This page lists the member institutions of the consortium who are collaborating in the elaboration of the Project Proposal development process.
Some of the members may not have been listed in the concept note stage but have been added as we extend the local consultation process.
The contribution of each and every member of the consortium, along the value chain are described here.
Partner 1: Food And Agricultural Research Council (FARC) (Applicant)
Country of registration: Mauritius
Type of actor: Para-statal institution involved in coordination of Agricultural Research and Development
Relevant expertise: In vitro mass propagation and supply of planting material, vegetative propagation of breadfruit, field experimentation. Co-ordination of agricultural research activities at national level, funding of local research projects, implementation of donor-funded projects
Experience in innovation partnerships: Initiator and coordinator of the National Banana Programme in Mauritius adopting the ‘filiere’ approach. The FARC coordinated research & development activities undertaken by various stakeholders including field research e.g. introduction of new cultivars of banana, field testing, in-vitro mass propagation & supply to growers, encouraging commercial growing of banana, development of new processing techniques, molecular disease analysis. Two units of the FARC were involved for facilitation & as the research arm.
Legal status: FARC has been established as a para statal organisation by FARC Act No. 49 of 1985, as amended by Act No. 20 of 1997 of the Mauritian Legislation. FARC derives most of its goals, objectives and initiatives from a consideration of the goals – explicit and implicit of the now Ministry of Agro-Industry & Food Security and the Government with the following mandate:
(a) to co-ordinate, monitor and promote research projects and programmes-
(i) entrusted to the different units set up by it;
(ii) of the different institutions engaged in agriculture, fisheries and food production without any prejudice to existing legislation concerning those institutions;
(b) to set research priorities in line with the needs of the agricultural sector;
(c) to ensure, as far as possible the proper dissemination and practical application of the results of any such research;
(d) to establish units for the purpose of conducting research extension and other related activities and to ensure the proper functioning, staffing and allocation of resources to such units;
(e) to advise the Minister generally on national policies and other matters related to food and agricultural research and applications thereof.
The Council shall establish a Unit to be known as the Agricultural Research and Extension Unit whose functions shall be to
(a) conduct research and extension activities in non-sugar crops, livestock and food production
(b) promote and encourage agricultural and agribusiness development through the setting up of agricultural youth clubs and agricultural entrepreneur clubs.
The FARC Board is composed of representatives of the different ARD stakeholders, including Farmer Organisations.
The FARC has also been the National Executing Agency for The National Biosafety Framework( Mauritius) UNEP/GEF with objective that by 2010 Mauritius has a workable and transparent national biosafety framework, in line with its national development priorities and international obligations. The total project value of 635,700 USD of which the UNEP/GEF contribution is 66%. The remainder is provided as in kind contribution by the Government of Mauritius.
Role and responsibilities: Leader of the Partnership and Leader of envisaged Research Team
Stake in the innovation challenge/opportunity: Planning and Coordination of research and other activities to be undertaken, facilitation of the brokering process among stakeholders along the value chain
Expected input and complementarity[5]: FARC Tissue Culture Laboratory and Nursery: In vitro mass propagation of breadfruit, transfer to greenhouse and supply to planting community for subsequent field establishment.
FARC Management (Research Coordination): Organisation of workshops and public awareness campaign related to breadfruit production and use as food source.
Agricultural Research & Extension Unit: Field experiments and production practices. Food processing
Partner 2: Mauritius Agricultural and Marketing Cooperatives Federation (MAMCF)
Country of registration: Mauritius
Type of actor: Producer Organisation (Federation of organisations)
Relevant expertise: Production; Coordination of activities of farmer groups and local producers; advocacy campaigns; coordination of marketing channels;
Experience in innovation partnerships: Successful coordination and implementation of cropping campaigns in Mauritius in the potato and onion sectors; representation on national institutions and active voice of the farming community;
Legal status: Private sector Farmer organisation
Role and responsibilities: Mobilisation of representatives of grower communities; facilitation of brokering processes; participation in field experiment and production activities; interface with processors and backyard producers
Stake in the innovation challenge/opportunity:Increase participation of the planting community in decisions regarding breadfruit production. Improve bargaining ability of its members, opportunities for income generation and their capacity to integrate their views and needs in the formal agricultural sector.
Expected input and complementarity: Participation in analysis of value chain and establishment of commercial orchards for production; advocacy for backyard production of breadfruit and coordination of sales of fresh breadfruit
Partner 3: Conserverie Sarjua Int Ltee
Country of registration: Mauritius
Type of actor: Exporter of fresh tropical produce (including breadfruit) and processed vegetable pickles; processor of breadfruit flour in Mauritius
Relevant expertise: Established for over 15 years in the processing of Agricultural products andalready present on the European markets with a range of ethnic foods and export of fresh breadfruit. Recently experimented with the production of flour from breadfruit and other root crops from Mauritius
Experience in innovation partnerships: Key stakeholder in value-addition to local vegetable and fruit products in Mauritius. Over 25 years of experience in the marketing of local fruits and vegetables, including export, especially into the EU market; Active at the level of national consultations on policies within the agricultural sector in Mauritius
Legal status: Private Sector; processor
Role and responsibilities: Collection, packaging and export of fresh breadfruit to Eu market; Processing and marketing of processed breadfruit products.
Stake in the innovation challenge/opportunity: Improved coordination and supply of breadfruit for export and processing; Diversified range of breadfruit products and markets
Expected input and complementarity: Channel for export of fresh breadfruit; Channel for processing of fresh breadfruit into value added products; Spare processing capacity available in view of an increasing breadfruit production; liaison with export market operators in the EU.
Partner 4: Rishi Bootna (Distributor)
Country of registration: United Kingdom
Type of actor: Private sector (EU Partner)
Relevant expertise: Importer of tropical produce to the UK market (incl. Breadfruit)
Experience in innovation partnerships:The previous International Network for Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP) which has now integrated Bioversity International operates a well established network of operators in the Agricultural sector. Previous interactions in Mauritius have involved the establishment of tissue culture propagation of Banana, and institution is now considered a trustworthy partner in this field.
Legal status: Private sector Operator
Role and responsibilities: Market research in the UK and EU on quality standards and regulations, as well as consumer preferences for fresh breadfruit and breadfruit products.
Stake in the innovation challenge/opportunity: Opportunity to expand the market-base for export of fresh breadfruit from Mauritius; Income generation from increased volume of transactions
Expected input and complementarity: Survey and supply upstream value chain operators with information about regulations, quality standards and consumer preferences of breadfruit in the European market. Act as an entry point for the marketing channel of breadfruits exported from Mauritius. Ensure feedback from the consumers is relayed back to producers, packaging agents, transport operators and processors.
Partner 5: Bioversity International (potential Research partner)
Country of registration: Italy (Headquarters)
Type of actor: European Partner (potential involvement for Tissue culture operations)
Relevant expertise: Bioversity International undertakes, encourages and supports research aimed at enhancing the sustainable use and conservation of agricultural biodiversity
Experience in innovation partnerships:The previous International Network for Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP) which has now integrated Bioversity International operates a well established network of operators in the Agricultural sector. Previous interactions in Mauritius have involved the establishment of tissue culture propagation of Banana, and is now considered a trustworthy partner in this field.
Legal status: International Advanced Research Centre Bioversity International is the operating name of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) and.
Role and responsibilities: Backstopping of research project activities in the area of micro-propagation and genetic characterization of varieties of breadfruit from Mauritius.
Stake in the innovation challenge/opportunity: Opportunity to develop a new area of operations in the African context, based on the experience of the current value chain.
Expected input and complementarity: Bridge for the development of international trade agreements for the European markets
Partner 6: University of Mauritius - Faculty of Agriculture (FOA)