Post on 13-Feb-2016
description
Challenges for international agricultural research
Sirkka Immonen24 May, 2012La Sapienza University
Structure of presentation
International agricultural research: Public research for development, the CGIAR Demand-led research; forecasting future needs Major challenges for agricultural research Characteristics of research Impact pathways Results and impact
International Agricultural Research for Development Institutions
Centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
Others conduct international research with development aims: several universities, large national programs, such as French, Australian, Dutch, Brazilian
In partnership with: National and regional research systems Development agencies Non governmental organizations
International Agricultural Research for Development Research with a mission Public research, addresses problems that
apply across borders are public goods national systems cannot address private sector does not address
Examples: plant breeding for tropical and poor regions research on natural resources research on livestock and pastures research to support policy formulation
Consultative Group on International Agricultural ResearchSystem of Centers, their partners and donorsObjectives (relevant for the Millennium Development Goals) : Reducing rural poverty Increasing food security Improving
nutritionand health
Sustainableuse of naturalresources
Gender equalityunderlines objectives
Photo by John Ocambo (CIAT)
CGIAR Research Centers
IPGRI=Bioversity International
Responds to demandFunding:
Governments, foundations, private sector, development agencies
Beneficiaries: Developing countries: national research,
farmers, consumers, rural and urban poor International research community
Research for development
What are CGIAR Centers good at? High quality research for problems on the ground Multidisciplinary research Located in developing countries with a network of
research locations Bringing partners together from best universities and
national programs in poorest countries Honest brokers, generates
free public goods Holders of world’s largest
genetic resources collections
Photo by Neil Palmer (CIAT)
How to decide what research? International public goods
Can be used without exhausting them Some one’s use is not away from another Applicable across borders
Where there is comparative advantage Universities do basic science Private sector chooses market opportunities National institutions have national interests
Where problems can be addressed through agricultural research
Forecasting future for agricultureWorld Agriculture Development report 2008 Agriculture is a fundamental instrument for
sustainable development and poverty reduction In agriculture-based countries (Africa) agriculture is
the basis for economic growth Agriculture contributes to development; it provides
(i) economic activity (ii) livelihood for ~86% of rural people (iii) environmental services
Heterogeneity defines the rural world Issues: land, water, education, health
Characteristics of three country types Agriculture-
based countries
Transforming
countries
Urbanized countrie
sRural populations (million), 2005 417 2220 225Share of population rural (%),
200568 63 26
GDP per capita (2000 USD), 2005 379 1068 3489Share of agriculture in GDP (%),
200529 13 6
Annual agricultural growth, 1993-2005 (%)
4 2.9 2.2
Annual non-agricultural GDP growth, 1993-2005 (%)
3.5 7 2.7
Number of rural poor (millions), 2002
170 583 32
Rural poverty rate, 2002 (%) 51 28 13Source: The World Bank, 2008 World Development Report
Forecasting future for agricultureUK government foresight report 2010A. Balancing future demand and supply sustainablyB. Ensuring that there is adequate stability in
food pricesC. Achieving global access to food and ending hungerD. Managing the contribution of the food system to the
mitigation of climate change.E. Maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services
while feeding the world
The difficult equationsEstimated long term trends: population increase (9 billion by 2050) global food demand will double by 2050 rural poverty increasing in SSA and South Asia (reduced
in East Asia and Pacific) competition for agricultural land (biofuels) expansion is threat
to biodiversity agriculture has
large environmentalfootprint
Major challenges for AR4D
POVERTY Poverty pockets in sub-Saharan Africa
and South Asia Impact through better productivity of
crops, animals, fish and forestry products, value chains
Impact through better market access, credit, inputs, and policies
In agricultural communities empowerment, risk management and innovation is needed
Income from agriculture for producers, land-less laborers and other groups
Major challenges for AR4D
FOOD SECURITY ~950 million people under
nourished (2010) 27-28 percent of children in
developing countries underweight or stunted
Impact through more agricultural product of crops, animals and fish
Price fluctuations of agricultural commodities is a challenge
Locally diversity in agricultural enterprises and products buffers against shocks
Major challenges for AR4D
HEALTH & NUTRITION Calories Micronutrient malnutrition
vitamin A, zinc, iron etc. Empowerment of women Access to nutritious diets
animal foods, pulses, fruits and vegetables Children’s nutritional status Biofortified staple foods
Photo by E. Gotor (Bioversity International)
Major challenges for AR4D
ENVIRONMETAL THREATS Ecosystem changes due to dramatic increase in
need for food, water, timber, fuel and fire wood Agriculture competes for scarce water resources Soil degradation and erosion, salinisation Encroachment to new areas (wet lands, tropical
forests) Carbon emissions Loss of biodiversity Agrochemical use
Major challenges for AR4D
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY Low national investments on agriculture, science
and technology Poor institutions (research, extension, education) Insufficient national research capacity High turn-over Limited succession planning Photo AWARD Fellowships Program
Research capacity in developing countries
Developing Country Scientist Numbers
China 80,000
India (2003) 16,700
SSA (2008) 12,100
Brazil (2006) 5,400
Source: ASTI and: Chen, K. Z., and Y. Zhang. 2010.
Investment in agriculture R&D is lowTotal public agricultural R&D expenditures by region
1981 and 2000 (% GDP)
Region 1981 2000Sub-Saharan Africa 0.84 0.72Asia & Pacific 0.36 0.41China 0.41 0.4India 0.18 0.34West Asia and North Africa 0.61 0.66Latin America & Caribbean 0.88 1.15Brazil 1.15 1.81Developing countries 0.52 0.53Developed countries 1.41 2.36
Source: The World Bank; 2008 World Development Report
New opportunities
New science and technology life sciences (genomics) geographic information
systems informatics and communication
technologyNew organization multi-disciplinary and integrated research innovation systems participatory research donor harmonization
Photo by ICARDA
Characteristics of research
Research needs to discover new things and explore the unexplored
Research is risky and unpredictable Unexpected results and failures are valuable Needs to be transparent Thrives from critique Scientific discoveries lead to innovation and
adaptation
Knowledge Flows in Agriculture
Scientists(formal research)
Farmers(indigenous knowledge, informal research)
GlobalActivities
LocalActivities
State National International Global
Kno
wle
dge
flow
1National & StateResearch Systems
2International Research
Centers and System
4International Private
Voluntary Organizations*
3National/State/Local•Extension Services•Non-governmental
organizations
RegionalKnowledge flow
Source: Dana Dalrumple, USAID
Time (years)
Ado
ptio
n ra
te
0 30
Upstream research conduct
On farm evaluation
Release
Characteristics of ag research: Long lag timesOutcome
measured here reflects
performance...
backthen!
Source: D. Raitzer, IRRI, 2011
Characteristics of ag research: Long and indirect causal chains(Adapted from D. Raitzer, IRRI, 2011)
Activity (building a bridge)
Output (a bridge)
Outcome (reduction in travel
time from use of bridge)
Activity (development of
principles for
SSNM)
Output(recommendation
s for specific farms)
Outcome (change
in fertilizer management on
farm)
Outcome (higher fert use efficienc
y)
Impact (higher income for poor
producers)
Outcome
(NARS validati
on)
Activity (development of decision support tools)
Outcome (on farm testing
by partners)
Outcome (embodiment in mobile phone
services)
Outcome (changes
to extension system
policy)
Lower food
prices for the poor
Impact (higher
incomes from better
market prices)
Development project 3-5 years, local impact
Activity (identification of a
gene)
Output (Markers)
Outcome (use of
markers by
NARS)
Output (NARS
varieties)
Outcome (national
seed producti
on)
Outcome (farmer
adoption)
Outcome (reduced production risk)
Outcome (intensifi
ed management)
Impact (higher
income for poor
producers)
Lower food
prices for the poor
Genetic improvement 20-30 years
Resource management research 10-20 years
Research monitoring on impact pathway
Priority assessment
Prod
uct
Prog
ram
Them
e
Impact evaluation studies that
measure the effect size
Studies that track the scale of outcome
Input Output Outcome Impact
Impact assessment
(effect size * scale)
Refined theory of change
Monitoringprogress &
performance
Product evaluation
Time
Scal
ePi
lot /
Sm
all
Glo
bal
Source: D. Raitzer, IRRI, 2011
Impact pathway–Aquatic agriculture systems
Source: CGIAR Research Program 1.3 “Aquatic Agriculture Systems”
Product design and demand Constraints for enhanced use Constraints for scale-out
Targeting R4D opportunities
Outputs
Research priority setting
Germplasm, genes, methods
Varieties, hybrid with desired traits
Crop/pest mngt technologies
Effective seed and input delivery
Improved market access
Post harvest, market access
Accelerating adoption
Sustainable crop management
Variety and hybrid development
Genetic resources & tools
Research outcomes
NARS use results for prioritization
Germplasm etc used by breeders
Formal and informal sees systems
Delivery of crop and pest mngt options
Improved knowledge flow among partners
Value added products piloted
Development outcomes
Appropriate technologies
Swift variety turn-over
Farmers benefit from new cultivars
Saving water and nutrients, reduced pest damagesoil health
Opportunities to market value added products
Improved value chains, knowledge platforms
Impacts
Less poverty
Increased food security
Improved health and nutrition
Increased system resilience & sustainability
Value added products, processes
Strategic objectives
Enabling environment – institutions, policies, governance, infrastructure
Impact pathway – Dryland cereal program
Source: Adapted from CGIAR Research Program 3.6 “Dryland cereals”
Results from agricultural researchHistoric impact: Green RevolutionNobel Peace Prize 1970to Normal Borlaug
Results from agricultural researchImproved varieties (examples in Africa)
Cassava, fastest growing food staple in Africa The New Rice for Africa (NERICA) Beans, ~10 million farmers, mostly women, grow
new bean varieties developed through participatory breeding
Biological control of pests: parasitic wasp to control
cassava mealy bug in AfricaSoil management:
zero tillage (in LAC, Asia); legumes to improve soil fertility (Africa)
Photo by FAO Regional Vegetable IPM Programme
Cases of successful research in CGIARInternational Institute for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Research to confirm high and low amylase in
cassava roots Discovery of amylase-free mutant Interest for industrial use of starch Public-private partnership Contract farming cassava
as cash crop Income opportunities
for smallfarmers
Photo by Thomas Sankara
Cases of successful research in CGIARInternational Potato Institute Research and breeding to increase Vit A content in
sweetpotato (orange flesh) Research to explore farmers willingness to pay for
high quality planting materials Incentives for privatevine
multipliers Benefits to vine producers,
crop producers Health benefits to consumers
Photo by ILRI
Cases of successful research in CGIARInternational Rice Research Institute Alternate wetting and drying technology Research on AWD
water and nutrientinteractions
optimizing ADW scenarios role of policies and
infrastructure participatory testing, training
15-30% irrigation water saved Large scale diffusion of AWD
Photo by IPSWAR
Cases of successful research in CGIARCenter for International Forestry Research Research on forest certification for sustainable
management Criteria and indicators template with
principles and criteria on policy, ecology, social conditions, biodiversity and production
Adaptation to local contexts 1999 10 million ha forests certified worldwide 2006 79 million ha – most using the C&I
standards
Cases of successful research in CGIARWorld Agroforestry Center Research for replenishing soil fertility Tree fallows based on fast growing “fertilizer” trees On-farm testing and
dissemination Benefits:
Improved food security(maize-based systems)
Better soil health More fuel Increased carbon sequestration
Photo by World Agroforestry Center