DFID increases funding to international agricultural research

06 Jun 2008 At the recent World Food Summit in Rome, Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, announced that DFID will provide £150 million to support international agricultural research over the next five years. £130 million of this is allocated to the Consultative Group for International Agricultural research (CGIAR) and the balance to other international agricultural research organisations which complement the work of the CGIAR.

This major increase in funding to the CGIAR is because the “CGIAR is delivering good research.” It is also dependent upon “significant reform in the CGIAR.” The increase in funding will enable the CGIAR and other international agricultural research organisations to undertake research to:

• Produce new varieties of staple crops and livestock (including adaptation to climate change);
• Create new income opportunities for communities from high value commodities (fruits, vegetables, fisheries and forest products);
• Conserve crop and animal biodiversity for future use;
• Develop improved practices and policies for the sustainable management of water, land and forestry resources; and,
• Inform global and national agricultural and food policies (including policies on markets and trade).

This support for international agricultural research is part of the £400m DFID has already announced for agricultural research under DFID’s new five year Research Strategy.

References:
DFID increases funding to international agricultural research
CGIAR receives £130 million for agricultural research