Emile Frison

Dr Frison became the Director of the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP) in 1995 and was instrumental in strengthening the Programme, especially in Africa. In 1997, he launched the Global Programme for Musa Improvement (PROMUSA), which now counts more than 120 members and became a model for the development of Global Programmes on Commodity Chains in the context of the Global Forum for Agricultural Research. In 2002, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Global Consortium on Musa Genomics with 27 members from 14 countries.

As Director General of Bioversity he also leads the CGIAR System-Wide Genetic Resources Policy Programme (SGRP) and is a member of the CGIAR Genetic Resources Policy Committee (GRPC). He chairs the Alliance Executive, the decision making body of the 15 international agricultural research centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Dr Frison is also a member of the Board of Directors of Ecoagriculture Partners.

Author's website: Bioversity International