Taro in Vanuatu: towards a dynamic conservation strategy

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is an ancient root crop which is closely integrated into society and culture in the Pacific. Taro has never received much interest from research, but the devastation caused by the outbreak of Taro Leaf Blight in Samoa in 1993 has led to a renewed interest in this crop, in particular in its genetic diversity. Gene banks have been established, but it is also necessary to work directly with farmers on in-situ, or on-farm conservation to keep the crop useful and competitive in a changing environment