gcard2: synthesis briefing paper national food security
TRANSCRIPT
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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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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.