Project: TROPNUS Strengthening sustainable socio-economic development in a least developed region in Bolivia by use of neglected and underutilized tropical species Tropical Neglected Under-utilized Species An international consortium is ready to perform research on different neglected and underutilized plant species from tropical ecosystems in Bolivia and Peru. Additionally sustainable agricultural management systems, emphasising organic farming and integrated pest management procedures will be applied. The microbial symbiotic and plant growth promoting microbial communities of given plant species will be investigated with the aim to develop new formulas of mixed inocula. New market niches for new plant species will be developed, respecting the principles of fair and equitable sharing for indigenous communities, and protection of traditional knowledge, as stated in the CBD Strategic objectives addressed: Research to increase the use and productivity of neglected and under-utilised tropical crops and species, important for the livelihoods of local populations Research in production technology of such neglected and underutilized species (NUS) that have wider use and could significantly contribute to food security, agricultural diversification and income generation Development of sustainable agricultural management practices, including multicropping, integrated pest and disease management, biological nitrogen fixation, use of mycorrhiza and plant growth promoting rhizosphere bacteria (PGPR) Develop storage and marketing methods for products derived from NUS with the objective of increasing market accessibility and product value Policy research, encompassing agricultural policy and the interactions of policies which affect food security System research, to ensure the appropriateness and sustainability of processes contributing to food security Development of policies supporting the equitable access to food of NUS, with emphasis on local knowledge and capacity building research Benefits of the project: New species of until today neglected or underutilized tropical plant species, such as fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices will enter the local, regional and international market. This new species will be produced under the standards and regulations for organic farming as applicable in the European Community. The will be new high nutrient and tasteful tropical food products, produced environmentally sound and traded under fair conditions with regard to the indigenous peoples from which territories they come from. On the other hand, there will be new products for the agricultural management practises of these new plant species to grow. Selected bacterial species, beneficial to the plant, isolated from the in situ microbial community from the rhizosphere and phyllosphere of this plant. Also endophytic microorganisms, or mycorrhizal fungi, which stay in a close symbiotic relationship with the plant, are necessary for a healthy and strong plant, by inducing resistance against pathogens and providing essential micronutrients. Cocktails of such beneficial microorganisms will be produced to inoculate the soil where the plants are cultivated. So each plant will get its microbial community as present at the natural location where they were taken from. They will be produced under controlled conditions and applied to the plant or soil or seed. The application of these biological fertilizers and bio-control agents will substitute agrochemicals in the production of the new plant species. Participants N° Organisation name Location P1 Amazonia Network (Coordination) Vienna, Austria P2 Austrian Centre of Biological Resources and Applied Mycology Vienna, Austria P3 University of Gent Gent, Belgium P4 University of Aarhus Aarhus, Denmark P5 Universidad Mayor de San Andrés La Paz, Bolivia P6 PROBIOMA Sta. Cruz, Bolivia P7 Instituto de Investigaciones Amazonicas Peruanas Iquitos, Peru P8 Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellin Medellin, Colombia