A virtual foresight Academy for Africa?

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Ralph von Kaufmann (FARA) explains just after the parallel session "Thinking forward: better predicting and adressing future needs"on 30th of March at the GCARD conference in Montpellier, the proposal made by FARA about a virtual foresight Academy for Africa. "Without their own foresight capacity GFAR developing regions cannot properly assert their perspectives in discussions and consultations on international agricultural research in which they have the greatest vested interest".

Related FARA blog post:
Second workshop of the Assessments/Projections/Foresights Seminar.

Fourth day of the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD)

31st March 2010. Day 4 started with a Kofi Annan video address to GCARD.

In his video address to GCARD, the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan highlighted that “our goal must be to support the small resource poor farmers and the people who rely on them. For this to happen we need to establish parallel funding flows , build dynamic national systems, and we need an agricultural value chain vision".

Report to plenary by rapporteurs on the specific actions developed through the parallel sessions on Day 3
Refinement and key elements of the RoadMAP (Montpellier Action Plan) to improve the value of agricultural research in development at national, regional and international levels.

The RoadMAP derived from the Conference deliberations will set out pathways for reform and reorientation of agricultural research systems and innovation pathways around the world, against which all constituencies brought together in GFAR can review and assess our collective progress and change through successive GCARD meetings.

GCARD Final Press Briefing
Speakers:
- Dr Monty Jones, Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) - (center position on panel)
- Dr Carlos Perez del Castillo, Chair, CGIAR Consortium Board (right position on panel)
- Dr Pierre Fabre, Commission for Recherche Agricole Internationale (left position on panel)

Third day of the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD)

30th April 2010. The Third day at GCARD was about better targeting collective actions – research themes identified for international agricultural research. The CGIAR has analysed where it feels its international research efforts could best be focused to meet tomorrow’s development needs. The collective programmes articulated by the CGIAR were presented the particicipants to the workshops were invited to comment as to how these fit with the views, focus, capacity, and investment needs of national AR4D stakeholders.

Mark Holderness, Executive Secretary of GFAR, opened Day 3 of the conference by calling upon the participants for decisive collection action: “We’ve set the theme over the last two days. I can see you are all fired up to do something; now is your chance.”

PORTFOLIO OF 8 THEMATIC AREAS

1. Agricultural Systems for the Poor and VulnerableAround 70 participants attended a session moderated by Dr. Maarten van Ginkel, Deputy Director General of Research at ICARDA, on the agro-ecosystem research area, one of the 8 suggested thematic areas of the CGIAR.
2. Enabling agricultural incomes for the poor
   
   Mark Rosegrant of IFPRI briefed session participants on the policy and institutional constraints and opportunities, and the CGIAR’s proposed thematic research focus, to support farm incomes for the poor. The absence of a platform that links the various actors along the research-development-policy continuum, from bottom up to the top, was identified as a key challenge the research theme hoped to address.
3. 
   
   Optimizing Productivity of Global Security Crops Explaining why this parallel session was exclusively focused on rice, maize and wheat, Marianne Banzinger of CIMMYT said that it was important to move quickly to study the anticipated gap between between yield and demand, which the world will face long before 2050, and that this big challenge required coordinated investment and partnerships.
   Participants were quick to point out that the CGIAR must include other essential good security crops in their analysis, particularly given that there is no specific food security theme within the CG centers.
   
4. Agriculture, Nutrition and Health
   In a session moderated by Dr. Mark Cackler of the World Bank, participants in the agriculture, nutrition, and health program session noted the importance of fruits and vegetables for diversified diets against a backdrop of the rising obesity epidemic in poor countries.
5. Knowledge, information and advice in agri-foods systems
   Research organizations, including the CGIAR, should not be satisfied just with producing high quality science,” noted Enrica Porcari of the CGIAR’s ICT-KM. “It is essential that research outputs are communicated and put to use, in the village, on the ground, in the lab, or across the negotiating table.”

6. Agricultural Biodiversity
   This was a lively, interactive session where discussion ranged widely across many issues: including the need to bring all stakeholders into managing biodiversity, the importance of raising public awareness via the media to engage the public in that management, and the significance of advocacy in addressing policy-making on these issues.

PARALLEL SESSIONS: DISCUSSION OF KEY STRATEGIC NEEDS ACROSS SYSTEMS

1. Improving PartnershipsAjay Vashee of IFAP opened the partnerships session, stating that, “you cannot improve what you do not believe in and you cannot improve what you do not measure.” Sophia Drewnowski of the World Bank emphasized the need for communities of practice to allow cross fertilization and a focus on improving current partnerships instead of just doing more and more. Dr. Lawrence Haddad of the UK Institute of Development Studies renewed important examples highlighting cases where participation by farmers leads to better impacts, and used examples of projects that build demand for better participation and provide the valuable “how.” The private sector group suggested that they should try to influence the thinking about development needs in terms of business case possibilities for all stakeholders involved. Participants noted that farmers could facilitate partnerships where resources are equally distributed, and farmers should be included in all the stages of the research and development cycle and take into account their competencies. Read about the study Perspectives on Partnerships See the pre-GCARD workshop Web site
2. Addressing Gender for Inclusive Development
   Gender is a hot button issue at GCARD and the session on gender for inclusive development was no exception – a lively mix of videos, panel discussions and interactive nodes to map out practical ways to promote gender equality in agricultural research for development.

Open science session. The day ended with presentations about the potential that agricultural and wider science can offer for development impact.

Second day of the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD)

Day 2 started with a video address by David Nabarro, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on Food Security and Nutrition.

Dr. Monty Jones, Incoming Chair of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research, and Executive Director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa set the scene for the day by emphasizing the responsibility of participants to represent the needs of the hundreds of millions of resource poor farmers, livestock keepers, fish producers and forest dwellers who are not at the meeting.

Monty Jones outlined reasons why research has failed to achieve adequate impact to date in order to urge participants to enact change. These included: under investment in research and capacity; fragmentation of the players in AR4D; research not being adequately linked to other sectors that would leverage better impact, such as markets and infrastructure; a lack of accountability of researchers to the end users; and underexploited opportunities for collaboration (North-South and South-South).

Dr Monty Jones, Building a shared vision for change

His hopes for outcomes of GCARD were to establish GCARD an inclusive platform; validation of the CGIAR’s priority research areas; learning and networking; and development of a road map for reorienting agriculture research to better meet the needs of the poor. “The first GCARD is being held at a time when developing- country agriculture is commanding the highest attention in over four decades. This attention is certain to wane in the coming years. We therefore must make hay while the sun shines,” he concluded.

“Africa has transformed from self sufficiency in food 50 years ago to food deficit (16.5 billion in 07)“,

Denis Kyetere, Chair FARA

In the afternoon a panel was held on how to be an active player in collective action?

During this debate Paco Sereme (Executif Director of CORAF/WECARD) indicated that it is important to align future initiatives and partnerships to the ongoing CAADP process. Anne Marie Sorensen of EFARD refered to the example and model of FARA for how to enlarge traditional researchers'networks to other stakeholders and partnerships (farmers, private companies, extension services).

Dr. Ahmed Al-Bakri, AARINENA

Reference: GCARD blog

Interviews with some African Stakeholders at GCARD

Lucy Muchoki, Stakeholder, Kenya

Stephen Muchiri, Eastern Africa Farmers Federation, Kenya

Mary Njenga, Stakeholder, Kenya

Mary Mtoola, Farmer, Kenya

Joseph Kaguatha, Farmer, Kenya

Patrick Njogu, Farmer, Kenya

First day of the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD)

28-31 March 2010, Montpellier, France. Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development: Enhancing Development Impact from Research: Building on Demand

The GCARD process is addressing the following questions:

• What are the development needs where AR can play its best role?
• How best do we turn research in development impacts at scale?
• How can more effective pathways be developed to create impact for the poor?
• What investments, institutions, policies and capacities are necessary?

An influential panel of global leaders from local and international institutions opened the first-ever Global Conference for Agricultural Research for Development this morning, highlighting the need for increased collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation in order to meet grand challenges that we all face in feeding the world.

“GCARD offers a special opportunity to strengthen international agricultural research,” said World Bank President Robert Zoellick in a video address.

“Indeed, the theme of this conference, Shaping the future of agriculture together, is of critical importance. You must apply ingenuity knowledge, and the power of partnerships to reach new levels of cooperation, innovation and trust to create better and more sustainable solutions. I know you will keep the needs of farmers, especially the poor ones, in the forefront in order to make a difference in improving their lives.”

Dr Kanayo Nwanze, President of IFAD • Dr Jacques Diouf, Director General of FAO

Professor Adel El-Beltagy, Chair of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR)

Panel discussion. By comparison, the challenges that we face today make the Green Revolution an easy challenge, said Sir Gordon Conway, who moderated the session entitled Partnerships for a better future. “The plant breeding innovations were easy, it focused on big farmers on land that was well irrigated and well managed.”
Each panelist was asked to identify one partnership that could serve as an example for a successful partnership.

For Tang Huajun, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), international and national partnerships and cross-sectoral collaboration with universities, farmers, and extension officers were critically important to China’s ability to feed over 1 billion people. CAAS currently has partnerships with 140 countries, involving thousands of researchers from Chinese and international research institutions around the world.
“We can feed our people because of these collaborations,” he said.

Huajun, Ann Tuttwieller of USDA, and Dr. Laurence Tubiana of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs also highlighted the need for greater internal alignment to improve coordination and collaboration and foster a sense of common purpose and “trust” across agencies.
In summary, Sir Gordon highlighted several themes that emerged from the discussion.
1. Focus on problems, not programs.
2. Focus on partnerships that bring people together and relate to the needs of stakeholders.
3. Breakdown silos between research disciplines.
“Its isn’t easy because silos are comfortable, but if you can make working together exciting, then it will open a lot of doors for communication between one silo and another,” he closed

Panel discussion: Reshaping agricultural research systems to meet the needs of the poor.

Moderator: Prof. Ismail Serageldin.

Introduction by Moderator, followed by panel dialogue to address major requirements in reshaping agricultural research for development.

Synthesis and Close of session

References:
GCARD conference website
GCARD blog
latest version of the GCARD2010 Program

International Workshop on Fast Growing Economies’ Role in Global Agricultural Research for Development

8 – 10 February 2010 Beijing, China. The International Workshop on Fast Growing Economies’ Role in Global Agricultural Research for Development was organized by the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR) in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).

The first day was devoted to sharing of experiences with (i) country presentations from China, Brazil, Egypt, India, South Africa, Viet Nam and France; and (ii) regional Forums presentations from Africa (FARA), West Asia (AARINENA), Asia Pacific (APAARI), South America and Caribbean (FORAGRO), Central Asia and the South Caucasus (CACAARI), Europe (EFARD), the CGIAR, and FAO and FAO/IAEA. The second and third days were devoted to group work on three key issues and the way forward in further enhancing the role of fast growing economies in ARD. The three key issues discussed focused on:

1. Increasing emerging economies investments in international science, policy needs, capacity building for ARD and institutional Reform in ARD;
2. Improving sharing and exchange of information, knowledge, skills and technology for agricultural research and development; and
3. Enabling market participation by developing countries: Common research goals and interventions. 

The conclusions of the workshop will provide the basis for formulating recommendations that will be considered at the GCARD 2010 by the fast growing economies and the global community towards further enhancing the role of the fast growing economies in ARD and contributing to agricultural development globally.

Related:

January 12 to 14, 2010 in Beijing. The Africa-Britain-China Conference on Agriculture and Fisheries was held from with over 50 delegates from Africa, the UK and China attending the conference. Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) of China and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the UK, the conference aimed to explore the channels and approaches for such trilateral cooperation, so as to help African countries to enhance their agricultural production capacity and to cope with the challenges of global food security. conclusions of the conference

The Executive Director of FARA outlined the priorities for agricultural research and development in Africa, representatives from MAFFS and MFMR of Sierra Leone introduced their agricultural and fisheries development; the MOA introduced policy experiences of China in developing agriculture and fisheries and the information of China-Africa bilateral agricultural cooperation and South-South Cooperation within the framework of FAO. DFID introduced regional cooperation on agricultural and food security and fisheries cooperation between the UK and Africa; the consultants specially invited by the conference elaborated on the principle, approaches and priorities for Africa-Britain-China cooperation from the angle of China, UK and Africa respectively.

DFID will support:

• A team of experts from China to undertake a study tour to the NEPAD Secretariat. The purpose of this would be to have a better understanding of CAADP. This study tour would include a visit to Sierra Leone, and one other country.
• The UK and African partners are keen to raise awareness with Chinese partners on a number of research-led initiatives that are taking place in Africa.
• A team of experts from China will undertake a study tour to FARA which could be organised to coincide with the FARA General Assembly in July 2010.
• A team will also undertake a study tour to the UK and up to two African countries to study the Research into Use Programme. This team would particularly focus on agriculture, aquaculture and related programmes.
• A team will be commissioned to undertake a strategic assessment of the value-added likely to come out of the trilateral cooperation

Reference:

DfID China and Africa
Related: BBC debate: Africa and China

• China in Africa: Never too late to scramble
• China and Africa: Don't worry about killing people
• China: The new colonialists
• China and Africa: Running on the same range
• China's quest for resources: A ravenous dragon
• China and Africa: A cautious welcome

The African Face To Face Consultation for the Global Conference on Agricultural Research and Development

5-7 October. Accra, Ghana . Sixty three (63) participants are meeting at FARA’s new secretariat in Accra to review GCARD consultation efforts in Africa. Reflections in this blog are from David Hughes, Communications and Networking Officer for the Future Agricultures Consortium.

E-CONSULTATIONS

As part of the GCARD stakeholder engagement process, e-consultations were held. For Africa, there were more than 320 contributions from 65 countries (highest number of contributions were from: 1. Ghana, 2. Kenya, 3. Uganda, 4. Nigeria, 5. Ivory Coast). Prevalent feeling is that contributions were informed by actual field experience and local conditions.

Discussion subjects raised (commonly used words in brackets):
1. Knowledge (18%) (knowledge, information, science, innovation)
2. Resources (15%) (resource/s, soil, water, climate change)
3. Training (14%) (extension, dissemination, training, education)
4. Production (12%) (production/s, crops, food/s, productivity, fertilizer, seed, plant/s, water, vegetable, animal, fish)
5. Technologies (11%) (technology/ies, ICT)
6. Mechanisation (9%) (mechanization, machinery, tractors, waterset)
7. Indigenous Knowledge (8%) (indigenous (plant/knowledge), traditional)
8. Markets (6%) (market, agribusiness)
9. Partnerships (4%) (partnership, network, collaboration, interaction)
10. Policy (3%)
11. Infrastructure (<1%) style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">

Some participants Views

Dr. Dennis Rangi,
Executive Director, CABI

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Mrs Lydia Sasu, Farmers Women's league, Ghana

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Dr Pape Seck,
Director Général, Centre du Riz pour l'Afrique

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Join the Sub-Saharan Africa e-consultation from 7-23 September

7-23 September. Spirit and objectives of the Africa e-consultation

A message from Monty Jones

We are proud to host this e-consultation and we hope that you can take few minutes of your busy schedule to share with us your own knowledge and resources relevant to African agriculture development.

We all know that we have been through various process of priority setting in each of our regions. We’ve identified our own priorities through various studies and consultations. This time, we want to consolidate such priorities and have a more action-oriented discussions. We would like to see highlighted major initiatives that have achieved impact and how we can scale them out and up across the region. During the last African Caucus meeting in December 2008, we talked about ‘collective action for change’. We would like to followup this discussion to more concrete recommendations on how we could each contribute to the changes within the ARD community but most of all be able to influence the shaping of the new CGIAR to be more inclusive and to develop stronger partnerships with other research partners.

Join the Sub-Saharan Africa e-consultation from 7-23 September at: http://dgroups.org/groups/fara-net/GCARD-Africa

What are these E-consultations all about?
Simone Staiger-Rivas is coordinating the regional e-consultations. In a short video she explains why it is so important to join those virtual discussions. You can see the video here with subtitles in different langauges, like Russian, French, Spanish and more.


Background:
The Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) 2010 being held in Montpellier, France from 28-31 March 2010 will provide a global action plan and strategy for improving agricultural research in order to make maximum impact on development, especially of the poor. This plan and strategy will be developed on the basis of a global framework of agricultural research needs and priorities, which will be established through consultations with representatives from a wide range of agricultural research stakeholders around the world. The Conference is expected to usher in change that will reshape agricultural research and innovation and improve resources for research.