33137 CGIAR N E WS CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH DECEMBER 2001 CGIAR ESTABLISHES EXECUTIVE COUNCIL In keeping with the overarching objec- ExCo will report to the CGIAR Group CGIAR GEARS UP tive of CGIAR reforms--to increase ef- and carry out responsibilities delegated FOR WORLD SUMMIT ficiency and maximize effectiveness--a to it, facilitate decision-making by the 21-member CGIAR Executive Council Group, provide oversight during im- ON SUSTAINABLE was established at the Annual General plementation of the Group's decisions, DEVELOPMENT Meeting 2001. Dubbed "ExCo," the and ensure continuity between annual Next year, the Government of South Africa, Council is a committee of stakeholders, general meetings. will host The World Summit on Sustainable incorporating perspectives from all Development (WSSD), also called the Jo- components of the CGIAR System. Continued on page 7 hannesburg Summit 2002, during August 26 to September 4. Mr. Nitin Desai has been appointed Secretary-General of the Sum- STRENGTHENING SCIENCE, mit, and Mr. Jan Pronk, the former Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation has EXPANDING PARTNERSHIPS: been appointed as a Special Envoy by Sec- retary-General Kofi Annan. The Preparatory CGIAR LAUNCHES Committee of the Summit is chaired by Mr. "CHALLENGE PROGRAMS" Emil Salim of Indonesia. A high-level Advi- sory Panel has been formed, and among the notables are two friends of the CGIAR: "We are at the service of the world's nutrition, child and maternal mortality, Ms. Kamla Chowdhry of India, and Ms. peoples, and we must listen to them. and environmental protection (see Lydia Makhubu of Swaziland. They are telling us that our past www.developmentgoals.org). A CGIAR Task Force, chaired by Coosje achievements are not enough. They are Heeding the call for greater effective- Hoogendoorn, IPGRI, has been formed and telling us that we must do more, and do ness in tackling problems of global rele- tasked with preparing the CGIAR's participa- it better," said U.N. Secretary-General vance, the CGIAR has launched "Chal- tion in the Summit. In the lead-up to the Sum- Kofi Annan while addressing the Mil- lenge Programs" that adopt a program- mit, Member States have embarked on a lennium Summit. matic approach, better align its research preparatory process, assessing achievements At the summit, 189 nations, includ- toward achieving MDGs, while opening and setbacks since the Rio "Earth Summit" of ing 147 heads of state, adopted a set of the system to broader partnerships. 1992 which produced "Agenda 21." millennium development goals "Greater effort is clearly needed to For more information, click on www.jo- (MDGs), calling for halving the pro- achieve the development goals," says hannesburgsummit.org. A special CGIAR- portion of the world's population living Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman and WSSD section will soon be featured on the CGIAR website, www.cgiar.org. in extreme poverty by 2015. Other World Bank Vice President. "Increasing goals are progress in education, health, the efficiency of agriculture and Continued on page 2 CGIAR NEWS PAGE 1 CHALLENGE PROGRAMS Continued from page 1 making agricultural productivity go · Development of Sustainable hand-in-hand with ecological responsi- Agricultural Production Systems A Challenge Program is bility and social acceptability are the in Central Asia and the Caucasus " A time-bound, independently- governed program of high impact new challenges facing the CGIAR. (CAC) research, that targets the CGIAR Challenge programs will help make the · Global Genetic Resources: Con- goals in relation to complex issues CGIAR a better instrument of prosper- servation, Management, and Im- of overwhelming global and/or ity, while engaging new partners in the provement for Food and Nutri- regional significance, and requires fight against hunger and poverty." tional Security, Agro-biodiversity, partnerships between a wide range of institutions in order to deliver As a first step, the CGIAR is adopt- and Sustainable Livelihoods its products." ing a flexible learning-by-doing ap- · Global Initiative on HIV/AIDS, For more information, browse proach. The CGIAR-supported Centers Agriculture, and Food Security www.cgiar.org, then click on Chal- and their partners have proposed 10 · Global Mountain Program lenge Programs. programmatic areas for piloting. Up to · Harnessing Agricultural Technol- three of these programs will be short- ogy to Improve the Health of the many of the poorest of the world." listed for approval by the Group: Poor: Biofortified Crops to Com- Challenge programs are designed · Agriculture and Combating bat Micronutrient Deficiency to expand the CGIAR's current pool Desertification · The African Challenge Program of partners and to mobilize new and · Animal Diseases, Market Access, · Water and Agriculture increased funding from current and Food Safety, and Poverty Reduction prospective donors. They will help · Climate Change "The challenge programs go to increase the impact, significance, the heart of the CGIAR's--indeed the and visibility of the CGIAR's research world's--poverty reduction agenda," efforts. As a core mechanism of I N T H I S I S S U E says Emil Javier, Chairman of the change, combining participatory Technical Advisory Committee and planning with strategic analysis of 1 CGIAR Establishes Executive Chairman of the Interim Science problems and opportunities, chal- Council Council. "Success in these important lenge programs will add value by 1 CGIAR Launches "Challenge Programs" areas will improve the lives of mil- promoting strategic and productive lions. New farming techniques and engagement with partners, especially 1 CGIAR Gears Up for World Summit technologies will spell the difference the national programs of developing 2 Videoconferences Launched between hope and despair among countries. 3 Exchange of Plant Genetic Material Boosts Efforts to WASHINGTON CALLING: Reduce Hunger and Malnutrition VIDEOCONFERENCES SUSTAIN DIALOGUE ON REFORMS 4 Highlights of the Annual In a provocative book, The Death of Dis- In the first round, two videoconfer- General Meeting 2001 tance, Frances Cairncross predicts that ences were held on December 18 and 20 6 World Food Situation Overview the 21st century will be dominated by the with ISNAR and IPGRI. " All staff who at- 6 CGIAR Partnership falling cost of transporting ideas and in- tended were, without exception, ex- Strengthened formation. Proving that prediction right, tremely enthusiastic about the outcome and to foster dialogue on the reforms, a and felt it was a great way to communi- Editor: Sarwat Hussain new round of videoconferences were cate directly," says Geoff Hawtin, Direc- Published by the CGIAR Secretariat Tel: (1-202) 473-8951 launched featuring Ian Johnson, CGIAR tor General, IPGRI. After the holiday sea- Fax: (1-202) 473-8110 Chairman and Francisco Reifschneider, son, more videoconferences are being E-mail: cgiar@cgiar.org CGIAR Director, and senior staff in the scheduled, beginning late January 2002 Design: Iseman Creative, Inc. Secretariat, interacting with Directors and the plan is to cover all Centers in the General and staff of each Center. first quarter of the new year. PAGE 2 CGIAR NEWS FREE EXCHANGE OF PLANT GENETIC MATERIAL BOOSTS GLOBAL EFFORTS TO REDUCE HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION Seeds are the principal choice of cur- Together, 11 of the 16 CGIAR-sup- The vast majority (80 percent or rency among agricultural scientists ported Centers hold the world's largest more) went to universities and na- and researchers, both of whom de- collection of crop diversity, more than tional agricultural research systems pend on the free movement and ex- 660,000 samples. This collection rep- developing new varieties of plants change of plant genetic resources to resents 40 percent of the unique with improved traits. develop new crops. "We have watched After protracted ne- and supported the ne- gotiations, the ea- gotiations that led to gerly awaited FAO the Treaty on Plant International Treaty Genetic Resources for on Plant Genetic Re- Food and Agriculture sources for Food with great interest," and Agriculture was says Geoffrey Hawtin, agreed on by 116 na- Director General of tions, with two ab- IPGRI. "We are satis- stentions. The treaty, fied that the treaty approved in Novem- will help us fulfill our ber 2001, must now mandate to use plant be ratified by at least diversity for develop- 40 countries before ment." it becomes effective. The CGIAR collec- "Plant genetic di- tions are held in trust versity, the result of for humanity under a combination of agreements signed in farmers' selection 1994 with FAO. The over millennia, nat- Treaty on Plant Ge- ural evolution, and netic Resources for plant breeding is a Food and Agriculture foundation of agri- calls on countries and cultural develop- CGIAR-supported ment," says Ian CGIAR genebanks hold in public trust, for the benefit of all humanity, 660,000 samples Centers to maintain Johnson, CGIAR of plant germplasm material, including seeds--vital resources in the continuing fight genetic resources in Chairman and against hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation perpetuity. The chal- World Bank Vice lenge is to mobilize fi- President. "Plant nancial resources and breeders rely on existing diversity to samples of the world's major food create an endowment to ensure that create new varieties of plants with crops, a vital resource for scientists and these precious resources are kept in higher yields and increased resistance researchers. A recent study revealed viable form well into the future. to pests and diseases, whereas many that a majority of the more than one small farmers in developing countries million samples exchanged during the depend on diversity as the basis of past 10 years went to research organi- food security and income." zations in developing countries. CGIAR NEWS PAGE 3 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2001 This year's Annual General Meeting--a first for the CGIAR-- duction, hunger eradication, and environmental protection. spanned an action-packed week featuring public events, ple- More than 600 people attended the meeting. nary sessions, and ancillary meetings. CGIAR stakeholders The pictures seek to provide a glimpse, varied and fleet- gathered to address how agricultural research and develop- ing, of a landmark meeting, the people, the events, and the ment can be better aligned to achieve the goals of poverty re- issues. A public exhibit "We Can Feed the World and Keep it Green" was the opening highlight of the meeting. In the impressive 13-story atrium of the World Bank's main complex, participants passed through a portal to view eye-catching exhibits demonstrating how research by the CGIAR-supported Centers and partners is providing real solutions to 21st-century problems. Carole Brookins, World Bank U.S. Executive Director, opens the Nimbler decision-making for strengthened science and enhanced exhibit with President Wolfensohn of the World Bank and CGIAR impact: The CGIAR Executive Council's first meeting. Chairman Ian Johnson. A "Taste of the CGIAR" reception, featuring recipes based on CGIAR commodities, followed. PAGE 4 CGIAR NEWS Alex Kahi, ILRI, gets a word of congratulations and encouragement from Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman. Alex won the Promising Young Scientist Award. Ren Wang, IRRI, receives the award for "Outstanding Scientific Article" on behalf of the authors. Hari C. Sharma, ICRISAT, Rodolfo Toledo, IRRI, speaks after receiving the speaks after accepting the Outstanding Partnership for Sustainable Land Management of Acid Soil 2001 CGIAR Outstanding Outstanding Scientific Savannas (left to right: Miguel Ayarza, CIAT; Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chair- Scientist Award. Support Team Award on man; Jamil Macedo, EMBRAPA-Brazil; and Luis Arango-Nieto, Colombia). behalf of his colleagues. Nafis Sadik, Special Adviser to the U.N. Secretary General and former Executive Director of the U.N. Population Fund, delivers the 2001 Sir John Crawford Memorial Lecture. Her message: "The poor are strategic partners rather than target groups, and women must become empowered partners. They must be engaged in the design, implementation, and eval- uation of policies and programs that aim to improve their lives. Only in this way can we begin to lay the foundation of a sustainable future." The AGM provides a forum for a diverse group to converge, have impromptu conversations, share experiences, and benefit from the cross-fertilization of ideas. Minister Issam El-Zaim from Syria exchanges views with Dr. Nafis Sadik. CGIAR NEWS PAGE 5 THE WORLD FOOD SITUATION: AN OVERVIEW IFPRI traditionally provides the CGIAR with a biennial update on the world food situation, reviewing driving forces that influence future global food security and the policy actions necessary to achieve it. Per Pinstrup-Andersen, Director General, IFPRI and 2001 World Food Prize Laureate delivered this year's presentation. Even as significant progress has been "food insecure" in developing coun- decline to 576 made in the fight against hunger 800 tries declined since 1970 by 17 percent million people by million people, mostly women and to the current 800 million. During the 2015. While this children--are food insecure, lacking same period, the developing world's would be a signif- access to sufficient food to lead share of the global food-insecure popu- icant improve- healthy and productive lives. This is lation dropped by half, from 37 percent ment, it would unacceptably high. to 18 percent. But progress has been not meet the goal Poverty's links to hunger, malnutri- uneven: Gains in East and Southeast set at the 1996 Per Pinstrup-Andersen tion, and disease are well known. But Asia were offset by a slight increase in World Food its relation to violence and despair are hunger in South Asia and a huge Summit of halving the number of less well understood. "The terrible increase in Sub-Saharan Africa, where hungry people from 800 million to 400 attacks of September 11 clearly point to the number of people classified as food million by 2015. the tremendous importance of acceler- insecure more than doubled. Food Prospects for achieving food securi- ating the fight to eradicate hunger, security deteriorated in more than half ty are driven by the following major poverty, and malnutrition," Per Pin- of the world's developing countries forces: strup-Andersen, Director General, during the 1990s; and overall, the · Accelerated globalization and IFPRI, said while presenting an number of food-insecure people further trade liberalization overview of the world food situation to increased by 37 million. Malnutrition · Sweeping technological change the Annual General Meeting 2001. "We among preschool children is a particu- · Degradation of natural resources must remove development inequities lar concern: Today, one-third of and increasing water scarcity such as poverty and hunger that are preschool children in developing coun- · Emerging and re-emerging health perceived by many to provide the basis tries are malnourished. and nutrition crises, such as for fanatics to indulge in terrorism and According to FAO, with which HIV/AIDS do what they do." IFPRI collaborates extensively to · Rapid urbanization Despite rapid population growth, analyze global food security, the the number of people classified as number of food-insecure people could Continued on next page IFAD­CGIAR PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHENED Mobilizing science for the poor and catalyz- poverty, and environmental degradation." by joining the CGIAR ing partnerships is the CGIAR's raison As co-sponsor, IFAD will have a greater as a co-sponsor." d'être. In a welcome development, the role in CGIAR governance and enhance the As a specialized CGIAR partnership was further strengthened international character and status of CGIAR agency of the United Nations, IFAD has a when the International Fund for Agricultural operations. IFAD joined the CGIAR as a mem- specific mandate of combating rural hunger Development (IFAD) joined the CGIAR as a ber in 1979 and has since contributed more and poverty in the most disadvantaged co-sponsor. than $100 million to CGIAR research pro- regions of the world. Since 1978 IFAD has " Agricultural research provides the grams. The announcement was made at the financed 584 projects in 114 recipient coun- driving force for rural productivity Annual General Meeting 2001. tries for a total commitment of approxi- increases in developing countries," says Ian " IFAD attaches great importance to in- mately $7.2 billion in loans and grants. Johnson, World Bank Vice President and vestments in agricultural and poverty- Through these projects, more than CGIAR Chairman. " With IFAD coming on related research for development," says 260 million rural people have had a chance board as a co-sponsor, the CGIAR consider- Lennart Båge, President of IFAD. " We have a to move out of poverty on a sustainable ably strengthens the global partnership in long tradition of supporting CGIAR research, basis. the fight against hunger, malnutrition, and we are happy to elevate our partnership PAGE 6 CGIAR NEWS · Rapidly changing structure of EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Continued from page 1 farming Membership of the CGIAR Executive Council · Continuing conflict · Climate change Chairman: Ian Johnson World Bank · Changing roles and responsibili- Co-Sponsors: Jacques Eckebil FAO ties of public and private sectors Robert L. Thompson World Bank Rodney Cooke IFAD "Agricultural policies in developed Center Directors Committee Meryl J. Williams CDC Chair countries greatly influence food securi- Committee of Board Chairs John Vercoe CBC Chair ty in developing countries," Pinstrup- Technical Advisory Committee/ Emil Javier TAC/SC Chair Andersen said. "The playing field is Science Council not level. For example, nonpreferential Global Forum on Agricultural Raj S. Paroda GFAR Chair sugar exports into the European Union Research are subject to a 300 percent tax, OECD/DAC: making it impossible for small farmers Americas Jonathan Conly US to compete." Asia-Pacific Toshinori Mitsunaga Japan Policy actions centered on increas- Europe Gilles Saint-Martin France ing investments in human resources, Ruth Haug Norway access to employment, family plan- Klaus Winkel Denmark ning, infrastructure, good governance, and sound trade policies can make a Developing Countries: difference. Americas Alberto Portugal Brazil "Adopting a business-as-usual Sub-Saharan Africa Bongiwe Njobe South Africa approach is unacceptable given the Asia-Pacific Longyue Zhao China large numbers of hungry and mal- Central West Asia nourished people," Pinstrup-Ander- and North Africa Issam El-Zaim Syria sen said. He called for accelerated Regional fora M.H. Roozitalab actions and appropriate changes in policies and institutions. According to Foundations Robert Herdt Rockefeller Foundation IFPRI estimates, an investment equal Partners: to just 5 percent of total developing- Civil Society Ann Waters-Bayer NGOC Co-Chair country governments' expenditures Private Sector Sam Dryden PSC Chair could reduce the number of malnour- ished children from the current 166 Francisco Reifschneider, CGIAR Director, will serve as Executive Secretary million to 94 million by 2020. The of ExCo, supported by Selçuk Özgediz, CGIAR Management Adviser. question is whether the political will ExCo's first meeting was held on November 2, 2001 (minutes available at exists for assigning these issues the www.cgiar.org/who/wwa_excodocs.html), and the second meeting will be priority they deserve. hosted by ICARDA and the Government of Syria in April 2002. Buoyed by a new ethic--brief, face-to-face meetings or virtual communication based on "new age" modes--ExCo's work will lead to clarity, focus, and speedier decision- More information is available on the making in the CGIAR. IFPRI website, www.ifpri.org. The fol- lowing publications are downloadable: 2020 Global Food Outlook: Trends, Alter- natives, and Choices and Global Food Projections to 2020: Emerging Trends and Alternative Futures. CGIAR NEWS PAGE 7 C G I A R CGIAR Chairman CGIAR-SUPPORTED FUTURE HARVEST CENTERS Ian Johnson · International Center for Tropical · International Food Policy Research Agriculture (CIAT) Institute (IFPRI) CGIAR Director Cali, Colombia Washington, DC, United States Francisco Reifschneider Phone: (57-2) 4450000 Phone: (1-202) 862-5600 www.ciat.cgiar.org www.ifpri.org Cosponsors · Center for International Forestry · International Institute of Tropical Food and Agriculture Organization of Research (CIFOR) Agriculture (IITA) the United Nations Bogor, Indonesia Ibadan, Nigeria International Fund for Agricultural Development Phone: (62-251) 622 622 Phone: (234-2) 2412626 www.cifor.org www.iita.org United Nations Development Programme The World Bank · International Center for the Im- · International Livestock Research provement of Maize and Wheat Institute (ILRI) (CIMMYT) Nairobi, Kenya CGIAR Members Mexico City, Mexico Phone: (254-2) 630743 www.cgiar.org/ilri Countries Phone: (52-5) 804 2004 www.cimmyt.org Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, · International Plant Genetic Canada, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, · International Potato Center (CIP) Resources Institute (IPGRI) Maccarese (Fiumicino) Rome Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Lima, Peru Phone: (51-1) 349-6017 Phone: (39-06) 61181 Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Luxem- www.cipotato.org www.ipgri.org bourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, · International Center for Agricultural · International Rice Research Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Roma- Research In the Dry Areas Institute (IRRI) nia, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Swe- (ICARDA) Los Baños, Philippines den, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Uganda, United Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic Phone: (63-2) 8450563 Phone: (963-21) 2213433 www.irri.org Kingdom, United States of America www.icarda.org · International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) Foundations · The World Fish Center (ICLARM) Penang, Malaysia The Hague, The Netherlands Ford Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Phone: (60-4) 626-1606 Phone: (31-70) 3496100 Rockefeller Foundation www.iclarm.org www.isnar.cgiar.org · International Centre for Research · International Water Management International and Regional Organizations in Agroforestry (ICRAF) Institute (IWMI) African Development Bank, Arab Fund for Eco- Nairobi, Kenya Colombo, Sri Lanka Phone: (94-1) 867404 nomic and Social Development, Asian Development Phone: (254-2) 524000 www.icraf.org www.cgiar.org/iwmi Bank, European Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Inter-American · West Africa Rice Development · International Crops Research Association (WARDA) Development Bank, International Development Re- Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire (ICRISAT) search Centre, International Fund for Agricultural Phone: (225) 31634514 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India www.warda.org Development, OPEC Fund for International Develop- Phone: (91-40) 3296161 ment, United Nations Development Programme, www.icrisat.org United Nations Environment Programme, The World Bank PAGE 8 CGIAR NEWS Printed on Recycled Paper