Highlights and images for 8 April 2016

3rd Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD3) No One Left Behind: Agri–food Innovation and Research for a Sustainable World

Summary

On Friday morning, following presentations by two young “agripreneurs,” participants reconvened in thematic groups to finalize their messages and collective actions for inclusion in the GCARD3 Outcomes Statement.

In the afternoon, participants convened in plenary for presentation of the Youth Agripreneurs Project (YAP) awards. Peter Casier, Independent Consultant, introduced five of the six YAP finalists from Barbados, India, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Kenya who each described their winning projects.

Following an overview by Chairs and Co-chairs of the key messages from the two days of thematic discussions, Shadrack Moephuli, President and CEO, ARC, presented the draft GCARD3 Outcomes Statement for adoption. He noted that the Outcomes Statement sketches the overall context of the GCARD3 Global Event and the five key challenges that were explored during the thematic discussions. Moephuli then highlighted the main messages and commitments that emerged from the five thematic groups, noting commitments to, inter alia: establish innovative, farmer-led platforms; create 1,000 additional PhDs per year in “next-generation, future-relevant agricultural research”; continue professional development in agriculture for innovation and entrepreneurship; develop a “culture of impact”; contribute to national measurements of progress and create a platform to harmonize agriculture-related indicators linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); build value chain partnerships, while protecting smallholder farmers’ access to resources and developing their business skills; and address cross-cutting themes such as public health and nutrition in agricultural research and innovation programmes.

A final high-level panel discussion moderated by Frank Rijsberman, CEO, CGIAR Consortium, provided regional and global perspectives relating to the GCARD3 outcomes.

Mariam Al Jaajaa, The Arab Network for Food Sovereignty/Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, highlighted the growing problem of food insecurity due to protracted crises in the Near East and North Africa region, and stressed the need for comprehensive research to understand the root causes and devise strategies to create a better future. Bernard Rey, European Commission, highlighted the jointly funded and co-owned EU-Africa Partnership on Research and Innovation on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. Elisabeth Atangana, Plate-forme Régionale des Organisations Paysannes d’Afrique Centrale (PROPAC) underlined the need for science to evolve and adapt to communities’ demands. Sana Jatta, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), recommended deeper involvement of developing country governments in the GCARD process. Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb, Minister of State, Belgium, called for increasing resources in rural communities through government lobbying and decentralization.

In his vote of thanks Rijsberman noted the Conference had offered an invaluable networking opportunity and welcomed the feedback provided by various stakeholders on how to align the new Strategic Framework with national and regional priorities.

Noting that “for first time, we have bridged science and society to shape our futures,” Mark Holderness, Executive Secretary, GFAR, expressed appreciation for the willingness shown by more than 500 GCARD3 delegates from 83 countries “to go forward together.” He noted that the Conference has shaped a package of tangible actions that “we can proudly take to the SDGs review process.”

Litha Magingxa, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), thanked partners, organizing committees, theme Chairs and Co-chairs, ‘catalysts,’ participants and all others involved in the organization and facilitation of the event. He declared GCARD3 closed at 5:35 pm.

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

Participants during the morning plenary

Maria Letizia Gardoni, Coldiretti Giovani Impresa

Tshepiso Marumo, Tshepiso Bees

Theme 1: Scaling Up - From Research to Impact

Presenters for Theme 1

Judith Francis, Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural
Cooperation (CTA)/ European Forum on
Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD)

Raghunath Ghodake, Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI)

Christian Hoste, Agreenium

Marc Bernard, AfricaRice

Participants discuss matters in breakout groups

Theme 2: Showcasing Results and Demonstrating Impacts

Participants discuss matters related to Theme 2

Sana Jatta, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Mellissa Wood, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)

Ashok Ambalal Patel, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University

Participants work in breakout groups

Theme 3: Keeping Science Relevant and Future-Focused

Participants listen to presentations related to Theme 3

Iddo Dror, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Lana Repar, Agricultural Transformation by Innovation
(AgTraIn)/Young Professionals for Agricultural
Development (YPARD) Europe

James Kung'u, Kenyatta University

Trevor Nicholls, CEO, Centre for Agriculture
and Biosciences International (CABI)

Participants in breakout groups

Theme 4: Sustaining the Business of Farming

A participant takes notes during discussions on Theme 4

Litha Magingxa, Agricultural Research Centre (ARC)

Oseyemi Akinbamijo, Forum for Agricultural
Research in Africa (FARA)

Participants discuss matters related to Theme 4

Theme 5: Ensuring Better Rural Futures

Robin Bourgeois, Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), facilitates a discussion around Theme 5

Participants work in breakout groups

Afternoon Plenary

Peter Casier, Independent Consultant, thanks Fiona Chandler, GFAR, for her support in realizing the Youth Agripreneurs Project

Josine Macaspac, the Philippines

Jony Girma, Ethiopia

Kellyann Allicot, Barbados

Lillian Beauttah, Kenya

Nikki Pilania Chaudhary, India

Michelle Kovacevic, YPARD

Chairs from the thematic groups report back on their sessions

Theme 1 Chair Patrick Caron, French Agricultural Research
Centre for International Development (CIRAD),
and Co-Chair Judith Francis, CTA/EFARD

Theme 2 Chair Thomas Price, GFAR, and
Co-Chair Dhanush Dinesh, CGIAR

Theme 3 Chair Aissetou Yaye, African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE) (center), and Co-Chairs Shoba Sivasankar, CGIAR (left),
and Wayne Powell, CGIAR (right)

Theme 4 Chair Jethro Greene,
Caribbean Farmers’ Network (CaFAN)

Theme 5 Chair Iman El-Kaffass, Independent Consultant (center),
Co-Chair Courtney Paisley, YPARD (right), and
facilitator Robin Bourgeois, GFAR (left)