About Us

The International Society for Tropical Roots, Tubers and Bananas was created to foster, stimulate and support any type of activity leading to the general improvement of world tropical root and tuber crops and banana production and utilization.

About ISTRTB

The ISTRC, predecessor of the International Society for Tropical Roots, Tubers and Bananas (ISTRTB) was founded to promote the improvement of tropical root crop production and utilisation worldwide. We’re a friendly, multidisciplinary forum that brings together experts from fields as varied as agriculture, economics, biotechnology, and the chemical industry. Our aim is to create an environment where ideas flow freely and collaborations flourish.

Established in 1967, ISTRTB has grown into a global network with over 300 members across more than 60 countries. Our journey began back in 1964 at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago. It was here that a visionary group first imagined a series of symposia dedicated to tropical root crops—especially to bridge gaps and share knowledge with researchers from low and middle-income countries. In April 1967, the first symposium took place in St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, and the tradition has continued every three years ever since. In March 2026, bananas are added to the remit of the society, increasing society’s scope and responsibilities.

At ISTRTB, we believe in the power of shared expertise and the positive impact that informed collaboration can have on the future of tropical root crops and bananas. We’re proud of our history and excited about what lies ahead.

Key People

Prof. Maruthi M N Gowda
Prof. Maruthi M N Gowda

President of ISTRTB

Dr. Angela T Alleyne
Dr. Angela T Alleyne

First Vice President and Regional Councillor for the Caribbean

Dr Ranjana Bhattcharjee
Dr Ranjana Bhattcharjee

Vice-President Fund Raising

Dr. Paterne Agre
Dr. Paterne Agre

Councillor for Publications

Prof. Lateef O. Sanni
Prof. Lateef O. Sanni

Past President

Chidiozie Egesi
Chidiozie Egesi

Councillor for West Africa

Prof. Songbi Chen
Prof. Songbi Chen

Councillor for Asia

Dr. Rup Singh
Dr. Rup Singh

Councillor - South Pacific

Dr. Godwin Atser
Dr. Godwin Atser

Secretary / Treasurer

Dr T Makeshkumar
Dr T Makeshkumar

Councillor for South Asia

Dr Kwame Ogero
Dr Kwame Ogero

Councillor for Eastern and Southern Africa

Dr Samar Sheat
Dr Samar Sheat

Councillor - North America and Europe

Dr Wilmer J. Cuellar
Dr Wilmer J. Cuellar

Councillor - South America

Prof. Andrew Westby OBE
Prof. Andrew Westby OBE

ISTRTB Patron

Engage With Us

Constitution

The ISTRTB constitution is the document which describes the principles by which the society governed. The constitution allows the membership to hold the committee accountable and works towards structuring a democratic, fair and transparent society for all

View Constitution

Past Positions of the ISTRTB

Established in 1967, ISTRTB has over 300 members in over 60 countries. In 1964 at Trinidad and Tobago, a group within the University of the West Indies conceived the holding of a series of symposia on Tropical Root Crops to bring together researchers globally, particularly from low and middle income countries (LMICs). In April 1967, the first symposium was held at St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago and have been held triennially since this time.

Past Councillors

Past Presidents

DateNameOrganisation
1967 – 1973 M L Magoon Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Kerala, India
1973 – 1979 Dr D G Coursey Tropical Products Institute, London, UK
1979 – 1983 D L Plucknett University of Hawaii
1983 – 1985 S Sadik International Potato Center, P.O Box 2416, Cairo, Egypt
1985 – 1991 K Caeser Technical University of Berlin, Germany
1991 – 1997 S K Hahn International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
1997 – 2003 Dr N H Poulter Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK
2003 – 2012 Prof A Westby Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK
2012 – 2018 Prof K Tomlins Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK
2018 – 2026 Prof L Sanni Federal University of Agriculture, Nigeria

Past Secretary/Treasurers

DateNameOrganisation
1984 Dr L Wickham University Ibadan, Nigeria
1984 - 2012 Prof Conrad Bonsi Tuskegee University, USA
2012 - 2015 N/A N/A
2015 - 2021 Dr Ranjana Bhattcharjee International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria

Past Councillors for Publications

DateNameOrganisation
2000 - 2003 Prof Andrew Westby Natural Resources Institute, UK
2003 - 2012 Prof Keith Tomlins Natural Resources Institute, UK
2012 - 2015 N/A N/A
2015 - 2025 Maruthi Gowda Natural Resources Institute, UK

Past Councillors for Africa

DateNameOrganisation
Past Councillors for Africa
1991 – 2003 Dr J Otoo CRI, Ghana
Past Councillors for West Africa
2003 – 2012 Prof M Akoroda University of Ibadan
Past Councillors for East & South Africa
2009 – 2013 Dr Gorrettie Ssemakula NaCRRI, Uganda
2015 – 2025 Dr. Dina Borus International Potato Center, Kenya

Past Councillors for Asia

DateNameOrganisation
Past Councillors for East Asia
2003 Dr K Komaki Council for Science and Technology Policy, Japan
2003 - 2009 Dr Reinhardt Howler CIAT, Thailand
Past Councillors for South & South-East Asia
2006 Dr S Edison CTCRI, India
2006 - 2012 Dr Naskar CTCRI, India
2012 - 2025 Dr. James George ICAR - Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, India

Past Councillors for America & Europe

DateNameOrganisation
Past Councillors for North America & Europe
N/A Dr N Alvarez N/A
N/A - 2022 Dominic Dufour CIRAD, France
2015 - 2025 Dr. Thierry Tran International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Colombia
Past Councillors for South America
N/A Dr M Cereda N/A
2000 - 2009 Dr William Roca CIP, Peru
2009 - 2012 Dr. Juan Carlos Pérez CIP, Peru
2012 - 2018 Dr Clair Hershey CIAT, Columbia
2018 - 2022 Louis Augusto Bacerra CIAT, Columbia
Past Councillors for The Caribbean
N/A Dr L Wickham N/A
N/A - 2022 Dr Gregory Robin N/A

Other Past Councillors

DateNamePositionOrganisation
2018 - 2021 Dr. Emmanuel Okogbenin First Vice President African Agricultural technology Foundation, Kenya
- 2025 Dr Jan Low Vice President Fund raising International Potato Center, Kenya