gcard2: synthesis briefing paper national food security

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1 DRAFT Breakout session P1.1 National Food Security Synthesis Briefing Paper Randolph Thomas (CRP3.7 Livestock and Fish) Context the problems being addressed As highlighted repeatedly during the recent G20 meeting of agricultural chief scientists in Guadalajara, Mexico, the recent food price crises have given urgency to the challenge of improving agricultural productivity and achieving food security not only now, but also into the future as global populations and food demand continues to grow. Numerous initiatives at national, regional and global level have been launched to respond to this challenge, including reform of the CGIAR and creation of CGIAR Research Programs. A common theme of these various initiatives is the need to work within an agricultural research for development (AR4D) paradigm with clear objectives for achieving impact at scale. These research efforts are, therefore, adopting a theory of change or impact pathway framework for understanding their roles in ensuring their research outputs will be translated into development outcomes and meaningful impact. What emerges from these frameworks is the recognition of the wide range of actors from both the research and development sectors who need to be involved along the impact pathway. The increasing need for partnership in international agricultural research is not new. Days of individual research bodies working as self-contained islands are long gone, but what is new is the ever more complex and dynamic types of partnerships needed to negotiate the full length of the impact pathway. The various AR4D initiatives focusing on improving food security face similar challenges such as how to link basic biological research at the international level to its application on the ground in specific countries and contexts, or how to work with development actors to ensure that research outputs are taken up and promoted. To address these challenges, AR4D initiatives are finding they need to be more thoughtful, systematic and intentional in the way they approach their partnering. Are there common lessons emerging that can inform and facilitate their partnership strategies? How do those lessons vary from international, regional and national perspectives? How will know if those strategies are actually working and progress is being made? Current activities presented and discussed in the session Introduction: Embracing the complexity of food security: The Chair, Dr. Ken Cassman (CGIAR-ISPC), will open the session by summarizing the challenge of achieving current and future food security in the developing world, why partnerships are critical and what the Session hopes to achieve. Partnerships in the context of large-scale commodity systems initiatives: The role of partnerships and how they are made effective for generating impact at scale will be explored

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Page 1: GCARD2: Synthesis Briefing Paper National Food Security

1

DRAFT

Breakout session P1.1 National Food Security – Synthesis Briefing Paper

Randolph Thomas (CRP3.7 Livestock and Fish)

Context – the problems being addressed

As highlighted repeatedly during the recent G20 meeting of agricultural chief scientists in

Guadalajara, Mexico, the recent food price crises have given urgency to the challenge of

improving agricultural productivity and achieving food security not only now, but also into

the future as global populations and food demand continues to grow. Numerous initiatives at

national, regional and global level have been launched to respond to this challenge, including

reform of the CGIAR and creation of CGIAR Research Programs. A common theme of these

various initiatives is the need to work within an agricultural research for development (AR4D)

paradigm with clear objectives for achieving impact at scale. These research efforts are,

therefore, adopting a theory of change or impact pathway framework for understanding their

roles in ensuring their research outputs will be translated into development outcomes and

meaningful impact. What emerges from these frameworks is the recognition of the wide range

of actors from both the research and development sectors who need to be involved along the

impact pathway.

The increasing need for partnership in international agricultural research is not new. Days of

individual research bodies working as self-contained islands are long gone, but what is new is

the ever more complex and dynamic types of partnerships needed to negotiate the full length

of the impact pathway. The various AR4D initiatives focusing on improving food security

face similar challenges such as how to link basic biological research at the international level

to its application on the ground in specific countries and contexts, or how to work with

development actors to ensure that research outputs are taken up and promoted. To address

these challenges, AR4D initiatives are finding they need to be more thoughtful, systematic

and intentional in the way they approach their partnering. Are there common lessons

emerging that can inform and facilitate their partnership strategies? How do those lessons

vary from international, regional and national perspectives? How will know if those strategies

are actually working and progress is being made?

Current activities presented and discussed in the session

Introduction: Embracing the complexity of food security: The Chair, Dr. Ken Cassman

(CGIAR-ISPC), will open the session by summarizing the challenge of achieving current and

future food security in the developing world, why partnerships are critical and what the

Session hopes to achieve.

Partnerships in the context of large-scale commodity systems initiatives: The role of

partnerships and how they are made effective for generating impact at scale will be explored

Page 2: GCARD2: Synthesis Briefing Paper National Food Security

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through examples of four global programs designed to increase production of basic food.

Dave Watson (Maize CRP) will describe the types and modalities of innovative partnerships

being developed in the MasAgro initiative. Bas Bouman (GRISP) will consider the role of

partnerships for food security in the CRP on rice. The strategy being developed by the

Livestock and Fish CRP for partnering with development actors for pro-poor transformation

of animal-source food value chains will be presented by Tom Randolph (Livestock and Fish

CRP). Partnership issues faced by the Wheat Initiative, a new mechanism for coordinating

wheat research among a wide range of research partners worldwide, will be explained by

Hélène Lucas (IRIWI France). In each case, the presenter will identify actions that are being

taken or could be taken to improve the ability of their initiative to partner effectively for

impact.

Strengthening regional and national innovation pathways and regional strategies and

policies for food security: The perspective at the regional and national level will be

presented through case studies from Thomas Lumpkin (CIMMYT) for the Wheat

Improvement in Asia project (FAO/APAARI/CIMMYT/ICARDA/JIRCAS) and Dr.

Ayyappan (ICAR) for the National Food Security Mission of India. Again, each presenter

will identify actions that are being taken or could be taken to improve the ability of their

program to partner effectively for impact.

Discussion #1: Key points and proposed actions from the presentations will be highlighted

and used as the basis for wider input and feedback from other participants, keeping the focus

on actions that can be taken forward for improving the partnership strategies and practices of

research initiatives for food security over the next two years.

Farmer involvement in scaling-out impacts on major crops: Shifting the focus to farm-

level, three examples will be presented that highlight lessons learned about partnerships that

help reach large numbers of farmers and promote uptake of research outputs. Margaret

Kroma (AGRA/AWARD) will describe the different types of partnership alliances that

AGRA has developed for supporting improved crop productivity of African farmers. Lessons

from the ALINe study on feedback loops will be explained by Abdoulai Salifou (CSIR

Ghana), and Arega Alene (IITA) will present findings regarding the effectiveness of AR4D

for varietal output and adoption in Africa. The presenters will also propose actions and

outcomes for improving AR4D partnerships for food security impact.

Discussion #2: The earlier discussion will be continued using the same format, but now

adding the key points and proposals from the three presentations.

Panel discussion: Reflections on the issues raised: practical implications in improving

food security. A panel composed of Lystra Antoine (Pioneer), Dyborn Chibonga (Malawi

farmer) and Nguyen Van Bo (Vietnam VAAS) will attempt to synthesize the presentations

and discussions into a pragmatic agenda to improve partnership strategies for improving food

security, followed by a short wrap-up by the Chair, Ken Cassman.

Intended outcomes

An explicit recognition of the critical role of the wide range of actors who need to be

involved to translate research into impact for improving national food security, and the

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many challenges faced in involving those actors through effective partnership;

Better awareness of existing strategies and the need to develop and promote better

strategies to establish and cultivate the needed partnerships.

Commitments to collective actions in 2012-2014 (national, regional or international)

i. With existing resources

Examples of what could be proposed:

Systematic development of new types of strategic partnerships among GFAR

members that can be demonstrated to help translate research outputs into widespread

uptake and impact;

Better documentation of AR4D partnership strategies and experiences of GFAR

members that contribute to improving food security.

ii. With additional support

Examples:

Forums and networks established to support partnering capacity for improved food

security;

Case studies recorded for comparing partnership approaches and experiences;

Toolkits for partnership development compiled.

iii. With specific large scale programme investment

Examples:

Funding calls to facilitate and promote development of AR4D partnerships

specifically for taking research outputs to scale that strengthen national food security.