18741_P01_16 8/5/03 6:17 PM Page 1 cgiarNews w w w . c g i a r . o r g J u l y 2 0 0 3 33141 Nourishing the future through scientific excellence In this Issue Robert S. McNamara Seminar 1 Message from the Chairman and Director 2 Announcements 3 ICARDA entrusted with "Blackbox of Biodiversity" 3 News and Views from CBC/CDC 4 G­8 Communiqué 4 Agriculture is Back, but Science Must be Mobilized for Development 5 Robert S. McNamara AGM 2003 Program Highlights 5 Seminar Highlights Critical Cassava Brown Streak Virus 6 Role of Agriculture Improving Knowledge Sharing in the CGIAR 7 Genetic Resources: Interim Material "Over the next fifty years food demand will double as a result of population Transfer Agreement Approved 7 increases and changes in dietary habits. This demand, combined with decreas- Seeds of Life Cast a Golden Hue 8 ing soil fertility and falling water tables will create a major crisis. We must Forest Conference: Balancing increase our focus on agriculture and increase agricultural productivity if we are Development and Conservation 10 to have any hope of meeting these challenges" said Mr. Robert S. McNamara Biofortification Challenge Program speaking at a seminar named in his honor. Meeting held in Cali 11 World Bank/CGIAR Collaboration Mr. Robert S. McNamara, a founding father of the CGIAR and former President Gains Momentum 11 of the World Bank was speaking at the 2nd Robert S. McNamara seminar host- ed by the Japanese Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Foreign Ensuring Women Farmers Get Affairs, and Finance and CGIAR with support from the World Bank Tokyo the Water They Need 12 Office. Over 200 participants came to hear Mr. McNamara's remarks and the Ending the Cycle of Hunger keynote speech presented by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, as well and Poverty in Ethiopia 12 as to engage in a panel discussion with CGIAR Directors General. Mekong Delta: Building fisheries research capacity 13 Mr. Yoshio Yatsu, former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and CGIAR Science Awards 13 Member of the House of Representatives and Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman New Study Assesses CGIAR and World Bank Vice President for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Priorities and Strategies 14 Development, opened the meeting and welcomed participants. Mr. Yatsu was a driving force in ensuring the second seminar reached new levels. A panel discussion featured three Directors General -- Adel El Beltagy of ICARDA, Joachim von Braun of IFPRI, and David Kaimowitz of CIFOR -- and was moderated by Francisco Reifschneider, CGIAR Director. CGIAR Continued on page 15 C O N S U L T A T I V E G R O U P O N I N T E R N A T I O N A L A G R I C U L T U R A L R E S E A R C H 18741_P01_16 8/4/03 1:00 PM Page 2 CGIAR Chairman Ian Johnson Message from the Chairman and Director CGIAR Director Francisco Reifschneider CGIAR Members African Development Bank Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development Asian Development Bank Dear Colleague: Australia Austria Bangladesh We are pleased to present you with "CGIAR News," the summer edition. For Belgium your convenience, an e-version is also available at www.cgiar.org Brazil Canada China This issue provides a snapshot of events (past and upcoming), reports on Colombia research successes at the Centers, and progress on Systemwide activities Commission of the European Community Côte d'Ivoire and partnerships. Denmark Arab Republic of Egypt Foremost among the upcoming events is the 2003 Annual General Meeting Finland Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (AGM03), plans for which are moving well. The customary booklet containing Ford Foundation information and registration material is enclosed with this mailing. If you are France Germany planning to attend AGM03, the CGIAR website (www.cgiar.org) will be the India principal source of updated information. Indonesia Inter-American Development Bank International Development Research Centre This issue seeks to provide readers with a flavor of the discussions and progress International Fund for Agricultural Development being made in returning agriculture to the front and center of the international Islamic Republic of Iran Ireland development agenda. We are pleased that interest in the CGIAR remains high, Israel and is being matched by increased investments from key donors. The entire Italy CGIAR family can feel proud that the Group of Eight's Evian Communiqué gave Japan Kellogg Foundation special recognition to genetic resources, science and technology for sustainable Kenya development, and CGIAR's role in these important themes (see excerpt on p. 4). Republic of Korea Luxembourg Malaysia Looking ahead, by the AGM03 we expect to announce the new Science Mexico Council. The range and pace of activities between AGMs has increased since the Morocco Netherlands initial phase of reform was launched, an indication that the first phase of reform New Zealand is helping give the System an even stronger sense of purpose and direction. Nigeria Norway OPEC Fund for International Development We hope you have a restful summer and we look forward to being in Pakistan touch with you before AGM'03. Comments are welcome and may be sent Peru Philippines to cgiar@cgiar.org Portugal Rockefeller Foundation Cordially, Romania Russian Federation South Africa Spain Ian Johnson Francisco Reifschneider Sweden Switzerland CGIAR Chairman CGIAR Director Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture Syrian Arab Republic Thailand Uganda United Kingdom United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United States of America World Bank 2 cgiarNews 18741_P01_16 8/4/03 1:01 PM Page 3 Announcements ICARDA entrusted with Events 25th Anniversary Celebrations and Agroforestry Science Forum, World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, "Blackbox of Biodiversity" November 1­5, 2003 (for details, click on www.worldagroforestrycentre.org) Challenge Program on Water and Food -- Baseline Conference, led by IWMI, November 2­6, 2003 In 1996, Iraqi agricultural researchers wanting (for details, www.cgiar.org/iwmi) to safeguard Iraq's plant genetic resources Welcome to New Board Chairs entrusted ICARDA with a "Black Box," a kind ICARDA Margaret Catley-Carlson has been of genetic time capsule to safeguard biodiver- appointed Chairman of ICARDA's Board of Trustees, succeeding Robert Havener. sity. The box has never been opened, and its contents -- 200 accessions of 28 different Honor Roll crops grown in Iraq -- is stored at -10º CGIAR Dr. Keiji Kainuma, formerly with Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was awarded Japan's Celsius, and maintained in viable form. national decoration (Shiju-ho-syou) by the Emperor for excellent scientific achievements. Seen in the backdrop of the war and given Vangimalla Reddy, Research Leader at the USDA-ARS the uncertainty that surrounds the fate of Alternate Crops and Systems Laboratory, Beltsville Iraqi researchers and Dr. Kamil Iraq's national genebank, Abu Ghraib, these Agricultural Research Center, USDA, recently on Shideed (standing third from assignment with CGIAR Secretariat, was selected as right) participated in an actions were prescient. Fellow, Crop Science Society of America. ICARDA-IFPRI workshop on policy CIMMYT Bent Skovmand, Head, Wheat Genetic and property rights in 2000. Even if the genebank survived, it is likely that Resources Program, was awarded the Knight's Cross its holdings were destroyed or looted. of the Order of Dannebrog by Princess Benedikte of Fortunately, in addition to the "Black Box," Denmark for lifelong achievements in wheat research and the conservation of wheat genetic ICARDA scientists have collected more than 1,000 accessions of cultivated resources. and wild species of Iraq's most important crops during the 1980s and 1990s for safekeeping. These accessions will play an important role in reha- CIP Luis Salazar, CIP, received the 2003 ATSE- Crawford Fund Derek Tribe Award for his work on bilitating Iraqi agriculture. potato and sweet potato pathogens. ICRISAT William Dar was awarded an honorary ICARDA's partnership with Iraq goes back more than 20 years, an effort that Doctor of Science by the Mariano Marcos State saw the introduction of modern crop varieties and improved water and live- University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. stock management practices. "What we hope to do in the near future is bring In a related development, he was elected Chairman of the Future Harvest Foundation. to bear the expertise of the CGIAR system on Iraqi agriculture," says Adel El-Beltagy, Director General, ICARDA. The priority will be to offer Iraq a pack- IRRI V. Balasubramanian, Agronomist, received the 2003 International Award from the International age of services and technology that includes policy reforms, land and water Fertilizer Association for developing a leaf color systems, and assistance in rebuilding the national agricultural research system." chart (LCC) that helps rice farmers apply nitrogen fertilizers more efficiently. Dr. Kamil Shideed, one of Iraq's key agricultural scientists is working with David Dawe, Economist, was named one of 20 ICARDA to develop a reconstruction plan for Iraq's agricultural research sys- Asian heroes by TIME magazine's Asian Web site. tem. Nearly 350 Iraqi scientists have been trained in plant breeding and crop Peter Fredenburg, Editor, Rice Today, won the Gold and animal management at ICARDA since 1977. Award of ACE (Agricultural Communicators in Education) for his feature, "Lost Horizons Restored." War, successive droughts, and economic sanctions have adversely affected Kong Luen Hoeng, Scientist, won the prestigious agriculture in Iraq. The country is in urgent need of substantial humanitari- Charles A. Black Award from CAST (Council of an, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance. Agriculture must be revived Agricultural Science and Technology), for expanding understanding of rice ecology and making it useful to regain food security. to farmers. Juan Lazaro and Gene Hettel won the Silver Award "The Black Box literally contains Iraq's agricultural heritage," says William of ACE for the cover graphic design of the 3rd Erskine, Assistant Director General for Research, ICARDA. "These are the edition of the Rice Almanac. seeds of plants that Iraqi experts decided were their most important hold- Hei Leung, Plant Pathologist, was selected as a ings that needed to be safeguarded at all costs. The Black Box belongs to Fellow of American Phytopathological Society. the Iraqi people, and will be treated as such until it can be repatriated." Tom Mew, Head of the Entomology and Plant Pathology, was given the Achievement Award from For more information, visit www.icarda.org Philippine Phytopathological Society. July 2003 3 18741_P01_16 8/5/03 6:17 PM Page 4 News & Views From CBC/CDC G­8 The Committees of Board Chairs (CBC) and Center Directors (CDC) met Communiqué at ISNAR in May to discuss issues arising from restructuring of the CGIAR System, including ways in which to better coordinate and harmonize Excerpt from Science and Technology for Centers' efforts in areas ranging from the System Office to improved Sustainable Development -- A G8 Action Center collaboration through the Challenge Programs. Plan Section 3.1, "Agriculture and Biodiversity" A joint statement from the two Committees was produced, tabled and Where the Heads of State of G8 Nations, shared with the CGIAR Executive Council in Paris (to view statement, meeting at Evian-les-Bains in the French click on http://www.cgiar.org/exco/Final_Joint_CBC-CDC_Statement.pdf). Alps, June 1­3, 2003 agreed to: The main points included: Promote the conservation and sustain- During its meeting in February, the CDC drafted a Code of Conduct able use of genetic resources for food for the CDC and the Challenge Programs to help clarify roles and opti- and agriculture: mize synergy between the Centers. "Support the International Treaty of Plant In an effort to streamline work in a more cooperative and collaborative Genetic Resources for Food and fashion, the Centers agreed to pursue further the idea of a Centers Agriculture by concluding negotiations Alliance, to provide the necessary oversight and coordination of Center over a standard material transfer programs, including the joint work underway within the System Office, agreement that facilitates access to plant as part of the reform program. genetic resources for agricultural The Committees stressed the importance of a strong and independent research and development and equitable Science Council that could speak to the scientific and programmatic work sharing of benefits arising from their use." of the Centers, and emphasized the need for a strong selection process. "Support efforts to ensure funding for Discussion also centered on the work of the Executive Council and its genetic resources conservation in the committees, particularly the role of the Program Committee and its framework of the priorities set up by the eventual interaction with the Science Council. The Committees empha- Food and Agriculture Organisation sized that ExCo was not created to function as a decision-making body. Commission on Genetic Resources." The potential impact of the Challenge Programs on the work of the Centers (and a lack of new funding) was also discussed. Specifically Help developing countries improve the potential impact of maintaining Centers' mandates and reversing their agricultural productivity in a the decline in funding levels for core activities was emphasized. sustainable manner: The CGIAR Annual General Meeting (AGM) was discussed and a need "Support the Consultative Group for identified to enhance the dialogue between the membership and the International Agricultural Research's vital Centers during future meetings. The Centers gave preliminary discus- role in disseminating agricultural research, sion to the establishment of a scientific symposium (held every one to as well as the Global Forum for two years) that could be initiated to ensure maximum exposure to the Agricultural Research and other regional work and activities of the Centers and its stakeholders. and national agronomic research organisa- The review processes for the System were addressed on several levels -- tions and North-South and South-South including preliminary discussion for codes of conduct for operation and research partnerships." management issues, including the benefits of unified program and management reviews. The recent restructuring report for ISNAR received special attention. Public awareness efforts and resource mobilization was also discussed, in follow-up to the external review of the Future Harvest Foundation, with a new strategy for the System going forward to further comple- ment and align the work of the Centers by AGM `03. John Vercoe, Chair, CBC Adel El-Beltagy, Chair, CDC 4 cgiarNews 18741_P01_16 8/5/03 6:17 PM Page 5 Agriculture is Back, but Science Must be Mobilized for Development "Linking Research and Rural Innovation to Sustainable "Scientific advances, particularly in the fields of natural Development" was the principal theme of the Global Forum resources management, information and communication, on Agricultural Research (GFAR) General Conference held in and biotechnology must be mobilized for sustainable devel- May in Dakar, Senegal. opment," said Mohammad Roozitalab, Chairman, GFAR and Vice President, Association of Agricultural Research Over 400 participants attended the Dakar conference repre- Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA). senting major agricultural research stakeholder groups: "Our challenge is to ensure that these advances benefit all regional and sub-regional fora of developing country nation- stakeholders in an equitable manner." al agricultural research systems, the private sector, NGOs, farmers' organisations, scientists from advanced research GFAR was established in October 1996 to facilitate institutes (ARIs), universities, CGIAR Centers, and donors. exchange of information, access to knowledge, coopera- tion, and research partnerships among a broad spectrum of The conference was opened by His Excellency Abdoulaye stakeholders involved in agricultural research and sustain- Wade, President of Senegal. Presenting the keynote address, able development. A highlight of the conference was a civil Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman and World Bank Vice society workshop in which 33 NGOs and 15 farmers' President spoke about the renewed focus on agriculture organizations participated to discuss and exchange infor- thanks to the United Nations summits held in Monterrey, mation on important developments in the agricultural Rome, and Johannesburg. Professor Wiseman Nkulhu, research-for-development arena. Chairman, Steering Committee, New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) spoke about the emerging global For more information, visit www.egfar.org issues in sustainable development and NEPAD's role and response in meeting the challenges. Annual General Meeting 2003 Program Highlights The Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya, IFPRI's Biennial Report, State of the World's Food will host the CGIAR's 2003 Annual The Hon. Susan Whelan, Minister for Int'l Cooperation, General Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. Canada presents Crawford Lecture CGIAR Innovation Marketplace. Annual General Meeting 2003 October 27: Members Day is an Ministerial Roundtable and presentation by Jeffrey Sachs opportunity for meetings, discus- CGIAR Science Awards sions, and dialogue between CGIAR Members and Centers; CGIAR Business Meeting (attendance by invitation only, an official reception will be held in the evening. commences at 2 pm on Oct 30) October 28: Stakeholder field visits to farmers, community October 31: CGIAR Business Meeting continues (attendance projects and research institutes. by invitation only). October 29­30: CGIAR Stakeholder meeting commences at For registration and program information, visit www.cgiar.org United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) Conference Center: July 2003 5 18741_P01_16 8/4/03 1:02 PM Page 6 Responding to a Persistent Villain: Cassava Brown Streak Virus set to play havoc in Sub-Saharan Africa Cassava is vital source of food and livelihoods for millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa. A staple crop, it tolerates drought and is able to thrive in marginal soils making it one of Africa's most reliable food crops. Cassava production is projected to grow at a steady 2.9 percent per year, due to area and yield expansion. Current African production is expected to double by 2020, with major producers being the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. With cassava Direct consumption of cassava is expected to reach 85 million tons in the year 2005. Use in animal feed is also expected to grow at an annual rate production projected of 1.3 percent to the year 2005, largely due to the expansion of the live- to grow at a stock sector. steady 2.9 percent But there is a flip side to this rosy picture. A devastating virus, responsible for causing the cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is gaining in severity, per year, threatening food and livelihood securities for millions of farmers and cas- sava consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The virus belongs to the family controlling the Potyviridae, genus Ipomovirus. CBSD causes a dry necrotic rot in the stor- cassava brown age roots, decimating yields, or worse still, leading either to complete spoilage or significant reductions in quality. Current estimates show that streak virus is critical CBSD causes economic losses in excess of $100 million annually. for ensuring food Recognizing the severity of the threat, IITA is beginning a major, proactive emergency program to combat the disease and stabilize production of this and livelihood security important food crop. Activities will focus on developing diagnostic tools for millions in for the virus, using conventional and genetic transformation methods for developing high-yielding, CBSD-resistant varieties of cassava, and develop- Sub-Saharan Africa. ing an array of integrated pest and crop management options suited for small-holder agriculture. A campaign to obtain funding has been launched. IITA and its partners (including NGOs, community-based organizations and scientists in national agricultural systems and advanced research institutions) hope to mitigate the pending disaster, and do it in a manner that contributes to the stability and growth of the food sector in a wide swath of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. While the impact of this poorly understood disease is most devastating in the coastal areas of East Africa (including Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique) it is also a major problem in Malawi, Uganda and Zambia. CGIAR For more information, visit www.iita.org 6 cgiarNews 18741_P01_16 8/5/03 6:18 PM Page 7 Improving Knowledge Sharing in the CGIAR: An investment plan for shared platforms, tools and systems Knowledge related to food, fisheries, forestry, livestock and key area where there has been much duplication of effort in policies is increasingly recognized as a fundamental element the past. The end result will be a series of CGIAR-wide infor- of the global public goods the CGIAR generates. Harnessing mation tools, knowledge platforms and practices." the potential offered by the new advances in information and communication technology (ICT) and knowledge manage- The strategy was developed by the CGIAR ICT-KM Advisory ment (KM) practices and tools offers unparalleled opportuni- Group which brings together representatives of the key pro- ties for maximizing development impact. A new information fessional communities in the system: research, marketing, and knowledge initiative of the CGIAR is set to significantly library and information management, information and com- improve the way the CGIAR centers share their knowledge, munication technologies, training and education specialists, link with partners and deliver their public goods. deputy directors and directors general. The three-year strategy and work plan, adopted by the The strategy presents a number of priority areas for invest- Center Directors Committee, proposes investments in a new ment, identified by the communities as critical areas for series of information networks and knowledge tools. The investment in ICT and KM. The science community organized goal is to change the way the CGIAR works by creating a an internal call for proposals, with all research groups (not CGIAR without boundaries, giving all researchers access to Centers) in the system encouraged to respond. high performance computing and communication, and better managing the CGIAR's global public goods to make them The strategy is organized around three main thrust areas: ICT easily accessible to partners and users worldwide. for Tomorrow's Science, Content for Development, and CGIAR Without Boundaries. "This is a unique approach for the system," says Enrica Porcari, CGIAR Chief Information Officer. "By developing the The ICT-KM strategy and program are being finalized. At strategy through our communities, we encourage more inte- AGM 2003, projects will be proposed for adoption with a gration and reduce competition between the centers in this investment plan kick-off scheduled for early 2004. Genetic Resources: Interim Material Transfer Agreement Approved The International Treaty on Plant "The latest step is the implementation old MTA to produce a more acceptable Genetic Resources for Food and of the interim Material Transfer MTA in the short-term, to be used until Agriculture promises to revitalize inter- Agreement (MTA) for the distribution the new standard MTA is ready. The national germplasm exchange by estab- of in-trust germplasm." interim MTA is the result. lishing internationally agreed standards. When the Treaty was adopted in 2001, In 2002, IRRI's Board of Trustees But given the contentious nature of it was agreed that a new standard approved the use of the interim MTA. the debate surrounding sharing of MTA should be developed by the Subsequently, all CGIAR genebanks genetic resources, the process has future governing body of the Treaty. have started to use it beginning May 1, been difficult and protracted. "Many However, progress has been slow. It 2003. IRRI has taken the proactive step steps have already been completed, was therefore agreed that the Food of informing their national partners, but there are still many more to go," and Agriculture Organization (FAO) including the Council for Partnerships says Ruaraidh Sackville Hamilton, Commission on Genetic Resources for on Rice Research in Asia (CORRA), Head, Genetic Resources Center, IRRI. Food and Agriculture should revise the about this new development. July 2003 7 18741_P01_16 8/4/03 1:02 PM Page 8 Seeds of Life Cast a Golden Hue The village women sit cross-legged, mercial ventures such as vanilla, soy- patiently shelling corn; production-line bean, peanuts and candle nut (for oil). workers filling woven baskets with tumbling grain. Ordinarily there would Significantly, much of the terrain is be nothing to differentiate this similar to Australia's far north-west moment from countless others in the and prone to erosion so higher yields seasonal cycle of life and work in the will also reduce the need to farm foothills outside Baucau on East unsuitable land. Timor's central, north coast. This is one of the crucial elements The crop has been harvested, the behind Palmer's work as project leader women, young and old, are now for the $1.2 million `Seeds of Life' doing what they have always done -- program set up by the Australian yet the whole scene depicts a farming Centre for International Agricultural revolution. The grain, being prized off research (ACIAR). Yellow corn at Fatumaca the cobs by a blur of callused thumbs is yellow. Plus there's a lot more of it. He is determined to help East Timorese farmers avoid causing long- "Getting more This new, high-yielding yellow maize is term environmental damage as they one of the more visible changes respond to the urgent need to not produce from beginning to pervade a way of life only increase basic food production, that has effectively been unchanged in but exportable surpluses. the land, through East Timor's rural areas for hundreds of years. "Getting more produce from the land, the new varieties through the new varieties introduced Independence has opened the door to under the program, will also create introduced under modern agriculture -- something that space for diversification into agro- is going to be crucial for food security forestry and livestock," says Palmer. and for the country's long-term aspira- the program, tions for sustainable agriculture. The new high-yielding crops include beans and cassava from CIAT, sweet- will also create The new yellow maize is being grown potato from CIP, rice from IRRI, maize on a farm run by an Italian priest, from CIMMYT, and groundnut from space for Father Locatelli. The farm, at ICRISAT. Fatumaca, near Baucau, is attached to diversification into an agricultural high school run by the Palmer says his main focus has been Silesian missionary order. It has proved to take the germplasm provided by agroforestry the ideal site for crop trials being the research centres and improve the undertaken by a former CSIRO selection for East Timor's four main and livestock." researcher, Dr Brian Palmer. Already his `agro-ecological' zones. yellow maize, provided by CIMMYT, is yielding up to six tonnes a hectare of "Once we feel we have the lines that `corn' compared with the indigenous are well adapted to East Timor we white maize's average 1.5 tonnes. then have to determine if they are acceptable to the farmers. For example If these high yields can be replicated the new high-yielding maize is yellow, across the country for staple crops like which has a different taste and texture maize it will free up land for more com- to the traditional white maize." 8 cgiarNews 18741_P01_16 8/4/03 1:03 PM Page 9 He believes the key to farmers adopt- economy -- regarded by the govern- by December the first crops were being ing new varieties and farming methods ment as crucial to its future. sown, averting a potential famine. is `participatory planning'. "The progress we have already made Brian Palmer was in the first wave of "To me this means offering them (the and the willingness of the internation- helpers to go to East Timor and has farmers) technically sound options al agricultural science community to been there ever since: "I had spent 20 from which they can choose. Some aid be involved makes me pretty opti- years as a research scientist. Now was a organisations simply want me to give mistic," he says. chance to put it to real use," he farmers what they ask for. Well until explained, showing off to a group of they've been exposed to a range of The Seeds of Life program, overseen by admiring farmers a plump bunch of viable alternatives that's not giving an Australian agronomist Dr Colin groundnuts. them the options to move forward." Piggin, is now changing from a human- itarian operation in 1999 to an agricul- He particularly rankles at outside pres- tural extension program focussed on By Brad Collis sure being put on East Timor farmers sustainable production and the devel- to go `organic' and not to use the opment of commercial crops. chemical fertilisers that he advocates. The program's genesis was in the CGIAR News thanks the author for Palmer says the nature of the land- unrest after East Timorese voted for contributing this feature article. scape and soil profiles makes fertiliser Independence in September 1999. essential if higher yields are going to Much of the seed for the next harvest be sustained. was either burned or stolen. The ACIAR contacted the world's five leading crop At his trial sites he applies a small research centres for suitable seed and dressing of nitrogen, phosphorous and Brian Palmer and local farmer at potassium: "At the end of the day it Fatumaca, East Timor doesn't really matter whether farmers use chemical or organic fertiliser. The issue is which is the most economic. "The amount of fertiliser we're using equates to the cost of two or three packets of cigarettes or a bet at a cockfight -- in other words a cost of about A $3.38 per 100 square metres -- so it's an accessible choice. It still might be too much for some farmers, but it has to be weighed up against the time and labour needed to produce the volume of equivalent compost." Contrary to the pessimism that some observers have expressed about East Timor's economic progress, Palmer is confident the country will achieve food self-sufficiency and in the longer-term establish a sustainable agricultural July 2003 9 18741_P01_16 8/4/03 1:03 PM Page 10 Forest Conference: Balancing development and conservation More than 300 forest experts from international organiza- Participants at the panel discussion (from left to right) Claude tions, civil society, industry, government and the media Martin (WWF), Sunita Narain (CSE), Ranga Yogeshwar (moderator), from over 40 countries met in May for CIFOR's Achim Steiner (IUCN), El Hadji Sene (FAO) and Juan Mayr "International Conference on Rural Livelihoods, Forests and (Colombia). Picture by Eric Lichtenscheidt. Biodiversity" held in Bonn. Opened by Erich Stather, State Secretary of the Federal The conference was a successful model of cooperation Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development among CGIAR Centers and key CGIAR members such as (BMZ), the conference analyzed the role of forest research Germany. CIFOR and World Agroforestry Centre worked in reducing poverty and protecting biodiversity. Mr. Stather closely with InWEnt, the German Federal Ministry of said the German Government placed considerable Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the emphasis on helping to ensure tropical forests remain a German Agency for Technical Cooperation (Deutsche vital source of both livelihoods and biodiversity, with Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)) to pro- support for the Bonn conference being just one example duce one of the leading forestry events for 2003. of that commitment. Other featured speakers at the conference included Henri In his keynote speech, Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman and Djombo, the Republic of Congo's Minister of Forestry, Ulrich World Bank Vice President for Environmentally and Socially Popp, Director, InWEnt (Capacity Building International- Sustainable Development, said the Bonn conference would Germany), Pekka Patosaari, Head of the U.N. Forum on ultimately contribute to the well-being of hundreds of mil- Forests, Phrang Roy, Assistant President, IFAD, Dennis Garrity, lions of people who depend in varying degrees on forest Director General, World Agroforestry Centre, and Alberto resources by guiding "a new generation of public policies Chinchilla who represented grassroots forestry associations in that can better reconcile the needs of people with forest Latin America. conservation." He highlighted the need to move beyond the ideological divide separating those supporting forest pro- Forest researchers presented 50 technical papers, and the duction and those supporting forest protection. technical sessions focused on key themes such as forests as safety nets; non-timber forest products and rural livelihoods; These sentiments were echoed in the closing address by the contribution of plantations and agroforestry to rural David Kaimowitz, Director General, CIFOR, who noted the livelihoods; improving livelihoods and protecting biodiversity; simple rationale for organizing the conference: "People forest certification and rural livelihoods; international dimen- working on poverty tend not to appreciate biological limits sions of forestry and rural livelihoods; and community and global biodiversity concerns. Likewise, most biodiversity forestry and rural livelihoods. specialists do not fully understand or appreciate livelihood issues," Kaimowitz said. The outcomes of the conference will be presented to the United Nations Forum on Forests to be held in 2004. In A panel discussion chaired by leading German TV environ- wrap-up remarks David Kaimowitz noted that the confer- mental presenter, Ranga Yogeshwar was a highlight of the ence was successful in bringing together disparate views on conference. Panelists included Achim Steiner of World forest use and conservation, and helped develop a pro-poor Conservation Union (IUCN), Sunita Narain of India's Centre policy agenda for sustainable management of the world's for Science and the Environment, Claude Martin of WWF, dwindling forest resources. CG R Juan Mayr, former Environment Minister of Colombia, and El Hadji Sene, Director of Forest Resources, FAO. For more information, visit www.cifor.org 10 cgiarNews 18741_P01_16 8/5/03 6:18 PM Page 11 From More Food to Better Food: Biofortification Challenge Program meeting held in Cali Seventy-five scientists and practitioners spectives and contributions of partners breeding and dissemination of nutrient- from five continents, eight CGIAR with different skills and responsibilities, dense staple foods a reality. Centers, and 40 partner and stakehold- and a commitment to communicate er organizations across nine disciplines across disciplinary and institutional "We are engaging in an effort that is met at CIAT in June to strengthen the boundaries." both monumental and historic," said alliance that constitutes the Joachim Voss, Director General, CIAT. Biofortification Challenge Program. The agenda for this first planning meet- "We have succeeded in assembling the ing was designed to capture synergies ingredients to make biofortification "Breeding staple foods to reduce and further develop the challenge pro- happen in a way that will improve the malnutrition is not a challenge any gram's management framework, reach diets and livelihoods of the poor." single discipline or institution can a common understanding on program address on its own," said Howarth agreements and principles, ensure that This initial program-wide meeting set Bouis, Biofortification Program Director. program obligations dovetail with the the stage for individual crop team "Shifting the paradigm from more food institutional objectives of the various meetings to be held in September and to better food, linking agriculture and collaborators, plan outreach strategies, October that will involve a wider group nutrition, takes partnerships and and to design optimum communication of collaborators and stakeholders. In uncommon commitment...a tools and strategies. The meeting pro- anticipation of full start up of the chal- commitment to the overall vision, a vided an opportunity for partners to lenge program in January 2004, detailed commitment to respecting the per- learn from one another to make the work plans are being developed. World Bank--CGIAR Collaboration Gains Momentum Fostering broad-based economic growth in rural areas is a Participants agreed that there was a range of areas for central element of the World Bank's renewed Rural enhancing and strengthening the World Bank/CGIAR part- Development Strategy, Reaching the Rural Poor. Over the past nership. Specific areas include: year, the World Bank's Agriculture and Rural Development Department held strategy consultation workshops at six Knowledge management CGIAR Centers (CIP, CIAT, ICARDA, IITA, ILRI, and IRRI). The Common advocacy platform (e.g. Global Platform for objective of these workshops was to better define the role of Rural Development) CGIAR system in implementing the new strategy and to artic- Staff exchange ulate the contribution of international agricultural research to Partnerships to fill gaps in areas outside CGIAR's mandate rural development. A special session was also held at IFPRI. (e.g. linking farmers to markets, support to high value crops) In June 2003, a special workshop was held to conclude the New research agendas (e.g. linking health and agriculture) consultation process, develop a synthesis report, and launch Intellectual property rights an action plan. The CGIAR was well-represented, including Farmers as environment managers (e.g. through carbon four Directors General (ICARDA, IFPRI, IITA, and ILRI), their farming) deputies, and science program leaders. A Framework Document and Action Plan has been drafted In opening remarks, Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman, set the and will be submitted to the World Bank after being cleared stage by highlighting the changing development environ- by the Center Directors Committee (CDC). ment, focusing on the Millennium Development Goals, shift- ing toward a programmatic approach, and the resulting For more information, visit www.worldbank.org/rural opportunities for partnership. July 2003 11 18741_P01_16 8/5/03 6:19 PM Page 12 Ensuring Women Farmers Get the Water They Need Irrigation agencies often operate on the Barbara van Koppen, a gender and ness onto farming systems where premise that all farmers are men, leav- water expert at IWMI. "Policy makers women do not traditionally partici- ing women farmers with unequal and change agents need new tools to pate, except in specific tasks such as access to water and no recourse for help diagnose gender issues in irriga- weeding or harvesting. addressing the resulting imbalance. tion schemes and design appropriate interventions." "Blanket measures seldom achieve any- This old problem is being addressed by thing beyond window dressing," asserts a new tool. IWMI and partners have GPII measures inclusion/exclusion at van Koppen. "Trying to ensure all developed the "Gender Performance three different levels: women participating in farming get Indicator for Irrigation (GPII)" that can equal access to irrigation water, without help reduce gender imbalances in irri- Women's and men's access to water regard to the type or level of participa- gation management decisions. and irrigated land at farm level tion, is unrealistic and in the end fails to Developed with support from the Inclusion in irrigator's network in reach even those women whose liveli- Swedish International Development which rules for infrastructure con- hoods depend on having equal access." Agency (Sida), Ford Foundation and the struction, operation and mainte- Government of the Netherlands. nance are set and enforced GPII addresses such situations by distin- Eligibility and election for leadership guishing between women who are farm Ensuring women farmers have access positions and women's capacity to decision-makers and women who par- to resources and to decision-making function well in these roles ticipate only in specific farming tasks. forums such as Water Users This difference is often overlooked in Organizations, is increasingly being rec- To successfully address exclusion of the formulation of `gender-sensitive' ognized as vital not only for women's women, irrigation interventions need projects and interventions, with the end livelihoods but also for the viability of to take into account the role women result that these fail to address the true many irrigation schemes. already play in agriculture. In some needs of women farmers. well-intentioned cases, attempts to "There is still a big gap between good improve the situation have done so For more information, visit intentions and effective action," said by forcing blanket gender-inclusive- www.iwmi.cgiar.org Ending the Cycle of Hunger and Poverty in Ethiopia A staggering 12.5 million Ethiopians, or one-fifth of the pop- Despite these problems, IFPRI research on the environment, ulation, currently face starvation. Yet, last year, Ethiopian production technology, and markets suggests that future farmers had produced more grain than they could sell locally, food crises can be avoided. with a national surplus of more than half a million tons. What happened? In the highlands of northern Ethiopia, studies show that investments in roads, technical assistance, credit, education After two years of bumper crops, the rains failed in 2002, and other services are improving conditions. Increasing peo- leading to a substantial drop in agricultural production. But ple's incomes is also crucial. This can be accomplished in part the roots of the food crisis run much deeper. Millions of sub- by investing in research and extension to assist farmers in sistence farmers are almost entirely dependent on the producing a diversity of crops and livestock, including high- weather. Poverty is extreme and widespread, land and soils value products. are severely degraded, markets don't function, and the country's communications and transportation infrastructure "To be effective, development investments must be tailored are among the least developed in the world. to local conditions," says John Pender, Senior Research Continued on page 15 12 cgiarNews 18741_P01_16 8/4/03 1:04 PM Page 13 Mekong Delta: Building fisheries research capacity for the benefit of people International efforts to develop fisheries research capacity in Cambodia received a boost with the founding of a new research institute, the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute (IFReDI) in Phnom Penh. The WorldFish Center, in part- nership with the Government of Cambodia, Asian Development Bank and Danida helped set up the new institution which is charged with developing a long-term aquatic resource management strategy for the Mekong region. "IFReDI is born in both exciting and challenging times," said Meryl J. Williams, Director General, The WorldFish Center. "We are honored to be involved in help- ing make the Cambodian vision for a fisheries institute a reality." In June, The Every year during WorldFish Center opened an office in Phnom Penh to set up and develop the research program of IFReDI. the rainy season, floods The Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake create a vast freshwater system covering 1.8 in Cambodia submerge million hectares -- the world's fourth largest inland fishery. Every year during the vast areas of forests rainy season, floods in Cambodia submerge vast areas of forests and paddy fields. Three-quarters of the freshwater species in the Lower Mekong Basin migrate to and paddy fields. these flooded areas to spawn, feed, and grow. Three-quarters of the Fisheries play a key role in the lives and livelihoods of poor people who live in the freshwater species in region. Cambodia's inland fisheries produce an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 tons of fish annually, with a value of up to $500 million. Yet for many landless families the Lower Mekong Basin in Cambodia, the average daily income from fishing is only about $1.80 and even migrate to these flooded less from the sale of aquatic plants ($ 0.97). areas to spawn, feed The new research institution has a key role to play. Its mission is to compile and and grow. Fisheries analyze information, including data for the management of Cambodia's inland fishery resources. In addition, IFReDI aims to provide socio-economic and institu- research is key to tional support for the sustainable development of living aquatic resources. Research leading to a better understanding of the value of aquatic resources to the achieving balanced livelihoods of the poor is essential and helps policy-makers design and choose development. appropriate strategies for sustainable management of fisheries. For more information, visit www.worldfishcenter.org CGIAR Science Awards: Call for nominations Call for 2003 CGIAR Science Awards Nominations. Each year, the CGIAR recognizes the work of its scientists, support teams, research partnerships and communicators, emphasizing novelty, relevance, applicability and development impact. Nominations for outstanding performance in the categories of Scientist, Promising Young Scientist, Scientific Support Team, Partnership, Scientific Article, Journalism, and Communications are requested through August 31, 2003. For more information, visit www.cgiar.org July 2003 13 18741_P01_16 8/4/03 1:04 PM Page 14 New Study Assesses CGIAR Priorities and Strategies CGIAR's research priorities and strategies are anchored in a the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) and common objective of improving food and livelihood oppor- regional organizations, Millennium Development and tunities for poor farmers while sustaining the natural envi- World Food Summit Goals, and international Conventions ronment. To ensure relevance and maximum development and Agreements. They also benefited from 35 position impact, these must continually be revised to be in lockstep papers commissioned by the iSC and written by experts with new knowledge and changing realities. on core issues such as poverty, science, natural resources, and public policies. In a first step toward designing a priorities and strategies framework that will guide the formulation of future CGIAR The initial results are illuminating. research programs including Challenge Programs (CPs), the Interim Science Council (iSC) has launched a broad-based e- Stakeholders support holistic approaches for developing consultation to seek the views of CGIAR stakeholders. The solutions to complex poverty and agro-ecological problems, iSC undertook this task in response to a request from the have called for an increased emphasis on upstream Group at AGM02. The iSC's Standing Committee on research, and better coordination of research efforts Priorities and Strategies (SCOPAS), chaired by Alain de between CGIAR and its partners. Janvry, backstopped by Amir Kassam of the iSC Secretariat, are managing the exercise. In an excellent example of using modern communication tech- nology, the consultations were conducted in virtual mode, and Their starting point was the new CGIAR vision and strategy, managed by Julio Berdegué of RIMISP, a Chilean NGO. and the stated CGIAR goals. The panels were asked to iden- tify and prioritize critical issues that require attention by the The panels' assessments were then made the subject of a CGIAR and its partners in a bid to reduce poverty and broad electronic discussion in which more than 10,000 stake- hunger, and to enhance sustainability of resource use in holders were invited to rank the lists of issues prepared by the agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Stakeholder views were panels and make additional suggestions on priority themes tapped through five panels (Global, Sub-Saharan Africa, through a dedicated website www.rimisp.org/cgiar-ps. Asia, CWANA for Central and West Asia and North Africa, and Latin America) established by iSC, and selected in con- A synthesis of views that emerged from the discussion will sultation with the CGIAR CDC/CBC and GFAR. Each panel feed into Step 2, in which scientists, from both the CGIAR consisted of some 20 members drawn from national agricul- and the broader scientific community, will translate the Step tural research institutes, government ministries, Centers, 1 outputs into research and capacity-building projects for NGOs, farmers and producers organizations, the private sec- the CGIAR and its partners that have the greatest chances tor, regional organizations, regional development banks, of success. The initial results were presented at the triennial foundations, and donors. meeting of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) held in Senegal in May 2003. Panelists drew on an updated and expanded database of information, including regional priorities established by The panels' allocations of scores out of 100 per theme is illustrated below: Themes Latin Africa CWANA Asia Global System America Germplasm conservation 36 47 25 37 31 35 and improvement Production systems and 29 26 61 24 40 36 natural resources Policy and institutions 35 26 15 39 30 29 14 cgiarNews 18741_P01_16 8/4/03 1:05 PM Page 15 Robert S. McNamara Seminar continued The overarching theme -- How can agriculture and agricul- Participants from the World Bank, Japanese Ministries of tural research be given priority in the design of public poli- Finance, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the cies for generating growth in post-disaster situations? -- Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japan was addressed by the panelists. International Research Center for Agriculture Sciences (JIRCAS) and UNDP agreed on next steps for coordination of this spe- Participants were briefed about ICARDA's experiences in cial effort. A follow-up meeting is planned for September 12 Central and West Asia, including ongoing efforts to rehabilitate prior to the opening of Tokyo International Conference on agriculture in Afghanistan. Citing the example of conflicts over African Development (TICAD­3). The Government of Japan forest resources, David Kaimowitz noted that Asia was home has a long tradition of supporting rice research. to 56 percent of the world's population and only 15 percent of its forests. Small farmers with access to land and markets are A well-attended breakfast meeting with Japanese well-positioned to meet growing demand for charcoal, medici- Parliamentarians and successful "Friends of the CGIAR" nal plants, pulpwood, poles, and construction wood. Policies lunch ensured that the discussion of the importance of agri- that give communities and small farmers rights over forests and culture and agricultural research reached the highest levels. degraded land can help them take advantage of these oppor- tunities. Joachim von Braun cautioned that worldwide, agricul- In a significant development, the Comprehensive Africa tural growth fell from an annual average of 2.5 percent in the Agricultural Development Program of the New Partnership for 1980s to 1.4 percent in the 1990s, and in low-income coun- Africa's Development (NEPAD) has identified NERICAs as an tries the decline was from 3 to 2.5 percent. The consensus example of "best practice" in science-for-development efforts. emerging from the meeting was that agriculture is critical for "NEPAD sees the large body of knowledge and technologies growth, and for communities devastated by conflicts and available from Japan as a source of Africa's hope for the natural disasters rebuilding agriculture is a first step both for future" said Richard Mkandawire, Agriculture Advisor, NEPAD. recovery and for laying the foundations of durable peace. The McNamara Seminar, originally planned as a solo event, In conjunction with the seminar, Yukio Yoshimura, World Bank has grown both in stature and scope. It is an opportunity to Vice President and Special Representative to Japan, chaired a increase focus and generate dialogue and reach out to many high-level meeting to support coordinated dissemination of levels of Japanese society. New Rices for Africa (NERICAs). Kanayo Nwanze, Director General, The Africa Rice Center, addressed the meeting For more information on CGIAR, visit www.cgiar.org Ending the Cycle of Hunger continued Fellow, IFPRI. "Ethiopia is comprised of trated in small areas caused prices to grain in large quantities. Lacking buyers, 18 distinct agro-ecological zones, and plunge by as much as 80 percent, even some farmers simply abandoned grain no one-size-fits-all strategy will work in as other parts of the country experienced in the fields. Everybody lost, from bank- all areas. In drought-prone regions, for severe food shortages. rupt farmers to starving consumers. example, it makes more sense to invest in water and soil conservation measures This tragic outcome was caused by To make markets work, IFPRI research than fertilizer." Ethiopia's weak marketing system. An indicates that the Ethiopian govern- IFPRI study shows that most grain ment and its donors should support the But even in areas where excellent har- traders operate small-scale businesses private sector, invest in roads and vests can be achieved using high-yielding with very few assets, and trade only telecommunications, and create institu- seeds and fertilizers, farmers cannot sus- with people they know, over very short tions to deliver financing, information, tain a livelihood if they are unable to get distances. According to Eleni Gabre- and legal enforcement. their grain to market. In the 2001­2002 Madhin, IFPRI research fellow, two- season, some farmers recorded bumper thirds of Ethiopian traders cannot get With appropriate policies and wise maize crops. But with poor roads, lack of bank loans, only 6 percent own a vehi- investments that address both the sup- market information, and no access to cle, and less than half have a telephone ply and demand side of food security, credit, traders were sorely challenged to or permanent storage facilities. Ethiopia can end its cycle of hunger buy food from farmers and sell it where When prices collapsed, traders did not and poverty. CGIAR it was needed. A glut of grain concen- have the financing to buy and store July 2003 15 18741_P01_16 8/4/03 1:48 PM Page 16 cgiarNews Editor Sarwat Hussain e s.hussain@cgiar.org Published by the CGIAR Secretariat A Unit of the CGIAR System Office t 1 202 473 8951 f 1 202 473 8110 e cgiar@cgiar.org CGIAR-supported Future Harvest Centers International Center for Tropical Agriculture International Crops Research Institute for International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) (CIAT) the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) www.irri.org www.ciat.cgiar.org www.icrisat.org International Service for National Center for International Forestry Research International Food Policy Research Institute Agricultural Research (ISNAR) (CIFOR) (IFPRI) www.isnar.cgiar.org www.cifor.org www.ifpri.org International Water Management Institute International Maize and Wheat International Institute of Tropical (IWMI) Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Agriculture (IITA) www.iwmi.cgiar.org www.cimmyt.org www.iita.org West Africa Rice Development Association­ International Potato Center (CIP) International Livestock Research Institute The Africa Rice Center (WARDA) www.cipotato.org (ILRI) www.warda.org www.cgiar.org/ilri International Center for Agricultural World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) International Plant Genetic Resources www.worldagroforestrycentre.org www.icarda.org Institute (IPGRI) www.ipgri.org WorldFish Center www.worldfishcenter.org 16 cgiarNews