The U.S. Agency for International Development has warned the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, which includes 15 research centers around the world, that it expects to cut the network's core funding by 75 percent this year, the network's director said on Wednesday 12/03/2008.
"The United States has been playing such an important role that a retreat, a withdrawal in these areas will be devastating," CGIAR director Ren Wang said. U.S. support, including core and project funding, was around $56 million in 2007, about 12 percent of overall funding, CGIAR reported. In 2006, it was $60.7 million.
The expected reduction in U.S. support comes as major donors like the World Bank and the Gates Foundation turn anew to agriculture, suffering from decades of underinvestment, as a primary vehicle for combating poverty.
Reference:
Farm research network braces for less funds from U.S. - Reuters 13/03/2008
