Summary
On Wednesday morning, the GCARD3 opening plenary began with a historical overview of the GCARD process. Mark Holderness, Executive Secretary, Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), described how the 2008 food crisis led to the initiation of the GCARD process resulting in the GCARD Road Map and the reform of the CGIAR. Kwesi Atta-Krah, CGIAR, highlighted some lessons and recommendations from the national and regional consultations leading up to GCARD3, followed by a panel discussion focusing on recent GCARD consultations in Tanzania, Ethiopia, India and the Asia-Pacific region.
The opening plenary concluded with two keynote addresses by youth representatives. Jim Cano, Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), posed the challenge of getting youth interested in agriculture. Dimakatso Sekhoto, Makolobane Farmers Enterprises, discussed her vision for contributing to agricultural transformation in South Africa as a young, emerging, black, female farmer.
Delegates then convened in parallel discussion sessions for the rest of the day, focusing on the five GCARD3 themes of: ‘Scaling up - from research to impact’; ‘Showcasing results and demonstrating impact’; ‘Keeping science relevant and future-focused’; ‘Sustaining the business of farming’; and ‘Ensuring better rural futures.’ The discussions were facilitated by ‘catalysts’ who presented key challenges, opportunities and emerging issues. Round table discussions then took place to elicit concrete lessons and future-oriented recommendations that will be included in the Conference’s final outcome.
Discussions under the first theme were chaired by Patrick Caron, French Agricultural Research
Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and co-chaired by Judith Francis, Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA). These addressed how to scale up research through improved linkages and learning across the local, national, regional and global levels. Presentations highlighted strategies for achieving scale in research for impact drawing on theories, case studies and tools to facilitate and evaluate impact.
The second theme was chaired by Thomas Price, GFAR and co-chaired by Dhanush Dinesh, CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), and focused on experiences from different organizations involved in agricultural research and innovation in showcasing their research results and demonstrating impact.
Under the third theme, which was chaired by Aissétou Yayé, African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE), and co-chaired by Wayne Powell and Shoba Sivasankar, CGIAR, the discussions highlighted challenges, perspectives, strategies, solutions and collective actions needed to scale-out individual and institutional capacity development.
The fourth theme, chaired by Jethro Greene, Caribbean Farmers’ Network (CaFAN) and co-chaired by Pamella Thomas, CaFAN, and Naledi Magowe, Brastorne Enterprises, explored how agri-food research and innovation partners across the spectrum of research, education, extension and business can support each link in the value chain.
Under the fifth theme, which was chaired by Iman El-Kaffass, Independent Consultant, and co-chaired by Courtney Paisley, YPARD, the discussions addressed grassroots and regional perspectives in ensuring better rural futures, with a focus on: milestones, outputs and outcomes; and partnerships and resources needed towards collective action.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage from GCARD3. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has produced a summary report from GCARD3, which is available in HTML and PDF formats.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Morning Plenary
Delegates gather for the morning plenary
Mark Holderness, Global Forum of Agricultural Research (GFAR)
Kwesi Atta-Krah, CGIAR
Jim Cano, Young Professionals for
Agricultural Development (YPARD)
Dimakatso Sekhoto, Makolobane Farmers Enterprises
Panel speakers during the morning plenary
Regina Emilian Kapinga, International Institute
of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Siboniso Moyo, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Peter Carberry, International Crops Research Institute
for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
Raghunath Ghodake, Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI)
Theme 1: Scaling Up - From Research to Impact
Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Theme 1
Chair Patrick Caron, French Agricultural Research
Centre for International Development (CIRAD)
Ulf Magnusson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
Aboubakar Njoya, West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD)
Sophia Alami, CIRAD
Tom Remington,
International Potato Center (CIP)
Theme 2: Showcasing Results and Demonstrating Impact
Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Theme 2
Rémi Kahane, Platform for African European Partnership on Agricultural Research for Development (PAEPARD)
Ehsan Dulloo, Bioversity International
Raghunath Ghodake, APAARI
Participants break out into discussion groups
Theme 3: Keeping Science Relevant and Future-Focused
Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Theme 3
Raymond Erick Zvavanyange, YPARD
Co-Chair Shoba Sivasankar, CGIAR
Eike Luedeling,
World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
Didier Pilot, AGRINATURA
John Kennelly, University of Alberta
Theme 4: Sustaining the Business of Farming
Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Theme 4
Chair Jethro Greene, Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN)
Wole Fatunbi, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
Agnes Mwang’ombe, University of Nairobi
Pamella Thomas, CaFAN
Delegates discuss in groups
Theme 5: Ensuring Better Rural Futures
Presenters for Theme 5
Chair Iman El-Kaffass, Independent Consultant
Nelson Ojijo, FARA
Mohammadreza Davari, YPARD
Elisabeth Atangana, Plate-forme Régionale des Organisations Paysannes d’Afrique Centrale (PROPAC)
Joseph Jojo Baidu-Forson, Bioversity International
YPARD Celebration: 10 Years of Youth Engagement in Agriculture
Participants gather to celebrate 10 years of YPARD
Daniela Rivas Aybar, Peru
Msekiwa Matsimbe, Malawi
Kristina Roing de Nowina, IITA
Courtney Paisley, YPARD
A 10-year anniversary cake
Around the Venue
Participants gather before the start of plenary
Participants meet informally
Participants work in small groups
A participant checks the daily programme
Materials on display around the venue
