GCARD will provide a global action plan and strategy to improve agricultural research to make maximise impact on pro-poor development.
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.
GCARD is being organised by the  Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) in collaboration with the Consortium and Independent Science and Partnership Council (now being formed) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The Conference will replace both the GFAR Triennial Conferences and the Annual General Meetings of the CGIAR.
The objectives of GCARD are to ensure that:
- Agricultural research outputs are accessible and relevant to the poor in developing countries
- Research focuses on the right questions and is driven by the development needs of the resource-poor
- Knowledge generation through scientific research is embedded in development thinking and practice
- Funding systems are aligned between research and development
- Effective innovation pathways are developed between diverse stakeholders
- International agricultural research systems are effectively integrated with regional and national partners (NARS, public, private and civil) and respond to national and sub-regional demands to help ensure development impact.
To carry out this major undertaking, GFAR will be reaching out to all stakeholders in agricultural research for development, working through its constituent agencies and networks, which include: the six Regional Research Fora, the Association for Agricultural Research in Near East and North Africa (AARINENA), the Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutes (APAARI), the Central Asia and the Caucuses Association for Agricultural Research Institutions (CACAARI), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the European Federation for Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Latin America and the Caribbean (FORAGRO), who represent National Agricultural Research Systems and Institutes, the Alliance of CGIAR Centres, the FAO, IFAD, representatives of farmers organisations, civil society, the private sector and donor agencies.
The GFAR Steering Committee has appointed the GCARD Task Force, chaired by World Food Prize Laureate Dr Monty Jones, to oversee the organisation of the Conference and the consultations preceding it. The Task Force reports to stakeholders via the GFAR Steering Committee.
More details
 GCARD Announcement
GCARD Broshure |
