//  GFAR announces new appointments

The Steering Committee of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research has selected a new chair for the period 2013-2016: Juan Lucas Restrepo Ibiza, from Colombia. Juan Restrepo has an M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University and has great administrative experience in the public, private and producer federation sectors, where he has addressed various issues ranging from policy making to entrepreneurial development, strategies, planning, institutional change and project design and execution.

The Steering Committee also appointed Ruth Oniang'o as vice-chair of GFAR from the start of October 2013, when she will succeed the current vice-chair, Claudio Barriga of Chile.

//  GFAR Steering Committee

The Committee reviews and approves the Global Forum’s general policy and strategy. The aim is to ensure that both the Global Forum’s policy and strategy are consistent with its mission and objectives.

The Steering Committee comprises of 13 members that represent private sector, farmer organisations, facilitating agencies, NGOs and donors working in agricultural research for development. Currently, following Platform member-organisations are represented at the GFAR Steering Committee: IFAD (Shantanu Mathur, Senior Technical Adviser), CGIAR (Anne Marie Izac, Chief Science Office) and FAO (Yao Xiangjun, Director of FAO's Office of Knowledge Exchange, Research and Extension). Nikita Eriksen Hamel, CIDA Focal Point, is representing the GFAR Donor Support Group and is also a member of the Steering Commitee management team.

//  Source

GFAR website

GFAR Donor Support Group

Video__ Juan Lucas Restrepo introduction

Recognising the important role of agricultural research for achieving food and nutrition security, the authors identify three obstacles in terms of agricultural research that prevent agricultural research from yielding greater benefits:

• Vertical and commodity driven focus – by many research leaders and development agencies.
• The current short-term and project focus to funding agricultural research and development.
• A lack of practical policies that are tailored to local realities rather than blanket approaches.

 //  Short-term and vertical research approaches are past their 'sell-by' date

The authors of the report call for a break with the ruling development paradigm that has its roots in principles of the Green Revolution. According to ICARDA researchers, today's main challenge is not to boost crop production by all means, but more to achieve a marked, step change without demanding increased resources of water, fertilisers, energy and land – all of which are in short supply. "From tons per hectare to better livelihoods," say the authors of the report, stressing the need to look beyond the paradigm of keeping the farmer and small community producing food for subsistence only. 

//  From high-tech to the right combination of existing knowledge

Furthermore, the authors are concerned with the fact that too many research organisations and government agencies take a 'technology looking for a solution' approach rather than letting farmers' demands dictate what is needed. The authors encourage research institutions and development agencies to broaden their current approaches, replacing project-focused and vertical approaches that focus on solutions based on one commodity crop or a series of 'mandate' disciplinary technologies – with a view that looks at all combinations of approaches (e.g. crops, livestock, trees, fish, natural resources management, policies, income options) that best respond to a country's nutrition and food security needs and can increase income for smallholder farmers.

 //  Poor people cannot eat policies

Although global policies play an important role, they are not able to address the specific needs of a specific food production system and its communities. Low-income countries need less 'global policy advice' and more practical policy options and solutions that help improve income for smallholders and communities, and that work in their reality of imperfect institutions and capacity and lack of adequate funding.  

//  Download

ICARDA Science and policy comment: Innovative agriculture for food security__ PDF

// Source

ICARDA website

//  Main AR4D topics for 2013

The member survey conducted by the agricultural research for development (AR4D) group produced important findings regarding the interests of the group members and potential areas of involvement for the group in 2013. Main topics identified for 2013 are:

• Technology transfer__ From lab to field: How to get research findings to the farmers
• Monitoring and evaluation of AR4D performance

Based on the findings, a draft work plan will be prepared and shared between all members for comments and suggestions.

//  Role of the Platform

The survey also explored the role of the secretariat which is mainly seen in facilitating communication and exchange between group members and updating the group about relevant AR4D events. Organizational issues such as frequency and timing of telephone conferences were also assessed; this allows better planning of telephone conferences to enable more members to actively participate.

//  Taking stock of AR4D efforts

Following up on GCARD2, held in Punta del Este in late 2012, the New Agriculturalist has assembled an array of thoughts, opinions and outlooks on agricultural research: Experts in this field who gathered in Uruguay, share their comments on what direction AR4D should take, how partnerships should be valued and has been achieved so far. Find the link to the story below.

For example, Michael Hailu, director of the CTA, said: "Research should look at the entire value chain from production to consumption if it is to contribute to increasing not only food security but income growth and sustainability for smallholder farmers." This is a sentiment he had previously mentioned in a Platform interview.

//  Source

New Agriculturalist

//  Tailoring Platform work to the members

The agricultural research for development (AR4D) group is presently conducting a member survey to identify activities and processes of interest to the group next year. The questionnaire suggests, for example, as a possible discussion topic donor research strategies or how to monitor AR4D performance.

Final results of the survey are expected in the second half of December 2012.