cgiarNews w w w . c g i a r . o r g N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 5 35689 Nourishing the future through scientific excellence In this Issue How agricultural research is How agricultural research is making a difference: making a difference 1 UN delegates benefit Chairman and Director's Message 2 Announcements 3 from a first hand New Director General of ICARDA 3 account. News from the Centers 4 Destination Marrakech 4 The benefits of agricultural research can Major new project benefits the often seem highly technical, lost in the Altiplano of Peru and Bolivia 5 tedium of hypotheses, varietal trials, data, benefit-cost ratios, and more. But some- Tackling Drought 6 times, listening to people--in this case, a Reinvigorating Agriculture in farmer--helped a rapt audience at the Afghanistan 7 United Nations better understand how From the Science Council Chair 8 agricultural research is improving a fami- Integrating biodiversity ly's well-being and powering its way out conservation and development 9 of poverty. Young People Speak Out 10 Equipping East African Women Meet Pedro Ignacio Lopez, a farmer from San Pablo Huitzo village in Oaxaca, one for Leadership in Science 10 Sr. Pedro Lopez on his farm in San of the poorest parts of Mexico. Married Getting a Handle on High-Value Pablo Huitzo, Oaxaca, Mexico. with three children, Pedro grows maize, black Agricultural Products 11 and white beans in a half-hectare plot. Pedro Meeting of Minds: New program spoke eloquently at a discussion, Agriculture Matters: Role of international commu- attracts talented law students 11 nity in delivering research and technology applications that enhance small farmer Managing Natural Resources incomes and food availability in developing countries, cosponsored by the Group of through the Power of Partnership 12 77, Government of Japan, FAO and the CGIAR. New, Low-Neurotoxin Grass Pea Not daunted by the august audience or the vista of New York's towering skyscrap- Variety Breaks the Fear of ers, Mr. Lopez Ignacio explained how CIMMYT's participatory research helped him Paralysis in Ethiopia 13 to increase maize production. Technological breakthrough to produce disease-resistant "With the new method of maize selection, and the adoption of the maize type chickpea 13 152 introduced by CIMMYT and chosen by the community, I realized I was obtain- Forests and Violent Conflict 14 ing more benefits", explained Mr. Lopez Ignacio. First, the new method of maize In Memoriam -- seed selection allowed him to have standardized crops, at the level of the plant Robert Dale Havener and and the seed. This was very helpful he said because it lets farmers select the maize from the plant itself in a much more organized way instead of selecting it from the John Vercoe 15 Continued on page 12 CGIAR 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 CGIAR Chairman Message from the Chairman Ian Johnson CGIAR Director and Director Francisco Reifschneider CGIAR Members African Development Bank Dear Colleague: Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development Asian Development Bank Australia We are pleased to present the November edition of CGIAR News. An e-version is Austria available at www.cgiar.org. Bangladesh Belgium Brazil As this issue was going to press, plans for the Annual General Meeting 2005 were Canada being finalized. Thanks to enthusiastic support from Hamid Narjisse and his col- China Colombia leagues at INRA-Morocco, and Adel El-Beltagy, Director General, ICARDA and his Commission of the European Community colleagues, we have developed an intellectually stimulating agenda for the meetings Côte d'Ivoire that are being held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Denmark Arab Republic of Egypt This year's AGM'05 will feature the first-ever "Science Forum." Finland Avid CGIAR watchers will recall that this marks the second time that the AGM is Food and Agriculture Organization being held on the African continent, signaling the importance CGIAR attaches to of the United Nations Ford Foundation the Central, West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, and beyond. France Germany Meanwhile, a successful high-level workshop was held in Washington, DC, in Gulf Cooperation Council India September, sponsored by the CGIAR Private Sector Committee to discuss how to Indonesia meet the needs of smallholder producers in developing countries. Eleven CEOs of Inter-American Development Bank agribusiness companies, the President of International Federation of Agricultural International Development Research Centre International Fund for Agricultural Development Producers, senior representatives of The Rockefeller Foundation and Syngenta Islamic Republic of Iran Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, Directors General of eight CGIAR Centers Ireland and Board Chairs of two Centers, among others, attended the meeting. By mid- Israel Italy November, specific proposals for high-potential short-, medium- and long-term proj- Japan ects that are ripe for partnership between the CGIAR and private sector companies Kellogg Foundation will be developed, enabling progress toward more effective long-term partnerships Kenya Republic of Korea that will serve to improve the lives of smallholder producers around the world. Luxembourg Malaysia Mobilizing science for development is the raison d'être of the CGIAR. The success Mexico Morocco stories reported in this issue provide a snapshot of achievements of CGIAR's Netherlands research portfolio. We mourn the passing away of Bob Havener and John Vercoe, New Zealand leaders who demonstrated a life-long commitment to the cause of agricultural Nigeria Norway development. OPEC Fund for International Development Pakistan We look forward to seeing many of you in Marrakech to further strengthen our Peru Philippines partnership. As always, we welcome comments at cgiar@cgiar.org Portugal Rockefeller Foundation Sincerely, Romania Russian Federation South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture Syrian Arab Republic Thailand Ian Johnson Francisco Reifschneider Turkey Chairman Director Uganda United Kingdom United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United States of America World Bank 2 cgiarNews Announcements Welcome to New Board Chairs Joachim von Braun, Director General, was awarded an honorary Lene Lange, CIMMYT, succeeding Alex McCalla. doctorate by the University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Germany Welcome to New Board Members Isher Judge Ahluwalia was named Chairperson of the Board of Majd Jamal and Abdelmajid Slama join ICARDA Board of Governors of the Indian Council for Research on International Trustees. Economic Relations (ICRIER) Domingo Panganiban joins IRRI Board of Trustees. Klaus von Grebmer was elected Chair of the CGIAR Marketing Group effective September 1. Jean-Marcel Ribaut, a Swiss-French national was appointed Director of the CGIAR Generation Challenge Program (GCP) IRRI: effective September 2005. William G. Padolina, Deputy Director General for Partnerships, was selected as the joint winner of the 2005 ASEAN Science Honors: and Technology Meritorious Award ICARDA: Gene Hettel received the 2005 Service Award of the US-based Adel El-Beltagy, Director General, received the Al-Istikal Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, (Independence) Medal from His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences Hussein of Jordan WorldFish Center Ashutosh Sarker, Lentil Breeder, received a plaque of honor The 2005 Tech Museum Award was given to WorldFish Center from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) for its work on GIFT (genetically improved farmed tilapia) tech- nology that applies sound animal breeding and genetics princi- IFPRI: ples to the improvement of tropical food fish, in particular the Ester Mwangi, IFPRI, was co-winner of the American Political Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The award is given by The Science Association Harold D. Laswell Award Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose, California, and five Laureates share the $250,000 cash prize. New Director General of ICARDA Dr Mahmoud Mohamed Bachir El- Genetics from the University of California, Davis, USA. No Solh is the new Director-General stranger to the CGIAR system, Dr. Solh was formerly ICARDA's Designate of ICARDA. Assistant Director General for International Cooperation. His distinguished career includes appointments at the American "It is a great delight and profound University of Beirut (AUB) and the Arid Land Agricultural pleasure for me to announce that Dr Development (ALAD) Program in the Near East, the predecessor Mahmoud Mohamed Bachir El-Solh of ICARDA. will be the next Director General of ICARDA after the departure of Congratulating Dr. Solh on behalf of the CGIAR, Ian Johnson Professor Dr Adel El- Beltagy in May and Francisco Reifschneider said: "We believe this is an exciting 2006," said Margaret Catley-Carlson, time to join the CGIAR System as donor confidence is high and Chair, ICARDA Board of Trustees, the CGIAR Centers are working hard, with measurable impacts, announcing the appointment on October 16, 2005. to promoting sustainable development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals." Dr. Solh, a Lebanese national, is Director of Plant Production and Protection (AGP) Division, FAO, Rome. He has a PhD in For more information, www.icarda.org November 2005 3 News & Views News from the Centers: Creating Tools for Developing Partnerships Our partnerships need constant nurturing and creative develop- ed earlier in this issue) presented the opportunity for private ment to keep them relevant to the challenges of tomorrow. For sector CEOs, Center Directors General and the CGIAR leaders to the Future Harvest Centers of the CGIAR, and other CGIAR discuss and agree upon the common humanitarian interests of bodies, exciting new partnership developments have been at the CGIAR, and provided a platform for potentially greater and the top of the work agenda. Our attention has focused on more effective collaboration. Lessons from the current private three fronts: drafting formal policies for the Alliance of Future sector collaborations could inform a growth of existing collabo- Harvest Centers of the CGIAR; problem-focused and partner- rations and an expansion of the range of partnership modalities ship-driven Medium Term Research Plans for Sub-Saharan and tools, such as generic humanitarian use licences for Africa, and exploring new partnerships for research and product germplasm. Research themes, such as drought-tolerant agricul- delivery with the private sector. ture, could become the basis for working together. The formal description of the modus operandi of the Alliance of We are also pleased to report good progress by partners and Future Harvest Centers is an "Alliance Principles and Centers in Sub Saharan Africa in drafting the East and Southern Procedures" document that focuses on how the Alliance can Africa and West and Central Africa Medium-Term Plans. This strengthen the Centers' contributions to the CGIAR and its major activity is another tool for creating new partnerships and reforms. The Alliance is being developed to institutionalize the new synergies among existing partners. Centers' collaborations, by ensuring greater programmatic inte- gration where appropriate, and developing instruments to We would also like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and measure collaborative performance. We are also working to cre- thank Meryl Williams who served the Alliance for the past 18 ate greater efficiencies using tools such as a conflict resolution months and is retiring on November 4, 2005. Meryl's drive, mechanism. dedication and vision have proved invaluable as the Centers come together to improve upon, and further refine, their collec- At present, the Centers collaborate with the private sector in tive activities and programs. We are pleased to announce that over 40 activities. Some of these are through new CGIAR Geoffrey Hawtin, former Director General of IPGRI, has agreed modalities such as the Challenge Programs and the PSC's to serve as the interim Executive Officer, until the search for the Scientific Know-how and Exchange Program (SKEP). Most are Executive Director is completed. through innovative, highly problem-specific, pro-poor public pri- vate partnerships at the Center level. Discussions at a high level Uzo Mokwunye, Chairman, CBC via the CGIAR and Private Sector Committee workshop (report- Willie D. Dar, Chairman, CDC Destination Marrakech: Mark your calendars! The Government of Morocco, Under the by the official opening in the afternoon High Patronage of His Majesty King with a keynote address by H.E. Driss Mohammed VI, is hosting Annual Jettou, Prime Minister of Morocco. General Meeting 2005 (AGM'05) during December 5­9, 2005 at the Palais des Please mark your calendars--and visit Congrès, Marrakech. www.cgiar.org for latest updates on AGM'05. The meetings begin with Centers and Members Day on December 5, followed 4 cgiarNews The project will benefit poor farmers in the Altiplano Major new project benefits the Altiplano of Peru and Bolivia The Altiplano, a plateau located at 3,635 meters above sea The Altiplano is home to 6 million people, three quarters of level, straddles Bolivia and Peru and is one of the poorest whom live in poverty. Around 55 percent live in extreme pover- regions in the world. Agriculture dominates the local economy. ty, facing problems like low agricultural productivity, natural resource degradation and marginalization. A new project being implemented by CIP, with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and others "This work will help to reach the Millennium Development aims to increase farm productivity in the Altiplano. Main efforts Goals of the United Nations and--among other things--it will will be focused on increasing income through higher agricultur- improve human health through food security and better nutri- al productivity of potatoes, quinoa, oca, alpacas, meat and milk tion," commented Pamela K. Anderson, Director General, CIP. and by adding value through improved processing and market- ing activities. Building on existing CIP work, local women will be CIP and its partners have worked successfully in that area for organized and trained to take part in postharvest activities that the past two decades and obtained impressive results among add value to primary products. Other work will improve child the native communities. nutrition and health through enhanced food availability, dietary diversity and nutritional education. Promoting the use of better "Our objective is to improve the livelihoods of rural communi- agricultural technologies will reduce and reverse degradation of ties in the Peru-Bolivia Altiplano," said Hugo Li Pun, CIP project natural resources. leader. "The project will help to reduce poverty in isolated regions in The project is working initially in 20 communities that represent the Altiplano, improve governance and promote self-sufficiency 700 peasant communities, which in turn host 42,000 farming at the local level." said Geneviève de Rivières, Canadian families. Strong links will be built with local governments and Ambassador to Peru. "As well, it will contribute to environmen- their research and extension systems, NGOs and other develop- tal protection and to the empowerment of women." ment agencies. November 2005 5 Tackling Drought: IRRI Shows the Way Because drought can push millions of selecting the progeny under dry soil screening process to find the most people into poverty, IRRI scientists are conditions. The resulting varieties are drought-tolerant varieties by depriving developing drought-tolerant rice vari- direct-seeded into dry soil in non-flood- water to plants around the flowering eties to help Asian farmers. ed fields and managed like a high-yield- period, and then selecting the best- ing wheat or maize crop. Irrigation is yielding candidates. IRRI has identified Rice breeders at IRRI are developing applied if available and needed, but no many varieties combining high yield new types of aerobic rice that combine standing water is necessary. when conditions are good with the the ability of some traditional but low- ability to yield 2­3 tons per hectare yielding varieties to grow in dry soils IRRI researchers have demonstrated under conditions so dry that many with the fertilizer responsiveness and that some rice varieties (including some popular varieties produce less than 1 yield potential of modern high-yielding hybrids) are more tolerant to temper- ton per hectare. varieties. The first generation of this so- ate stresses than mainstream high- called aerobic rice has been developed yielding irrigated varieties, especially IRRI scientists and collaborators are by crossing irrigated high-yielding vari- during the critical flowering and early studying the genetic basis for this eties with some traditional types, and grain-filling stages. Breeders use a tolerance. Aerobic rice varieties, like these being tested at IRRI, can grow in conditions far too dry for commonly grown modern varieties. 6 cgiarNews Reinvigorating Agriculture in Afghanistan Wheat is the number-one staple crop in Afghanistan, and maize the identification of two--Rampur 9433 and PozaRica 8731-- is the third. Together they occupy 80 percent of the area plant- as promising, and project participants are working to make seed ed to annual crops. A central aim of CIMMYT in Afghanistan is available with the help of local organizations and informal to make improved, high quality seed of both crops available to farmer-to-farmer distribution networks. CIMMYT has conducted farmers, along with appropriate crop management technolo- five capacity-building workshops since 2000. gies. To date, CIMMYT has: · Distributed 300 tons of quality seed of the locally-adapted wheat MH-97 to 9,000 farmers in four provinces of An Afghan farmer holds up an ear of maize, one of Afghanistan CIMMYT's varieties "doing wonders" in Kunduz province. · Produced and delivered tons of breeder's and foundation maize seed · Planted 35 wheat variety trials at 6 sites and 24 maize trials at 8 sites to identify additional materials suited to farmers' needs · Trained Afghan researchers through courses in-country and at CIMMYT in Mexico CIMMYT has collaborated with Afghan researchers for over three decades-even dur- ing the war. Thanks to the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan and the FAO, Afghan researchers maintained contact with the Turkey-CIMMYT-ICARDA International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP) and continued to select the best new wheats from international nurseries. All winter and facultative wheat cultivars currently registered in Afghanistan are derived from those nurs- eries. A new project, "Wheat and Maize Productivity Improvement in Afghanistan," funded by ACIAR and others, has included collaborative work with farmers and non-gov- ernment and international organizations to verify, in farmers' fields, the performance and acceptability of improved wheat and maize varieties. In Parwan Province, for example, the wheat variety 'Sohla,' yielded well and showed superior resistance to diseases like rust. A participatory technology development approach implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation brings farmers to research sta- tions to observe yield trials of promising vari- eties and identify wheat lines for advance- ment and subsequent release. Farmer testing of open-pollinated maize varieties resulted in November 2005 7 From the Science Council Chair Public Goods and the CGIAR We help strengthen national or regional engage in advocacy with national govern- systems. Capacity strengthening is a ments and development assistance agen- Answers to three interrelated questions legitimate activity of the CGIAR. So is cies to have such delivery systems devel- are of critical importance for the future advocacy to get national governments oped, either through publicly funded priorities and activities of the Future and development assistance agencies to national institutions, or international Harvest Centers of the CGIAR. The ques- do it. Doing the research for them is agencies such as FAO, IFAD, World Bank, tions are: What is an "international public usually not. It reduces the incentive for the regional banks, NGOs, or private con- good"? Should the Centers prioritize the the national government to allocate sultancy firms. For delivery systems to be creation of such goods? And, where on funds to a national system and it tends effective, investments are likely to be the research-development continuum to crowd out national researchers, while needed in rural infrastructure such as should the CGIAR supported activities spending CGIAR money that would be roads, markets, credit institutions, exten- be? I will address each of the three in better spent generating research results sion, and water management infrastruc- turn. of use to several countries. Most CGIAR ture. To maximize impact, investments in research would best be done in collabo- primary education and health care may Public goods have two characteristics. ration with national researchers in be needed. We in the CGIAR should do a First, the use of the good by one individ- selected developing countries. It should much better job putting pressure on the ual does not detract from that of another be useful to the country where it is appropriate institutions to get these jobs and second, it is impossible to exclude done, but also to several others. done, rather than pretending that we anybody from using the good. A public Research planning should identify the have to do it all. good is international, if it is of use across pathway from the desired research out- country borders. But across how many put through outcome and impact. The Having been a Center director, I know borders? That is a matter of judgment. I pathways should be plausible, not guar- how difficult it is to say no to a donor, like to use the word "several", meaning anteed. even if the available funds are earmarked more than a few. Imprecise? For sure. The for activities outside the mandate of the Science Council will lead discussions to This brings me to the third question. In CGIAR. In the short run, it may appear further refine the concept. my opinion, the Centers should prioritize more important to expand revenues than research for development, maintaining maximizing impact. So, why not get My answer to the second question is close collaboration with advanced involved in technical assistance to help YES. Why? For two reasons. First, research institutions for more basic with location-specific development activi- research that produces private rather research and with national and interna- ties? The main reason is that it is likely to than public goods, i.e., goods that can tional institutions for adaptation of reduce funding available for research be protected with exclusive property knowledge and technology from interna- either directly by donors or Centers chan- rights, are likely to be produced by the tional research as well as delivery systems. neling money from research with interna- private sector. Second, research results of Facilitating interaction and delivery tional impact to development activities use to many countries may not generate through networks has been effective in a with local or national impact or indirectly enough benefits to any one country to number of cases. Placing the CGIAR in by failing to apply full costing approach- warrant national research. Adding the the middle of the continuum will, I es. Both would result in less international benefits that several countries can obtain believe, contribute to the maximization of public goods and more location-specific justifies international research. Identifying impact per dollar spent, particularly if we activities better done by others. Centers those areas of research that would operate within an innovation systems that wish to do location-specific develop- remove the largest number of people approach, in which each institution is ment activities, would probably do the from poverty but that would not be capitalizing on its comparative advantage. least damage to the mission of the undertaken by the private sector or pub- But what if there is no delivery system? CGIAR if they create financially independ- licly funded national systems, is the most Then the research results from CGIAR ent, wholly owned consulting arms important part of setting priorities within research will rot on the shelf. Rather than through which research results could be the CGIAR. giving in to the temptation to develop made available. But then, why not enter delivery systems for particular communi- into agreements with private consulting But what do we do in countries where ties or countries, a temptation that is par- firms instead? the publicly funded agricultural research ticularly strong if donors are ready with system is absent or in very poor shape? money, I believe the Centers should Per Pinstrup-Andersen 8 cgiarNews Integrating biodiversity conservation and development The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) is forests of Africa, Southeast Asia and The two organizations bring unique com- joining hands with Conservation Latin America. Russel Mittermeier, petencies to the task. ICRAF's experience International (CI) to promote conservation President, Conservation International in changing landscapes and livelihoods in the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots, Foundation, signed a memorandum of through agroforestry, and CI's experience areas with the greatest diversity of wild understanding launching the partner- in science-based biodiversity conservation animal and plant species that are threat- ship. will help protect biodiversity hotspots. ened by human activities. Agroforestry is a viable means of averting Although biodiversity hotspots cover threats to biodiversity because it enables "Our partnership offers a unique blend of about 2.3 percent of the earth's surface, farmers to benefit from, and raise trees, scientific competency and credibility," each square kilometer of land supports a thus preserving biodiversity in rural land- said Dennis Garrity, Director General, big diversity of animal and plant species scapes. World Agroforestry Centre. "This will and provides as many as 300 people with help integrate the twin objectives of con- shelter and livelihoods. But owing to For more information, www.worldagro- servation and development." The two unsustainable utilization, each of the forestrycentre.org organizations are exploring opportuni- hotspots has lost at least 70 percent of its ties for joint activities in the tropical original natural vegetation. Agroforestry helps poor farmers to increase incomes while protecting biodiversity. November 2005 9 Young People Speak Out: Advocate Science-Based Solutions "Poor people with HIV/AIDS across Africa, including Malawi, are explained how a joint project between World Vision and looking for ways to improve their livelihoods, through better WorldFish Center was teaching female-headed households in work opportunities that will integrate them into society" said AIDS-stricken Malawi to produce their own fish, thereby helping Madalitso Magombo, a young aquaculturalist from WorldFish improve nutrition and generating much-needed income. In addi- Center, kicking off a roundtable discussion "Developing Creative tion to Madalitso Magombo, three other youth practitioners Approaches to Fight HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa" held during from Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe also presented their work. the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meet- ings in September. "The roundtable was a once in a lifetime opportunity for youth leaders to have a frank dialogue with their Ministers on the key The audience included Zimbabwe's Finance Minister, Hon. development challenges facing their countries" said Phil Hay, Herbert Murerwa; Zambia's Finance Minister, Hon. Ngandu Roundtable Moderator and Communications Advisor with the Magande, Malawi's Finance and Economic Planning Minister, World Bank's Human Development Network. Hon. Goodall Gondwe, and Frannie Leautier, World Bank Vice- President, among others. The joint World Vision-WorldFish Center project converts agri- cultural waste into high quality fish protein while reducing Africa is the region worst affected by HIV/AIDS, with 70 percent ecosystem pollution. Community training facilities provide par- of the world's 42 million infected people. In Malawi alone, ticipatory advisory services on aquaculture and HIV/AIDS pre- more than 15 percent of adults have HIV/AIDS and the disease vention and mitigation issues, and government extension work- has already left close to 400,000 orphans. For poor people, ers supervise farmers after the training to ensure project sus- aquaculture and fish farming represents a more accessible and tainability. often cheaper alternative to beef, providing essential proteins, minerals and vitamins, in addition to higher incomes. Each of the youth practitioners was a winner of the 2005 World Bank's Country-level Development Marketplace Award, a com- The roundtable was organized to engage youth practitioners in petitive grant program that directly supports innovative, bot- fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa. In her presentation, Ms. Magombo tom-up development ideas that deliver results. Equipping East African Women for Leadership in Science Eleven new awards were given in August to women crop scien- female leaders in agricultural science for East Africa," said Peter tists working in national research institutes and universities in Matlon, Director of The Rockefeller Foundation's Africa Regional Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda by the CGIAR Gender and Program. "Congratulations to this year's winners, and to G&D Diversity (G&D) Program. for launching an innovative program." "The fellowships support professional growth in scientific "Smallholder farmers are my main concern" exults Rose Mongi, expertise and people management, facilitating development of an awardee, and plant breeder from Tanzania. "One of my female science leaders and strengthening their institutions," interests is to work on the so-called orphan crops that are gen- said Vicki Wilde, Program Leader, G&D. "It is a holistic program erally neglected in the international scenario." that allows fellows to interact closely with senior CGIAR scien- tists for mutual benefit." The CGIAR Gender and Diversity Program is supported by The Rockefeller Foundation. A recent report, "Strangers in a Strange The innovative award program provides each awardee with a Land': A Literature Review of Women in Science," revealed that 2-year fellowship that includes two-way mentoring (first as a although the number of women in science worldwide has dra- mentee, then as a mentor), funds to present research at two matically increased, research consistently documents a 'chilly cli- major scientific conferences, support for participation in team and mate' for women scientists. The research also confirms the leadership skills, and greater access to professional networks. 'leaky pipeline' syndrome where many women drop out of sci- ence as they move up the ladder. "The fellowships are designed to support professional growth, and help ensure continued development and advancement of For more information, www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org 10 cgiarNews Getting a Handle on High-Value Agricultural Products On a hot afternoon at San Dionisio in how poor farmers, especially neglected products are quick to acknowledge that Nicaragua's Matagalpa Province, farmer groups such as rural women, can benefit enabling small farmers to avail new mar- leader Manuel Moreno describes how he from growing markets for these prod- ket opportunities is not easy and entails has radically changed the way he markets ucts. Convened by the CGIAR Science risks. While enjoying some advantages, agricultural produce. Before, his main Council and Global Forum on such as the limited economies of scale in questions were, "Where can I sell my Agricultural Research, the workshop was markets for HVPs, small farmers face sig- maize, and how much can I get for it?" organized in collaboration with CIAT, nificant challenges, including the need to Now, he asks, "What does the market IPGRI, the World Vegetable Center better organize themselves, acquire new want that our farmers association can (AVRDC) and the International knowledge and skills, and gain access to provide at a profit?" Federation of Agricultural Producers business support services. (IFAP). A group of about 40 specialists met The workshop helped participants to recently to help the CGIAR and its part- The meeting was an important joint ini- reach a shared understanding of what ners provide stronger and more coordi- tiative following the Science Council's call HVPs are, review strategies used in differ- nated support for Don Manuel and for a major expansion of CGIAR research ent regions for linking smallholders to many farmers like him, who are eager to beyond its traditional focus on staple HVP markets, identify high-priority issues seize new market opportunities. commodities as well as further strength- for a shared research agenda, and begin Gathering at CIAT in October, experts on ening of the Centers' work on fish, live- creating informal networks and alliances all aspects of high-value agricultural stock, and forest products. for addressing key themes. Overall, the products (HVPs)-- from production and workshop helped establish solid frame- post-harvest handling, to processing and Specialists in HVPs which include fruits, work for moving forward with realistic marketing--examined the question of flowers, and vegetables, and livestock actions. Meeting of Minds: New program attracts talented law students An innovative program is interns bring fresh perspectives that bringing law students to are proving valuable for the work on intellectual property CGIAR's mission of mobilizing sci- issues at CGIAR Centers. Led ence within a public goods frame- by the Central Advisory work." Service on Intellectual Property (CAS-IP), the pro- Interns usually spend the first week gram is off to an excellent at the CAS-IP office which has a start. Five students enrolled home at IPGRI, followed by an in the LLM program of St. extended stay at a CGIAR Center Edmund's College, University of their choice. Work products of Cambridge, have com- include revisions and drafting of pleted internships at CIAT, policy statements on intellectual CIFOR, CIP, IPGRI and the property, reviewing contracts and World Agroforestry Centre. implementation guides on IP policy, and drafting data-sharing agree- "We are keen to attract top ments. The program is expected to Left to right: notch talent to work on the tough expand, ultimately placing a maxi- Darryl Martin (ICRAF 2005 intern), Kay issues of intellectual property mum of three interns at each Chapman (CAS program assistant), Nina Lyons (CAS/IPGRI 2005 intern), and Sue Anne Teo rights," said Victoria Henson- Center. (CIP 2005 intern). Apollonio, Head, CAS-IP. "The November 2005 11 Managing Natural Resources through the Power of Partnership Following the Rio Earth Summit, in 1994, outcome of a complex web of factors that the CGIAR established the Alternatives to influence the landscape mosaics where Slash and Burn (ASB) Systemwide environmental problems and poverty coin- Program - an initiative that is now a glob- cide at the margins of the world's remain- al consortium of over 80 national and ing tropical forests. Research leading to a international research institutes, NGOs, better understanding of natural resource universities, private and community management dynamics in these areas is organizations, and farmers' groups. crucial if policymakers are to introduce effective measures that curb deforestation Developing alternatives to Recently, the ASP Program was reviewed and reduce poverty. destructive farming practices such as by an eminent panel of scientists, and the slash-and-burn is essential for findings were presented to the CGIAR Members of the Review Panel also environmental sustainability. Executive Council in October. observed that "Independent research at these sites would have been valuable, but disciplinary research needed to inform "ASB's systematic, pan-tropical approach in the end could only have added incre- such policy decisions in the humid trop- of implementing common research proto- mentally to the mass of non-comparable ics, ASB operates on the leading edge of cols across a strategically selected range NRM case studies." In the Panel's view, local, regional and global iintegrated nat- of benchmark sites is cited as a standard what makes ASB unusually effective as a ural resource management research for how productive international collabo- research program is that it developed (iNRM). The partnership has led to semi- ration on natural resource management standardized methods and research ques- nal contributions to iNRM research (NRM) challenges should be organized" tions that have been applied at all sites, methodology and capacity building, as said William Clark of Harvard University's thereby generating data and knowledge well as significant and measurable Belfer Center for Science and International that can be compared across sites, and impacts on the ground. As a result, ASB Affairs who led the review panel. indeed, across the tropics. has become a driving force for articulat- ing a more complex, realistic and inte- ASB partners recognize that deforestation As the only global partnership devoted grated view of human-environment inter- has no single cause, but rather it is the entirely to the kind of integrated, multi- actions in tropical forests. How agricultural research is making a difference (continued) barn. The advantage of this technique is Blake (Jamaica) for the Group of 77 briefed participants about their Centers' the ability to select not only the best countries, Mr. Shiro Sadoshima, Deputy work. quality of maize, but also the size of the Director-General, Economic Cooperation maize plant. Having uniform crops Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, A new publication entitled "Agricultural increases the yield, which in turn can be Japan, and Ian Johnson, CGIAR Research Matters: Achieving the sold in higher quantities, and thus Chairman. Other high-level speakers Millennium Development Goals" created increasing farmer incomes and liveli- included Pakistan's Minister for Science especially for the event provided specific hoods. Thanks to the new variety of and Technology, Mr. Atta ur Rehman; examples of the direct link between the maize, and new storage and harvesting the Director of Kenya's Agricultural results of Centers' research and each of techniques, he was able to harvest 3 Research Institute, Mr. Romano Kiome, the eight MDGs. Participants enjoyed a tons per ha of maize, and 0.7 tons per and FAO's Deputy Director General Mr. "taste of the future," a light meal of hectare of beans, almost doubling his David Harcharik. A paper from IFAD CGIAR research commodities such as cas- harvest, and generating extra income for President Mr. Lennart Bage was tabled, sava, maize, New Rices for Africa his children's schooling. as he could not attend the event. (NERICAs), and tilapia fish. Directors General Joachim von Braun Speakers at the event included the co- (IFPRI), William Dar (ICRISAT), and Emile For more information on the MDGs, hosts represented by Ambassador Byron Frison (IPGRI) attended the event and www.un.org/millenniumgoals 12 cgiarNews New, Low-Neurotoxin Grass Pea Variety Breaks the Fear of Paralysis in Ethiopia Left: ICARDA and Ethiopian researchers discuss the benefits of growing low-neuro-toxin grass pea varieties with Ethiopian farmers. Right: 'Wasie' growing in a field in Ethiopia A new variety of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) dubbed 'Wasie' was recently released by the Ethiopian Agricultural Research tasty and rich in protein, consumption of grass pea as the pre- Organization (EARO). The new variety was derived from grass dominant dietary component for prolonged periods can cause pea germplasm that was supplied to Ethiopia by ICARDA in neurolathyrism, an irreversible paralysis of the lower limbs due to 1999/2000. the presence of neurotoxins in the seeds. "The new variety has broken the fear of paralysis among 'Wasie' yields 1.67 tons per hectare without any inputs, is mod- Ethiopians," commented Ali Abd El-Moneim, a senior forage erately resistant to powdery mildew disease, and matures earlier breeder at ICARDA. than local varieties. The variety's low neurotoxin content (0.08%), compared with 0.4% in the local comparator, will help Grass pea is a popular food and feed crop in Bangladesh, China, reduce the number of lathyrism cases in Ethiopia where grass Ethiopia, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Since it is resistant to pea area has increased from 50, 000 hectares to 110,000 drought, water-logging (floods) and moderate salinity, and can hectares in recent years. The variety is recommended for cultiva- grow with little external input, it is often the only food source tion in mid- to high-altitude areas (1700-2800 meters above sea for poor people in periods of drought. Although its seeds are level). Technological breakthrough to produce disease-resistant chickpea ICRISAT scientists have recently succeeded in obtaining healthy C. echinospermum, none hybrids of chickpea--the world's third most important food of the remaining 41 wild legume--by crossing a cultivated variety, Cicer arietinum, with species are crossable with the wild species Cicer bijugum. The technique involving embryo cultivated chickpea due to rescue and tissue culture methods has the potential for improv- hybridization barriers. ing disease resistance thereby boosting chickpea yields. The breakthrough is in developing chickpea hybrids by crossing culti- With the development of vated varieties with wild species, an achievement that had so far embryo rescue and tissue proved elusive. culture techniques for chickpea, it was possible to Chickpea holds tremendous "This breakthrough can result in the cultivation of improved cross C. arietinum with C. potential for poor farmers of the chickpea," said William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT. bijugum and obtain healthy semi-arid tropics. "Thanks to this effort, poor and marginal farmers of the semi- hybrids. Green hybrid plants arid tropics stand to benefit." were produced between cultivated chickpea and the wild species C. bijugum, for the first time at ICRISAT, marking a Chickpea rests on a narrow genetic base because of its single breakthrough in this research. domestication and its self-pollinating nature. One of the best and proven means to broaden the genetic base of the crop, and also C. bijugum used in the crossing program has many desirable to introduce newer sources of resistance to various biotic and characters such as resistance to Ascochyta blight, botrytis grey abiotic constraints, is to create interspecific hybrids of the plant, mold and Helicoverpa--the menacing pod borer. Crossing the and by utilizing the wild species of chickpea for the purpose. cultivated and wild chickpea varieties is expected to produce a hardy plant that will better withstand harsh weather and pest Chickpea, however, is not easily given to hybridization. Except attacks that are the bane of poor farmers in the semi-arid for two closely related wild species, namely C. reticulatum and tropics. November 2005 13 Forests and Violent Conflict: CIFOR research shows how forest-related conflicts can be averted Better management of the world's forests can reduce conflict Local discontent over forest issues has also been a factor in past and avoid war is the principal message of a chapter by David conflicts in Myanmar and Nicaragua. Sometimes forests also Kaimowitz, Director General, CIFOR, published in FAO's flagship help prolong war. For example, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia State of the World's Forests 2005 report. was heavily dependent on timber sales. In Colombia's forests, cultivating cocaine has helped fund anti-government militias. The report, part of an annual series, examines a number of key forest issues, including the current condition of the world's for- Kaimowitz says that while forest-related conflict is almost est resources, offering solutions for conservation and sustain- always terrible for people, sometimes it can be good for the able use of forest resources. environment. Over the last 20 years forested areas have been a staging "No one is saying 'Let's start a war so we can save the forest'. ground for wars in some two dozen countries that are home to But forests may fare better during war than during peace. For over 40 percent of the world's tropical forests. Just a few of example, the presence of land mines or the risk of being kid- these include the Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, napped will discourage logging and other forest-depleting activ- India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Uganda. Understanding ities," Kaimowitz says. Ironically, the arrival of peace can be the links between forests and conflict is important in addressing destructive for forests. Post-war economic recovery initiatives global poverty, especially since millions of the world's rural poor can lead to excessive logging and the resettlement of demobi- are adversely affected by violence and wars related to forest lized soldiers and refugees who are likely to take up unsustain- resources. able farming practices. The research recommends investing heavily in forested areas during post-conflict periods to prevent According to Kaimowitz, governments can reduce forest-related renewed fighting and help protect the forest itself. conflict by involving local ethnic groups in the political system, providing them with basic services and recognizing their rights The link between the environment and violence is attracting over forest resources. Internationally, policies to prevent forest- increasing attention worldwide. When the 2004 Nobel Peace related conflict could include sanctions that block armed groups Prize was awarded to Wangari Maathai for her work with the from using timber exports to finance their operations. "Green Belt Movement," it heightened international awareness of how deforestation contributes to instability in Africa. Research shows that the role of forests varies from war to war. In Mindanao, Philippines, separatist movements successfully "State of the World's Forests 2005" is available at tapped into the political disenfranchisement of forest dwellers. www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp 14 cgiarNews In Memoriam Robert Dale Havener (1930­2005) my many memories of Bob was the eminent international agricultural touching way he and Liz Havener research administrator and a long- led the IRRI staff in a tribute to Dr standing member and supporter of the Senadhira, a renowned IRRI rice CGIAR passed away on August 3, 2005 breeder tragically killed in a road in Sacramento, California, after a accident when on the job in valiant battle with cancer. Bob leaves Bangladesh in 1998. At the func- behind a solid legacy, and many close tion, the esteem and affection of friends, associates, and admirers within the staff for their beloved colleague the extended CGIAR family. Through and boss was openly expressed. dedicated public service and a life-long Although Bob was just 'holding the commitment, Bob had a major impact fort' at IRRI between DG's appoint- on the lives of millions of small scale ments, he and Liz quickly became farmers who were the motivation for part of the social fabric of this Robert Dale Havener his life's work. important Center development issues," said Uwe Tributes have poured in from far and In a note of condolence, Ian Johnson, Werblow, Chairman, ILRI Board of wide, mourning Bob's passing away, CGIAR Chairman, and Francisco Trustees. "He was a good friend as well including: Reifschneider, CGIAR Director noted that as an inspired leader." Bob Havener's association with interna- · Margaret Catley-Carlson, Chair, ICAR- tional agricultural research spanned John Vercoe's distinguished record of DA Board of Trustees: Bob was truly a some 50 years. He was "fully committed public service included appointments with giant among us ... he was as adept in to the well-being of all whose lives CSIRO, Rockhampton, Australia, including the corner office as in the cereal field. could be improved by the benefits of Director of the Tropical Beef Centre, He was called on to lead great organi- agricultural science" they said. Rockhampton. He held consulting zations, to rescue others, to manage appointments with ACIAR, Queensland and to govern ... To say that he will A short account of Bob Havener's remark- Fisheries Service, Meat and Livestock be missed is an understatement. To able career can be found on the family Australia, and since 1996, served as know that he will be long remem- website, www.roberthavener.com Crawford Fund Queensland Coordinator. bered is a reflection of the quality and qualities of this remarkable man His enthusiasm, good humor and dedi- · Adel El-Beltagy, Director General, John Vercoe (1936­2005), former cation to agricultural research will be ICARDA: Bob was not only one of the Chairman, ILRI Board of Trustees and for- sorely missed. founding fathers of ICARDA, but also mer Chairman of the CGIAR Committee one who guided its development into of Board Chairs passed away on a 'Center of Excellence' to serve the September 28, 2005, while undergoing complex problems of agriculture in heart surgery in Brisbane, Australia. the world's dry areas John Vercoe nurtured the formation · Mohamed Nour, former Director of ILRI and helped shape the interna- General, ICARDA: Bob's name will tional livestock research agenda. He forever be marked in the annals of guided the consolidation of the ICARDA's history as one of its bright- CGIAR International Livestock Centre est beacons. He was a man with a for Africa (ILCA) and International noble heart Laboratory for Research on Animal · Ismail Serageldin, former CGIAR Diseases (ILRAD) that led to the for- Chairman: Bob was a man for all mation of ILRI in 1995. [CGIAR] Centers · Meryl Williams, former Director "John has left a strong imprint on General, WorldFish Center: Among ILRI and international livestock-for- John Vercoe November 2005 15 cgiarNews Editor Sarwat Hussain e s.hussain@cgiar.org Editorial coordination M. Caryl Jones-Swahn e m.jonesswahn@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 Future Harvest Centers of the CGIAR Africa Rice Center (WARDA) International Center for Agricultural International Plant Genetic Resources www.warda.org Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) Institute (IPGRI) www.icarda.org www.ipgri.org International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) International Crops Research Institute for International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) www.ciat.cgiar.org the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) www.irri.org www.icrisat.org Center for International Forestry Research International Water Management Institute (CIFOR) International Food Policy Research Institute (IWMI) www.cifor.org (IFPRI) www.iwmi.cgiar.org www.ifpri.org International Maize and Wheat World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Improvement Center (CIMMYT) International Institute of Tropical www.worldagroforestrycentre.org www.cimmyt.org Agriculture (IITA) WorldFish Center www.iita.org International Potato Center (CIP) www.worldfishcenter.org www.cipotato.org International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) www.ilri.org 16 cgiarNews