Coordinator Christie speaks to
PROINPA staff, left, and shares a laugh during
lunch with Ilich Figueroa.
In conjunction with the SANREM annual meeting,
Christie gave a presentation on gender to the
staff at PROINPA headquarters. Part of PROINPAs
stated mission is to respect and value diversity
and equality.
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Buying, selling, and trading
Though women are active in growing and selling
produce, they are not always included in training
and policy-making. A SANREM and PROINPA tenet is
to ensure that all projects include women in all
phases and that their special needs,
contributions and distinct experience are
considered and acknowledged.
At the Tiraque marketplace that serves local
residents, a woman barters peppers, carrots, and
potatoes for other goods.
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Taking a closer look

• SANREM Associate Director Keith Moore met with
  project teams to discuss collaborative SANREM
  research activities involving PROINPA CERES, a
  social science research agency and PROMIC, a
  watershed management organization.
• In Bolivia, research focuses on crop varieties
  that farmers can grow profitably and sell
  successfully while protecting the environment.

At the Toralapa Research Center, Moore learns the
process for making maca powder. A member of the
radish family, maca has long been valued in the
Andes for its ability to enhance fertility. The
plant, once nearly extinct, is now cultivated
extensively for local markets and export, and is
marketed as Bolivian Viagra.
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A night on the town

• On Day 3 of the SANREM annual meeting, after a
  full agenda of presentations and meetings,
  PROINPA arranged dinner and entertainment at a
  Cochabamba restaurant with panoramic views of the
  city after dark.

A local dance troupe gives a modern
interpretation of traditional Bolivian folk
dances popular in the Cochabamba region.
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A special thank-you
After dinner, SANREM Program Director Dillaha
presented a gift of appreciation to PROINPAs Ana
Maria Cortez, who coordinated travel, lodging,
meals, audio-visuals, and other details for the
annual meeting. The conference brought together
more than 50 scientists, engineers, and
development specialists from seven countries.
Meeting presentations are available online from
the SANREM CRSP home page http//www.oired.vt.edu
/sanremcrsp/
Photos Deanne Estrada, Keith Moore