ciat’s strategic directions - gov.uk · 2016-08-02 · ciat’s strategic directions geoffrey...

Eco-Efficient Agriculture for the Poor

Strategic Directions

CIAT’s Strategic Directions

GeoffreyHawtin GordonMacNeil RubenG.Echeverría DirectorGeneral Chairman,BoardofTrustees DirectorGeneralElect

Overview

ThisdocumentdescribesthestrategicdirectionsthatwillguideCIAT’sworkinthecomingyears.TheyhavebeendrawnupatatimewhenboththeCenterandtheinternationalagriculturalresearchsystemsupportedbytheConsultativeGrouponInternationalAgriculturalResearch(CGIAR)aregoingthroughprofoundchange.ThesestrategicdirectionsareintendedtoprovideacompellingframeworkforprogramdevelopmentonthebasisofCIAT’sstrengthsandexperience,whileallowingsufficientflexibilitytoshapetheCenter’sfutureinaccordancewiththeevolutionoftheCGIAR.

Thedevelopmentofthisdocumenthasinvolvedconsultationswithmanypartnersandstakeholders,particularlyinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean(LAC);

participationintheCGIARchangeprocess;carefulconsiderationoftherecommendationsofthe2007ExternalProgramandManagementReviewofCIAT;thecommissioningofspecialstudies,includingsomebyexternalconsultants;andaseriesofplanningexercisescarriedoutbyCIAT’sscientistsandBoardofTrustees.FurtherdetailsabouttheprocessareavailableontheCenter’sWebsite(www.ciat.cgiar.org).

ThestrategicdirectionsoutlinedhereprovideacompasstoguideCIATtowards

thefutureratherthanadetailedroadmaporrigidplan.Thespecificoutputs,resource

assignments,andorganizationalstructureof

CIATwillemergeoverthecomingmonthsandyearsthroughaprocessofrefinementandadjustment,influencedlargelybythreeforces:(1)theprioritiesandcommitmentsofpartners,(2)theCGIARchangeprocess,and(3)fundingcommitments.TheCenterexpectstoplayaconstructiveroleinarevitalizedCGIAR,bringinguniquestrengthsandassetstonewprogramsthataddressmajorglobalchallenges.

CIAT’sultimategoalistohelpovercomethechallengesofhunger,poverty,inequality,andenvironmentaldegradationinthedevelopingworldthroughscienceandnewknowledge.Itsstrategyderivesfromanewvisionofeco-efficientagriculture,whichbenefitsthepoorbydeliveringsustainableincreasesinproductivity;bybetterenablingfamilyfarmstocompeteinmarkets;bylimitingdamagetonaturalresourcesbothwithinandbeyondagriculture;andbyshowingresilienceinthefaceofenvironmentalshocks,particularlyclimatechange.

Inpursuitofthisvision,CIATwillstrengthenlongstandingpartnershipsinitshomeregion,LAC,generatinginternationalpublicgoodsthatarerelevanttoLACandtothetropicalworldgenerally.Throughastrategybasedonthreepillars—(1)improvedcropsforthepoor,(2)improvedsoilfertilitymanagement,and(3)programmaticallianceswithLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean—theCenteranditspartnerswillhelpcreatetheconditionsthatareessentialformakingtropicalagriculturemoreeco-efficient.



Background: Responding to New Challenges for World Agriculture

Improvingagricultureisvitalformeetingthechallengesofhunger,poverty,inequality,andenvironmentaldegradationinthedevelopingworld.Tocontributetoimprovementsthatmatterforthepoor,inaworldofrapidlydepletingresources,CIATwillpursueanewvisionofanagriculturethatusesinputsmoreefficientlytoenhanceproductivityandcompetitiveness—thatis,amore“eco-efficient”agriculture.

Eco-efficientagricultureusesresourcesmoreeffectivelytogeneratesustainableincreasesinproductivityandmoreabundantfoodsupplies.Itenablesfamilyfarmstocompeteinlocalandregionaleconomies,thusreducingpoverty.Itlimitsthenaturalresourcedegradationcausedbyagriculture,therebydiminishingitsnegativeecologicalfootprint.Eco-efficientagricultureisresilientinthefaceofenvironmentalshocks,suchasclimatechange.Italsocontributestogreaterequityinruralareas,forexample,bycreatingnewopportunitiesforwomeninagriculture.

Theaimsofeco-efficientagricultureareimportantforthethree“worldsofagriculture”—urbanized,transforming,andagriculturebased—whicharedescribedintheWorldBank’sWorld Development Report 2008andarefoundthroughoutthetropicalregionsofAfrica,Asia,andLAC.Thelatterencompassesallthree:AgricultureinsouthernBrazilandnorthernMexico,forexample,isstronglyorientedtourbanmarkets,whiletheAndeanandCentralAmericancountriespresentapatchworkoftransformingandagriculture-basedeconomies.

Becausetheagricultureoftropicalcountriessharessomuchincommon—intermsofcropsaswellasagro-ecologicalandsocio-economicconditions—South-Southscientificexchangescanaccelerateagriculturaldevelopment.Suchexchangesareespeciallyimportantgiventhegrowinggapbetweenafewlargeurbanizedcountries(likeBrazil,China,andMexico),whichhaveastrongabilitytoharnessadvancedscienceforagriculturalinnovation,andalargenumberofpoorer,agriculture-basedortransformingcountries,whoseagriculturalresearchcapacityismorelimited.

TheglobalsystemofinternationalagriculturalresearchsupportedbytheCGIARfacilitatesexchangesbetweenthosediverseandevolvingnationalagriculturalsystems.Currently,theCGIARisimplementingfar-reachingreformsinitsgovernance,funding,andpartnerships,whichwillenhanceitseffectiveness.ThesereformswillalsoshapeCIAT’sfuture—bothitsscientificprogramsandstrategicalliances.ThisdocumentpresentsabroadstrategybywhichCIATwilladdressmajorglobalchallengesandcontributetotherevitalizationoftheCGIAR.

CIAT’s mission is to reduce hunger and poverty and improve human health in the tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of agriculture.Tospeedprogresstowardaneco-efficientagriculture,CIATandtheCGIARwillworkwithpartnerstowardsachievingthefollowingobjectives:

1.Boostagriculturalproductivitytoprovidethepoor withinexpensiveandnutritiousfood.2.Makeagriculturemorecompetitive,offeringthe poornewopportunitiestoincreasetheirincomes.3.Achieveagriculturalgrowththatissustainable andlessharmfultotheenvironment.

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Overthenextdecade,theseobjectiveswillguideCIAT’sresearchandreinforceitscommitmenttoensuringthatproductsofresearchreachtheirintendedend-users:farmers,developmentpractitioners,scientists,andpolicymakers.CIAT’sresearchwillbefullyconsistentwiththeCGIAR’sthreestrategicobjectives,asdefinedbyitsrecentChangeManagementInitiative:food,environment,andpolicyforthepoor.

Charting CIAT’s Research Directions

PlayingauniqueroleintheCGIARsystem,CIATwillworkwithpartnersinLACandelsewheretohelpcreateconditionsthatareessentialformakingagriculturemoreeco-efficientthroughastrategybasedonthreepillars.ThefirsttwoareglobalinscopeandrelevanttoLAC,whilethethirdpertainsspecificallytothisregion,albeitwiththeintentionofproducinggloballysignificantinternationalpublicgoodsandpromotingSouth-SouthlinkagesbetweenLACandotherregions.

1.Improved crops for the poor—Providing affordableandnutritiousfoodaswellaspathways outofpoverty.2.Improved soil fertility management —Overcomingoneofsmallfarmers’greatest obstaclestosustainedincreasesinagricultural production.3.Latin America and the Caribbean—Working withpartnerstosolveproblemsofhighpriority fortheregion,whilealsogeneratingglobalpublic goods.

Improvedcropandforageproductionisvitalforimprovingfoodsecurity,enhancinghumannutrition,andraisingagriculturalincomes.Whileespeciallyimportantforagriculture-basedcountries,thisisalsoahighpriorityfortransformingandurbanizedeconomies.Acrossmuchofthetropics,cropandforageyieldsaredepressedbylowsoilfertility,whichisespeciallyacuteinCentralAmericabutalsowidespreadinsub-SaharanAfricaandSouthAmerica’svastsavannas.

Cropimprovementandsoilfertilitymanagementarecloselyrelated.Improvedvarietiescanbeadaptedtolowsoilfertilitythroughmoreefficientuseofsoilnutrients,andlegumes,suchasbeansandmanytropicalforages,canimprovesoilfertilitythroughbiologicalnitrogenfixation.Cropyieldstendtovarygreatlyaccordingtomanagement,sothereismuch

scopeforimprovingproductivitythroughbetteragronomicpractices.Bettermanagementofcropresiduesandintegrationofforagesintocroppingsystemscanalsoincreasesoilorganicmatter,boostingproductivitywhilehelpingmitigateclimatechangethroughcarbonsequestrationandreducedgreenhousegasemissions.

ResearchonthesetopicsinLAChasmuchtooffertherestoftheworld.Majorcropsintheregion,includingbeans,cassava,andtropicalforagesarealsoimportantglobally,andLAC’smainsoilconstraintsoccurthroughoutthetropics.LACisalsofavoredwithstrongnationalagriculturalresearchsystems(NARS),avibranttraditionofcommunity-baseddevelopmentandanactiveprivatesector.

Initsresearchwithpartnersthereandelsewhere,CIATwilloperateaccordingtothefiveprinciplesdescribedbelow:

Achieving impact—CIAT’sresearchdeliversimpactthroughproductsthatbetterenableend-userstomakeagriculturemoreeco-efficient.Forthispurpose,Centerscientistscharacterizetheneedsandopportunitiesoftheruralpoor(withemphasisonfoodsecurityandstrongermarketlinks)andencouragetheirparticipationinevaluatingnewoptions.Innovationsarethusdevelopedwithfarmersandotheractorsinvaluechainsaswellaswithnationalresearchsystems.ThedesignofeffectiveresearchdeliverysystemsisitselfasubjectofCIATresearch,asisimpactassessment,whichcontributesimportantlytoinstitutionallearningandchange.

Advancing gender equity—Ruralpovertycannot

Todate,nearly6.5millionhouseholdsinAfricahaveadoptedimprovedbeans,benefittingover35millionpeople—mainlywomen.

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bereducedwithoutresearchthatissharplyfocusedongenderissuesinagriculture,especiallythefeminizationofruralpoverty,whichoccursthroughoutthetropics,includingLAC.Thisisaresultofwomen’slimitedaccesstoresourcesinagriculture,includingland,capital,andtechnicalassistance,aswellastoeducationandurbanemployment.CIAT’sresearchoffersmarginalizedruralwomennewincome-earningopportunities,whichcanhaveamajorimpactonchildren’snutritionalstatusanddevelopment.

Fostering environmental sustainability —Agriculturedependsonnaturalresources,likebiodiversity,soil,andwater,butalltoooftenimpactsthemnegatively.Bettermanagementofthoseresourcesisneededtomakeagriculturemoresustainableandpreventmajornegativeenvironmentalimpactsbeyondagriculture.Towardthatend,CIATresearchseekstobetterunderstandsuchimpactsanddevelopmechanismswherebyruralresourcemanagers,especiallythepoor,cangaintangibleincentivestoenhanceenvironmentalservices.

Strengthening partnerships—CollaborationwithNARS,advancedresearchinstitutes,andotherCGIARcentersisessentialforeffectiveresearch,whilethecontributionsoffarmerorganizations,NGOs,andtheprivatesectorarekeyforachievingdevelopmentimpact.Tobeeffective,partnershipsmustbebasedoncommongoals,sharedresourcesandresponsibilities,andcomplementarystrengths.CIATwillseekstrongerpartnerships,inwhichitplaysdiverseroles,assumingresponsibilityandleadershipforparticularresearchendeavors,providingoverallcoordinationorofferingsupporttoothers—forexample,bystrengtheningresearchcapacityorconveningresearchalliances.CIATpartnershipswillbegloballyinclusive,butwithafocusonLACwith,forexample,aparticularcommitmenttoworkwithregionalpartnersliketheColombianCorporationofAgriculturalResearch(CORPOICA).

Managing and sharing knowledge—TheCenterhasastrongrecordofmakingrelevantdataonagriculturaldevelopmentavailabletoend-users.Toenhancetheeffectivenessofitsownworkandthatofitspartners,CIATaimstoenhanceitsroleasakeyinternationalknowledgecenter,promotingdevelopmentoftheinstitutionalcapacitiesandindividualskillsneededtotakeadvantageofnewinformationandtechnologies.

Improved Crops for the Poor

By2030,grainproductionwillhavetoincreaseby50percentandmeatproductionby85percenttomeetprojectedglobaldemand.Geneticimprovementofcrops,involvingpracticalintegrationofbiotechnologywithconventionalbreeding,willcontinuetobevitalforenablingagriculturetokeeppace.

CIATanditsresearchpartnershaveanimpressiverecordofimpactthroughcropimprovementresearchinLAC,Africa,andAsia,focusingoncropsthatoriginatedinLAC.TheCenterisuniquelyplacedtostudyandusethegeneticresourcesofthesecrops.CIATwillcontinuetosafeguard,enhance,andmakefreelyavailabletheworld’slargestcollectionsofgeneticresourcesofbeans,cassava,andlowlandtropicalforages,collaboratinginparticularwithBioversityInternational,theCenterforTropicalAgronomicResearchandHigherLearning(CATIE),theBrazilianAgriculturalResearchCorporation(Embrapa),theInternationalLivestockResearchInstitute(ILRI),andtheInternationalInstituteofTropicalAgriculture(IITA).LikeothercollectionsmaintainedatCGIARcenters,thoseatCIATheadquartersareheldintrustforhumanityunderthetermsoftheInternationalTreatyonPlantGeneticResourcesforFoodandAgriculture.Initsriceresearch,CIATwilltakeadvantageoftheworld’slargestandmostimportantin-trustcollectionofriceheldbytheInternationalRiceResearchInstitute(IRRI).CIAT

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willworkwithIRRItoensurethatwildandcultivatedricegermplasmofLACoriginisconservedintheIRRIcollection.

CIATwillconductresearchinLACandthroughpartnershipsaroundtheworldonfourgloballyimportantcrops:

1.Common bean—Theworld’smostimportant foodgrainlegume,whichinAfricaisgrown mainlybywomen.2.Cassava—Thethirdmostimportantfoodcropin thetropics,afterriceandmaize,andsecondonly tomaizeinitssuitabilityformultipleuses.3.Tropical forages—Akeyinputforproductionof meatandmilk(LAC’smostimportanthigh-value agriculturalproducts),withmuchpotentialfor enhancingnaturalresourcemanagement(NRM).4.Rice—ThemostimportantstaplefoodinSouth Americaandtheworld.CIATresearchfocuseson theuniquecharacteristicsofriceinLAC,while IRRIandtheAfricaRiceCenter(WARDA) concentrateonAsiaandAfrica.

Inthisresearch,CIATwillemphasizeadaptationtolowsoilfertilityandclimatechange,togetherwithenhancementofnutritionalqualityandtraitsthatincreasecropmarketability.Theimportanceofimprovingadaptationtolowsoilfertilityhasalreadybeenmentioned.Asforclimatechange,CIATwillstrengthenitsmodelingresearchtobetterunderstandandpredictlikelyeffectsonagriculture.Croptraitsthatareimportantforclimatechangeadaptationincludetoleranceofextremetemperatures(inbeansandrice),increasedwater-useefficiency(inbeans,cassava,andrice),

floodingtolerance(inforages),andresistancetopestsanddiseases,whosedynamicswillbealteredbyclimatechange.CIATresearcherswilldevelopsomeofthosetraitswiththeCGIARGenerationChallengeProgramme.

Thereishugepotentialforimprovingcropproductqualitythroughgeneticimprovement.Increasingmicronutrientcontent,orcropbiofortification,forexample,canhelpovercomemalnutrition.Irondeficiencyisaparticularlyseriousproblemforwomen;whilelackofvitaminAcontributessubstantiallytovisionlossandimpairedimmunesystemfunctioning;andzincdeficiencystuntschildgrowth.Conventionalapproachesforaddressingthoseproblems,suchasvitaminsupplements,entailsignificantrecurringcostsandoftendonotreachthepoor.Tocomplementsuchapproaches,CIATassignshighprioritytonutritionalquality—specificallyvitaminAincassavaandironandzincinbeansandrice—inbreedingworkthatformspartoftheCGIARHarvestPlusChallengeProgramandtheLAC-focusedAgroSaludAlliance.Inaddition,Centerresearchersimprovetraitsrelatedtocropmarketability,suchasuniquestarchqualitiesincassava,whichcanenhanceitsvalueforavarietyofagro-industrialpurposes,includingtheproductionofbio-ethanol.

CIAT’sstrategiccropimprovementworkincludesrelatedresearchonproductandinformationdeliverysystemsandonpoliciesandinstitutionalmechanismsneededtoensurethattheworkiswelltargetedandachievesimpact.

Improving Soil Fertility Management

Theuseofmineralfertilizersisnecessarybutnotsufficienttoachievehighandsustainablecropproductivityintropicalsoils.Long-termexperimentsshowthat,whenfertilizersareappliedwithoutorganicinputs,cropsgraduallylosetheabilitytoefficientlytakeupsoilnutrients.TheFourStepofIntegratedSoilFertilityManagement(ISFM)combinesfertilizerwiththeuseofadaptedgermplasmandorganicinputs,suchaslivestockmanuresandgrowinglegumes.PartnershipsforresearchonISFM,whichiscriticalforincreasingtheeco-efficiencyofagriculture,areneededinLACandparticularlyforthecreationofaregionalplatformforCGIARsoilsresearchinAfrica,whichistheworld’smostfoodinsecureregion,partlybecauseofmajorsoilconstraints.

Inadditiontoboostingcropproductivityandraisingtheefficiencyofmineralfertilizeruse,improvedmanagement

Biofortificationofstaplecropsisakeywaytoimprovedietsfortheurbanandruralpoor.

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ofsoilorganicmattercanenhanceecosystemservicesandmitigateclimatechange.Inpursuitofthosepossibilities,CIATresearcherswilldesignandtestmanagementoptionsthatincreasesoilcarbonunderdiverselandmanagementsystems,usingnewmethodsthatintegrateinformationfromthefarmtowatershedlevels.Theywillalsodevisesystemsformonitoringtheimpactsofimprovedmanagementoncarbonsequestrationandotherecosystemservices,suchaswatermanagement.Thesesystemswillhelpanalyzeproductivity-conservationtradeoffsinthemanagementoforganicresources,thusprovidingastrongertechnicalunderpinningforinstitutionalinnovations,suchaspaymentforenvironmentalservices.

Nitrogendeficiency—acommonandsignificantconstraintoffoodproductioninthetropics—resultsfromcontinuouscropping,soilerosion,andlossofthisnutrienttotheatmosphere.Tohelpovercomethatconstraint,CIATresearcherswillenhancethenitrogen-fixingcapacityofbeansandforagelegumes;evaluatealternativesforincorporatinglegumesintotropicalcroppingsystems;andexplorepracticesforbettermanagingthefactorsthatinfluencenitrogenfixation.Thisresearchwillhelpmakeagriculturemoreeco-efficientbylesseningtheneedformineralfertilizers(thusloweringfarmers’productioncostsandmakingagriculturemorecompetitive)andbyreducingemissionsofnitrousoxide,ahighlypotentgreenhousegas.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Ecoregional Research with Global Relevance

Inchartingitsnewstrategicdirections,CIAThasconsultedwithalargeanddiversegroupofpublicandprivatesectororganizationsacrossLAC.Fromthisconsultation,aresearchagendahasemergedthatrespondstoregionalprioritiesinLACandthatcomplementsandunderpinstheCenter’sworkinsub-SaharanAfricaandSoutheastAsia.CIATwillfocusitsresearchonissuesofspecialimportanceforLAC,inadditiontothemoregeneralworkonimprovedcropsandsoilfertilitydiscussedabove.ThroughSouth-Southpartnerships,CIATwillconductresearchandpromotetheinter-regionaltransfersofresults,linkingLACwiththerestoftheworldinatwo-wayexchange.

TheagriculturalenvironmentsofLACarehighlydiverse,varyingintheirresourceendowments,productionsystems,andmarketorientation.Tosomedegree,LACreflectsthecompleteevolutionfromagriculture-basedthroughtransformingtourbanizedeconomies.LACthusprovidesfertilegroundforgeneratingglobalpublicgoodsthatarehighlyrelevanttoitsownagriculturaldevelopmentbutarealsolikelytobeusefulinmanypartsofAfricaandSoutheastAsia.

ItisequallyimportantthatLAChavemeansoftappingexperienceelsewhereintheSouth,suchasAfrica’ssuccessindevisinginformalseedsystems,itsprogressiveworkongenderanalysisandAsia’sadvancesinsmallholderproductionofcassavaforlivestockfeed.FlowsoftechnicalandinstitutionalinnovationsbetweenLACandotherregionswillnothappenautomaticallybutmustbedeliberatelyfostered.

Theecoregionalapproachtoresearchoffersaprovenmeansofachievingthatendandisconsistent

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Integratedsoilfertilitymanagement(ISFM)isdramaticallyincreasingcropproductivityforfarmersacrossAfricabycombiningimprovedseedswithfertilizer,organicresourcemanagementtechniques,andlocalfarmingpractices.

Intensivelymanagedforageplotsallowthousandsoffarmersinthetropicstoproducemarketablelivestockwithouttheuseofexpensivegrain.

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withtheexpressedneedsanddemandsoftheLACregion.AnecoregionalapproachisonethatintegratestheaimsofincreasedagriculturalproductivityandimprovedNRM,takingintoaccountboththebiophysicalandsocio-economicperspectives,throughinter-institutionalpartnerships.TheagendaofCIAT’secoregionalresearchwillfocusonfourmaintopics:

1.ImprovementofcropsthatareimportantinLAC butalsoglobally.2.Improvementofothercropsthatreceivehigh priorityinLAC.3.NRMandpolicyresearchonissuesthatreceive highpriorityinLAC.4.Strengtheningresearchcapacityintheregion throughinstitutionalinnovation,knowledge management,andskillsenhancement.

Whileappreciatingtheimportanceofconservingandimprovingbeans,cassava,rice,andtropicalforages,CIAT’spartnersinLACarealsocallingontheCentertoextenditscropresearchtoincludesupportforworkonawiderarrayofspecies,particularlyoftropicalfruitsandotherhigh-valuecropsincludingbiofuelsthatareimportantthroughouttheregion.LACpartnersalsoexpressedkeeninterestinhavingCIATmakebiotechnologytoolsmoreaccessibleintheregionandapplythemtoissuesofrelevancetosmallfarmers.

Forthispurpose,theCenterwillworkwithpartnerstoestablishabiotechnologyresearchplatformforLAC,inwhichpublic-privatepartnershipsfigureimportantly.CIATwillalsorespondtotheinterestofmanycountriesindevelopingimprovedbio-energysystems.

CIAT’spartnersinLAChavefurtherrequestedthattheCenterexpanditsresearchonenvironmentalissues,forexample,througheffortssuchastheAmazonInitiative.Partnerssimilarlyassignhighprioritytosoilsresearchandtotheconservationofgeneticresources.Anotherareaofhighinterestinvolvespolicyresearchonpaymentforecosystemservices,suchascarbonsequestrationandimprovedwatermanagement,whicharecriticalformakingagriculturemoreeco-efficient.CIATwillconsultwithpartnersintheregion(includinguniversities,nationalresearchinstitutes,farmerassociations,andtheprivatesector)andwithintheCGIARtodeterminehowbesttoaddressthesechallengesthroughcollaborativeresearch.Inthiswork,theCenterwillgivehighprioritytotheAmazonaswellastotheacid-soilsavannasofSouthAmerica,working

withpartnersinBrazilandColombia,especiallyEmbrapaandCORPOICA.Likewise,CIATwillfocusonthehillsidesofCentralAmericaincollaborationwithCATIEandontheAndesinpartnershipwiththeInternationalPotatoCenter(CIP).

Initsecoregionalrole,CIATwillhelpreversetheerosionofresearchcapacitythathasoccurredinsomecountriesbyhelpingbuildanewgenerationofagriculturalscientistsandrenewingtheskillsofmidcareerscientists.TheCenterwillalsoexplorenewrolesforlargeNARSandseektoincorporatelargeandsmallNARSintoecoregionalnetworks.Inaddition,CIATwillworkonresearchpolicy,focusingonimpactassessmentforresearchplanning.Intheseefforts,CIATwillseekopportunitiestoworkwithawidearrayofpartners,includingtheInternationalFoodPolicyResearchInstitute(IFPRI),CATIE,theInter-AmericanInstituteforCooperationonAgriculture(IICA),theForumfortheAmericasonAgriculturalResearchandTechnologyDevelopment(FORAGRO),theRegionalFundforAgriculturalTechnology(FONTAGRO),subregionalcooperativeresearchprograms,nationaluniversities,theUSLand-GrantSystem,andEuropeanagriculturaluniversities.

Key Partnerships

UnderCIAT’snewstrategy,essentiallyallofitsecoregionalandglobalresearchwillbeconductedthroughpartnershipswithawidearrayofinstitutions,includingnationalresearchinstitutes,farmerandcommunityorganizations,advancedresearchinstitutes,theprivatesector,anddevelopmentagencies.TheCenterwillparticularlyemphasize,however,thethreekeystonepartnershipsdescribedbelow.

Growingurbanincomesanddemandforhigh-valueproductsliketheselulofruitsareprovidingnewopportunitiesforfarmersindevelopingcountriestogenerateincomewhilesellingtheirproductsclosetohome.

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LAC biotechnology research platform—TobeestablishedwithpartnersinLAC,thebiotechnologyplatformwillexploitthepotentialofmolecularbiologyandgenetictransformationinresearchoncropsforwhichthecenterisresponsibleaswellasonotherspeciestowhichourregionalpartnersassignhighpriority.

NationalscientistshostedbytheplatformwillformpartofascientificcommunitythatconsistsofCIATresearchersworkingontheCenter’sCGIARmandatecropsaswellascolleaguesfromotherprogramsintheregiondealingwithawiderarrayofcropsandproblems.NotalloftheresearchassociatedwiththeplatformwillbeconductedatCIATheadquartersbutratheratfacilitiesaroundtheregionandinadvancedresearchlaboratoriesoutsidetheregion,withwhichtheplatformwillbelinked.AsmembersoftheglobalCGIARnetwork,researchpartnerswillgainopportunitiesfortrainingandscientificexchanges,thusstrengtheningnationalresearchcapacity.

CIAThaspilotedtheconceptofabiotechplatformwithpartnersinColombia,inparticularCORPOICAandwithCATIE,andtheoutcomeshavebeenpositive.Brazil,Mexico,andArgentina,amongothers,canbringmuchstrengthtothisnewkindofpartnership,anditisexpectedthatscientistsfromthosecountries,someofthemhostedatCIATfacilities,willsharetheirexpertisewithscientistsfromsmallerNARS.Indesigningtheplatform,CIATwillbenefitfromtheexperienceofBiosciencesEasternandCentralAfrica(BECA)andexploreoptionsforcollaborationwiththisinitiative.

Theplatformwillfocusonproblem-solvingresearchthatyieldsclearimpactsinthefieldandmarketplace.

CIATsupportforpracticalapplicationsofbiotechnologywillfocusonvaluableplanttraits,suchasefficiencyinwateruptakeandnitrogenuse,acid-soiltolerance,diseaseandpestresistance,andmicronutrientcontent.TheCenterwilllinkcropimprovementaidedbybiotechnologywiththeeffortsofpublic-privatepartnershipstocarveoutnichesforsmallfarmersinimportantgrowthmarkets,suchasthoseformilk,tropicalfruits,andbioenergy.

CGIAR regional platform for soils research in sub-Saharan Africa—EssentialfortheeventualsuccessofISFMintheregion,thisplatformwillbuildontheAfricanNetworkforSoilBiologyandFertility(AfNet).CoordinatedbyCIAT’sTropicalSoilBiologyandFertility(TSBF)Institute,AfNetconsistsofdozensofmembersworkingatmorethan100sitesin22countries.TheproposedplatformwillseektocatalyzethecreationofasoilsresearchfacilityunitingnationalorganizationswithalloftheCGIARcentersthatconductresearchonsoilsinrainfedfarmingsystems,includingtheInternationalMaizeandWheatImprovementCenter(CIMMYT),theInternationalCropsResearchInstitutefortheSemi-AridTropics(ICRISAT),IITA,andtheWorldAgroforestryCentre(ICRAF).Theaimoftheplatformwillbetobringresearchonsoilmanagementmoreforcefullytobearonthechallengesofreducinghungerandpoverty,whileenhancingNRMinsub-SaharanAfrica.

Astheregionalplatformtakesshape,Africaandtherestofthedevelopingworldwillbenefitfromclosercollaborationbetweenthebestinternationalandnationalsoilscientistsandfromimprovedfacilitiesandfundingfortheirwork.AconsolidatedsoilsresearchplatforminAfrica,linkedtosimilarresearchinLACandAsia,isarguablythebesthopeformakingISFMaprominentfeatureofagriculturalresearchinAfricaandbeyondandforbringingthisapproachwithinthereachoflargenumbersoffarmers.

Public-private partnerships—Bybringingtogetherinternationalandnationalresearchinstitutionswithcommunity-basedorganizationsaswellasprivatecompanies,thesepartnershipshelpensurethatresearchresultsmatchstakeholderpriorities,whileguaranteeingthatpartnerssharethecostsandbenefitsofjointefforts.

CIAThasgainedmuchexperienceinbuildingsuchpartnershipsoverthelastdecadeorso.TwooutstandingexamplesaretheLatinAmericanandCaribbeanConsortiumtoSupportCassavaResearchand

Overtheyears,CIAThastrainedalmost11,000youngscientistsfromaroundtheworld.

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Development(CLAYUCA)andtheLatinAmericanFundforIrrigatedRice(FLAR).Theyhaveachievedeffectivegovernanceundermembercontrol,sustainedfundingfrommembers,andusefulresultsthroughinternationalresearchthatmeetsuserdemands.CIATwillexplorethepossibilitiesforcreatingnewpartnershipsinLACandotherregions,withsomefocusingonjointresearchandothersonbetterlinkingCIATresearchwithdevelopment.Suchpartnershipsshouldofferimportantopportunitiesfortestingtheconceptofeco-efficientagricultureontheground.

In Pursuit of Revised Research Directions

CIAT’spursuitofthethreemainresearchdirectionsoutlinedinthisdocumentwillmeanasignificantshiftinthecontentofitsworkandinthecharacterofitspartnerships.TheCenterwill,forexample,sharpenthefocusofitsresearchongeneticimprovementofcrops.Aspartnersassumegreaterresponsibilityforplantbreeding,CIATwillconcentratemoreondevelopingsourcematerialswithdesirabletraits,fromwhichpartnerscanassemblefinalproducts.ThisshiftisalreadywelladvancedwithriceinLAC,whereFLARcarriesoutanincreasingshareofbreedingformerlydonebyCIAT,leavingCenterresearcherstofocusmoreonprebreeding,aidedbytheworkofIRRIandtheAfricaRiceCenterandbypartnershipswithadvancedinstitutes,suchastheFrenchAgriculturalResearchCentreforInternationalDevelopment(CIRAD)andtheInstituteofResearchforDevelopment(IRD).

Similarly,incassavaimprovement,IITA,Embrapa,andtheThaiTapiocaDevelopmentInstitute(TTDI)willconcentrateondevelopingvarietiesforreleaseto

farmers,whileCIATfocusesmoreonprebreedingofwidelyrelevanttraits,suchasimproved

nutritionalvalueandstarchquality.BreedingofBrachiariagrasswilltakeplacethroughpartnershipswith

nationalinstituteslikeCORPOICAandEmbrapaaswellaswithprivatecompanies.Foragelegumeswillbeimprovedfornitrogenfixation,nutritionalquality,andnutrientcyclingthroughresearchinwhichILRIfiguresasanimportantpartner.Beanresearchwillbecarriedoutthroughwell-establishednetworks,includingthePan-AfricaBeanResearchAlliance(PABRA).MuchofCIAT’ssoilsresearchwilltakeplaceintheframeworkoftheregionalplatformdescribedearlier.TheCenterwillalsocontinuetoprovideleadership,togetherwithIFPRI,totheCGIARHarvestPlusChallengeProgram.

Researchoncropandagro-ecosystemhealth,whichfiguredimportantlyinCIAT’sworkoverthelastdecade,willbereducedinsomeareasandredirectedinothers.Developmentofbiopesticidesandresearchonendophyticfungiandbacteria,forexample,willbediscontinued,whileworkonwhiteflywillbescaleddown.AnyfurtherresearchinthoseareaswilltakeplaceincollaborationwiththeCGIARSystemwideProgramonIntegratedPestManagement.CIATwillcontinuetodevelopgeneticresistancetothemostimportantpestsanddiseasesofitsmandatecrops.

TheCenter’sresearchonNRMwillbesharplyfocusedonISFM,whileworkonland-usedynamicsanddecision-supportforlandscapemanagementwillbediscontinued.Researchonremotesensingtomonitorland-usechangeshasalreadybeenphasedout,alongwithresearchoncommunity-levelwatershedmanagement.

Inrecentyears,ruralinnovationhasbeenapillaroftheCenter’sresearchstrategy,resultinginnewparticipatoryresearchmethodsandaterritorialapproachtoagro-enterprisedevelopment.ThoseproductsarenowusedinCIAT’sownresearchandarebeingwidelyappliedbypartnersaswell.WhiletheCenterwillcontinuetouseandpromoteparticipatoryapproachesasawayofachievingimpact,itwillnolongerconductresearchonthesemethods.

CIATwillconsultcloselywithpartnersin2009aboutthecontentandcollaborativebasisoffuturework.Thebiotechnologyplatform,forexample,willrequirenewagreementswithpartnersinLAC,whileadditionalpublic-privatepartnershipswilldependonnewcommitmentsfromregionalstakeholders.Likewise,toadvancetheideaofasoilsresearchplatforminAfricawillinvolveextensiveconsultationwithotherCGIARcentersandpartners.

ImprovedcassavayieldsandagronomicpracticeshavegeneratedUS$1billioninadditionalincomeforabout1millionhouseholdsinSoutheastAsia.

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AstheCGIARdevelopsthenewstrategyandresultsframeworkandnewresearchprogramscalledforbytherecentlyapprovedreformproposal,CIATwillstrengthenitscurrentcollaborationwithotherCentersandChallengePrograms.

Inconcentratingitseffortsaroundthethreeresearchpillarsdescribedabove,CIATwillneedtomakeadjustmentsinitsstructureandorganization.TheCenterwillmaintainitsworld-classcapacityingenetics,soils,andgeographicalinformationsystems,whileaddingorrestoringcapacityinbioinformaticsandthesocialsciences.Greatercapacityinthelatterareaiscriticalforprioritysettingandforachievingandassessingimpact,especiallyonpovertyandgenderequity.CIATwilldefinethefocusofitsresearchmorespecificallyinforthcomingmedium-termplans,anditwilldevisebusinessplansdescribinghowspecificresearchoutcomescanbedelivered.

WithsupportfromCGIARMembersandthenewCGIARfundtobecreatedin2009,CIATwillbeabletoimplementthestrategicdirectionssetouthere.Atthesametime,theCenter’srevisedecoregionalapproachshouldopenupimportantopportunitiesforresourcemobilizationwithinLAC.Increasedinvestment

bycountriesintheregionaswellasbyentitiesliketheInter-AmericanDevelopmentBank(IDB)andAndeanDevelopmentCorporation(CAF)isaclearpossibility.Furthersignificantsupportwilllikelycomefromnewpublic-privatepartnerships,createdinresponsetoregionalprioritiesandmarketsignals.Toagrowingdegree,responsibilityforimplementingandfundingCIAT’sresearchinLACwillbesharedwithregionalstakeholders.

TheCenterwillcontinuesubstantialpartsofitsresearchinAfricaandSoutheastAsia.ItsworkinbothregionsisbasedonlongstandingpartnershipswithNARSandtacklesissuesthatareimportantregionallyaswellasgloballyandarelinkedtoCIAT’sworkinLAC.Thesepartnershipshaveattractedawiderangeofstronglycommitteddonors.CIATanditspartnersalsoseegreatpotentialforSouth-Southcollaborationbothincropimprovementandresearchonsoilfertilitymanagement.

CIATbelievesthatthetimeisripetofocusoneco-efficiencyintropicalagriculture,asmultipleworldcrises—intheclimate,food,energy,andfinancialsystems—underscoretheneedtoachievefarmoreefficientuseofscarceresources,sothateveryonecanenjoytheirrighttoanadequatedietandlivelihood.

CIAT’slong-termbreedingstrategiesaretakingintoaccountclimatechangeinordertoensuremaximumrelevanceofourresearchproductsinahighlydynamicandchangingworld.

Change in the suitability of bush beans by year 2020

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ciat’s strategic directions - gov.uk · 2016-08-02 · ciat’s strategic directions geoffrey...

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