About Us

The International Society for Tropical Root Crops was created to foster, stimulate and support any type of activity leading to the general improvement of world tropical root crop production and utilization.

About ISTRC

The International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC) 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, ISTRC 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.

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

Key People

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

President ISTRC

Dr. Emmanuel Okogbenin
Dr. Emmanuel Okogbenin

First Vice President

Dr. Jan Low
Dr. Jan Low

Vice President Fund Raising

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

Councillor for Publications

Prof. Keith I Tomlins
Prof. Keith I Tomlins

Past President of the ISTRC 2012 - 2018

Chidiozie Egesi
Chidiozie Egesi

Councillor for West Africa

Dr. James George
Dr. James George

Councillor for South Asia

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. Angela T Alleyne
Dr. Angela T Alleyne

Regional Councillor for the Caribbean

Dr. Dina Borus
Dr. Dina Borus

Councillor – Africa (East and South)

Dr. Thierry Tran
Dr. Thierry Tran

Councillor - North America and Europe

Engage With Us

Constitution

The ISTRC 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 ISTRC

Established in 1967, ISTRC 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

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 - Present 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

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

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
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