_~~~~~~~~~~ I VOLUME 4, NUMBER 2 April 1997 Phenomenal Increase West Asia and North Africa: in Maize Production A Regional Vision in West and Central Africca by Adel El-Beltagy A phenomenal increase in maize pro- Upon invitation of the Egyptian government, the CGIAR will hold its Mid-Term Meeting duction has occurred in West and Cen- 1997 (MTM97) from May 26 - 30 in Cairo. It will coincide with the inauguration of the new tral Africa in recent years. It is the result ICLARM facilities at Abassa, Egypt, and the 20th anniversary of ICARDA based in Aleppo, of the introduction of high-yielding, Syria. The CGIAR meeting will be hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclama- drought-tolerant, early, and extra-early tion in association with the Agricultural Research Center (ARC). In this context, CGIAR maturing varieties coupled with the News is pleased to present this overview of regional aspects of agricultural development, by combined activities of a collaborative Adel El-Beltagy, Director General, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry network of scientists in the region. The Areas (ICARDA). introduced varieties have a yield poten- The West Asia North Africa (WANA) or irrigation. Methods for more effi- tial of 5 tons per hectare, and are ready region, with Morocco in the west, Paki- cient and sustainable use of these lim- for harvest as green maize (eaten boiled stan and Afghanistan in the east, Turkey ited resources must be found. or roasted) in 60 days, or as dry grains in the north, and Ethiopia and Sudan in Poverty, Agricultural in only 75 to 80 days. Ordinarily, the the south, is characterized by high popu- Poy, a nd Migrat maize crop matures in about 120 days. lation growth, low and erratic rainfall, Employment and Migraton The average annual growth rate of limited arable land, and severely limited Poverty in many WANA countries is maize production in the region for the water resources. There are very few pos- masked by averaging the poor with the period 1983-1992 was 4.1 percent. sibilities for expansion of farming areas Continued on page 12 The comparable figure for Eastern and Southern Africa for the same pe- riod was 0.9 percent, or less than a . fourth of the growth rate in West and -- Central Africa. Some countries re- - corded extremely high annual growth : - t -i rates: Burkina Faso (17.1 percent), . Ghana (8.3 percent), Guinea (7.6 percent), and Mali (7.5 percent). , . -- The land area devoted to maize I:, _ - , -e production has also increased signifi- . cantly (an average of 2.7 percent per .. year for the region). Much higher - . expansion rates were reported for sev- eral countries: Guinea (9.4 percent), g lth7-|- 8 Continued on page 14 -- (ICARDA) EDITORIAL How Efficient Are Modern Cereal Cultivars? Modern cereal varieties, as is well known, are more productive and exhibit greater yield stability than earlier varieties and landraces. Since the cultivation of modern varieties is usually combined with the application of mineral fertilizers it is legitimate to ask how much of the increased productivity is due to higher fertilizer inputs. When plant breeders showcase yield increases achieved by their recent releases over older materials, they often fail to mention the respective levels of fertilizer applied. Conversely., when fertilizer experts show the correlation between cereal yields and fertilizer input over time, they often fail to indicate which cereal varieties their time series relates to. When environmental activists discuss the historic Green Revolution and related phenomena, they occasionally criticize the al- leged fertilizer dependence of modern varieties as proof that a mere conversion of precious fossil energy to food (or feed) calories is taking place, suggesting some sort of an environmental zero sum game. CIMMYT has recently published interesting data on the relationship of land and fertilizer input in the production function of old and modern wheat varieties (Fig. 1). Varieties typical of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s were compared to show how their respective yields changed In this issue... with variations in land and fertilizer inputs. To show the changes in the efficiency of input utilization CIMMYT chose a produc- Phenomenal Increase in Maize tion function which takes output as fixed; in the case of Fig. 1 five tons of wheat. The Production in West and functions show which combinations of area and fertilizer are needed to produce 5 tons Central Africa .............. l of wheat with the respective cultivar. West Asia and North Africa: The comparison is illuminating. It indicates that the traditional tall wheat of the 1950s A Regional Vision ..........1 needed 2.5 hectares of land in the absence of fertilizer to produce the 5 tons of wheat whereas the 1980s semidwarf wheats needed only 1.5 hectares, also without fertilizer. How Efficient Are Modern It is hence not true-as sometimes claimed-that modern wheats cannot perform Cereal Cultivars? ..........2 well in the absence of fertilizer. Even without this input they are more productive than China Will Remain the old tall varieties. In addition, they are also more productive than earlier "Green a Grain Importer .......... 3 Revolution" semidwarf wheats. Decade after decade, CIMMYT wheats use less land and less fertilizer to produce the same level of output. Announcements .......... 4 CIMMYT's data also show, for instance, that producing 5 tons of wheat on 1 hectare The International Year Continued on page 3 of the Reef ......5 Saving The Genes of Our land (ha) Figure 1. Future Food ..............6 2.50 Triticale: A Reappraisal .......7 Sustainable Crop X1950 Protection .....8 2.00 The World Water And Climate Atlas For Agriculture .......... 16 1.50..7....--____- Past & Upcoming ......... 19 1.00 Issued by the CGIAR Secretariat, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20433, USA. Telephone: (1-202) 473-8913. 0.50 Fax: (1-202) 473-8110. Visit the CGIAR Hoinepage oni the Internet at: http://www.cgiar.org. 0.00 ON 75N 15ON 300N CG,IA Fertilizer input kg/ha 2 (Continued from page 2) China Will Remain Modern Cereal Cultivars A Grain Importer of land was impossible with the 1950s each kg of fertilizer input at the mod- China is not expected to produce varieties, no matter how much fertil- erate application level of 75 kg of ni- enough grain to meet its own needs in the izer was applied. With the 1960s culti- trogen fertilizer/hectare. coming decades, according to "China's vars 11 Okg of fertilizer was needed to These results contradict conven- Food Economy to the Twenty-First Cen- obtain 5 tons of wheat; with the 1970s tional wisdom that modern semid- tury: Supply, Demand, andTrade," recently varieties the fertilizer requirement had warf cultivars require more nitrogen released by IFPRI as 2020 Vision for Food, slightly dropped to 100kg while the fertilizer than older cultivars. Agriculture,andtheEnvironmentDiscus- 1980s varieties met the output target CIMMYT's experience with wheat is sion Paper 19. Although the country will with only 70 kg of fertilizer input, al- certainly not unique. Similar progress likely remain a large grain importer, its ways on 1 hectare of land. Certainly no in nutrient conversion efficiency has imports will probably not be large enough zero sum game. been achieved in other grains such as to deplete world markets and starve other The superior performance of mod- rice and maize. But higher efficiency countries, say authors Jikun Huang, Scott ern varieties also shows up quite strik- in nutrient conversion is only one Rozelle, and Mark W Rosegrant. ingly when looking at the production among several goals of cereal im- Projections of China's grain situation in functions at the 1.5 hectare point. To provement work. Other important other recent studies vary wildly. While produce 5 tons of wheat on an area of crop research obj ectives include con- some predict that China will import mas- 1.5 hectares, the tall varieties needed servation of genetic resources; water sive quantities, exhausting world supplies some 75 kilograms of fertilizer per use efficiency; enhancing yield stabil- and driving up prices, others believe that hectare; the 1960s and 1970s semid- ity in terms of improved tolerance of China will become a grain exporter. warfs required about 30 kilograms of biotic and abiotic stresses; improved Huang, Rozelle, and Rosegrant use an in- fertilizer whereas the 1980s varieties palatability, as well as better milling, tegrated model of supply of and demand needed no fertilizer at all. baking and cooking qualities. for grain through the year 2020 and care- Fig. 2 shows how the nitrogen/grain When looking at modern crop re- fully account for structural changes now conversion ratio of CIMMYT culti- search it is important to realize that taking place in China. They show that vars developed over time. With 300 the creativity of scientists is the only China is likely to rely on world markets to kg of nitrogen fertilizer input per non-finite resource in the production meet a small portion of domestic demand hectare, the 1950 variety (Yaqui 50) equation. Raising the efficiency of for grain but will require significantly less yielded 10 kg of wheat for 1 kg of fer- crop production by improving plants projects that China will need to buy 24 tilizer. At the same input level, the and fertilizer management is arguably million metric tons of grain from abroad 1985 variety (Opata 85) yielded more the best way of protecting natural by 200abu 25 perent hihe tan than double, i.e. 21 kg of grain for I resources such as land and fossil en- iy 2000-about 25 percent higher than kg of fertilizer. The highest fertilizer ergy reserves, while contributing to its hestoric high-but that imports will conversion efficiency was attained by the food supplies needed by a grow- then stabichze. the 1981 variety (Genaro 81) which ing planetary population. Several factors winl help keep China's yielded a stunning 70 kg of wheat for grain Imports from rising too high. First, China's leaders are concerned with main- taining near self-sufficiency in agricultural Figure 2. Nitrogen Use Efficiency production. Second, huge imports would kg wheat/kg N raise prices, reducing China's ability to buy 70 more grain. Third, fluctuations in foreign 60 * * * * f kg N/ha currency markets could make imported * 75 N grain less affordable for China. Fourth, 50 150 N there is a limit on how much imported 4 300 N grain could be moved through China's 40 ports and transportation systems. 30 | = n L | | j E | | | § | X In the end, the study shows, China's grain balances will depend on actions taken 20 by the country's leaders with regard to population growth and investment in ag- 10 | | | L L L | | | | L L L L | L Lriculture and other facilities and 0 institutions. (IPRI) 1950 1960 1962 1966 1970 1973 1979 1981 1985 CGIAR 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS X * CIFOR has a new chair of its Board * A Change Management Team has the Near East and North Africa, Mr. of Trustees: Gillian Shepherd, Re- been set up by the ICRISAT Board Ali Shafic Shehadeh of Syria, replac- search Fellow, Forestry Research to carry out important tasks related ing the Czech Republic and Iran Programme, U.K. Overseas Devel- to the management transition and all respectively. opment Institute. She succeeded Bo other institute matters. The eight- Bengtsson in February 1997. member team led by Director Gen- * Ismail Serageldin, CGIAR Chairman eral James G. Ryan will function un- and World Bank Vice President for •7FPRI's new chair of the Boad is 1til a new Director General assumes Environmentally Sustainable Devel- Martin Pifieiro. He replaced David charge. opment, received an award of an hon- Bell in March 1997. orary doctorate for his vision of based * New chair of the IIMI Board of * Kurt J. Peters, Professor and Director endeavors to release the world's dis- Trustees is Zafar Altaf, Secretary, of the Institute of Applied Animal advantaged from the demeaning grip Pakistan Ministry of Food, Agricul- Sciences and Tropical Aquaculture, of poverty. In the presence of the ture and Livestock. He succeeded Humboldt University Berlin, is the Union Minister of Agriculture, Shri Leslie D. Swindale in January 1997. new chair of the ICLARM Board. He Chaturanan Mishra, Mr. Serageldin replaced John Dillon who is now r * ISNAR's new chair of the Board of vice-chair. received the degree from the Post Trustees is Amir Muhammed, chair- Graduate School of the Indian Agricul- man of the Agriculture and Water * John Dillon was made an Officer in tural Research Institute, New Delhi. Committee for Pakistan's 8th Five- the General Division of the Order of Year Plan. He replaced Charles Ed- Australia for his service to tertiary * PerPinstrup-Andersen, IFPRI Direc- ward Hess in December 1996. education, particularly in the field of tor General, received an honorary agricultural economics and interna- doctorate from the Swiss Federal In- * New chair of the ICRISAT Board tional development economics. John stitute of Technology for his contri- of Trustees is R.S. Paroda, Director Dillon is Professor emeritus of the butions to research in nutrition eco- General of the Indian Council of Ag- Department of Agricultural and Re- nomics and his leadership in efforts ricultural Research (ICAR) and Sec- source Economics, University of New to achieve worldwide food security, retary, Department of Agricultural England. especially in the poorest nations. Research and Education (DARE). The CGIAR welcomes two new re- A CD-ROM containing spatial data He replaced H. J. von Maydell in gional representives. For Europe, Pro- on Tropical Moist Forests and Pro- February 1997. fessor Jure Pohar of Slovenia, and for tected Areas is available from the IUCN Publications Ser- r c.- - -- -~- -- ~- ~ ~ _ vices Unit (Fax: 44-1223- 277175).The CD provides L. ____________________ GIA users with the capa- bility to carry out analyses -*" 3using either the forests or the protected areas data sets, or both. It was com- piled by the World Conser- vation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) and CIFOR and contains the original GIS v - data from which the maps of the Conservation Atlas ~~ i~~r~~ j~~~ __7 of Tropical Forests have I 7:;, ^i ' jbeen produced. -- I : 9 w_ "PR>. - zi ,* The CGIAR Secre- - c a 9 )| . ;El;|\ 13tariat has issued a booklet * >Rsf j- ;,} >xZ v- * ! "The CGIAR at Twenty- Five: Into the Future" con- taining policy statements by Chairman Ismail Serageldin delivered at In- -. _. . _. . . - . . ternational Centers Week - Presentation of the IIMI Water and Climate Atlas (page 16) to Washington-based media (World Bank photo) 1996. 4 40CGIAR196 NEWS The International Year of the Reef The year 1997 is designated the Inter- fisheries need to be managed at the eco- remote Arnavon group are document- national Year of the Reef (IYOR) world- system level. The program has devel- ing the rate of recovery of stocks of wide by a group of non-governmental oped numerous methods for assessing giant clams, pearl oysters and sea cu- organizations and institutions. This ef- the status of multi-species fisheries, cumbers which have been devastated fort was endorsed by the International which are epitomized by those on coral by overexploitation. In Jamaica and the Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), an interna- reefs, and good progress has been British Virgin Islands, the projects are tional partnership of 75 nations seeking achieved in modeling the exploited investigating comparative rates of re- to implement Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, communities, using a program called plenishment of exploited coral reef fish the Action Program adopted by the ECOPATH II. stocks, the stocks in British Virgin Is- Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Agenda In attempts to manage coral reef fish- lands being relatively lightly exploited, 21, to date, is the most comprehensive eries, many marine protected areas while those on the north coast of Ja- action plan to halt and reverse the ef- (MPAs) or marine fishery reserves maica are overexploited to the extent fects of environmental degradation and (MFRs) have been created worldwide. that many important species have be- to promote environmentally sound sus- It has been clearly shown that such ar- tainable development. Chapter 17 pre- eas will quite rapidly develop a large Continued on page 6 sents integrated strategies and programs biomass of adult fishes which can ei- for the protection and rational use of ther contribute directly to adjacent resources from the oceans, all kinds of fisheries by out-migration seas, and coastal areas. IYOR is intended of stock from the reserve to provide a global context for national into exploited areas, or in- and regional efforts to save coral reefs. directly, by increasing the As such, it promotes collaboration numbers of eggs spawned among organizations and programs with and thus the numbers of ju- common interests in reef management venile fish which are pro- | A' , and research. duced to replenish the ex- The International Center for Living ploited stocks. However, Aquatic Resources Management there is no reliable scientific (ICLARM), based in Manila, Philippines, information on the rates at - with its interest in increasing production which heavily exploited . and preserving biodiversity, has pledged stocks will recover if they - 4 to contribute to the implementation of are given protection, nor on IYOR. Three of ICLARM's programs, the the optimum size for an Fisheries Resources Assessment and MPA.Wealsoknowlittleof Management Program (FRAMP), the the fate of eggs and larvae Aquatic Environments Program (AEP) that are produced in MPAs L ' based in Manila, Philippines and part of and whether the local com- the Coastal Aquaculture and Stock En- munities who have fore- Wl - hancement Program (CASEP), based at gone some of the fishing the Coastal Aquaculture Centre (CAC) grounds will benefit or in the Solomon Islands, conduct activi- whether the effects will ties which are part of the worldwide ef- principally be realized in fort to manage and conserve coral reef downstream areas. I', , resources. Answers to some of these FRAMP includes studies of target fish- questions are being sought eries those for species and communities by FRAMP staff in three V . which live on coral reefs. Coral reef fish- projects, located in Jamaica Re r h r eries are highly productive, but the com- the British Virgin Islands tries worldwide. Though reefs appear as huge and formidable, they are munity structure is fragile, and can be and the Solomon Islands. In actually very fragile communities. Information on the state of the reefs isrupted by heavy exploitation. t hastheSand the pressures from human populations are key to their survival and disrupted by heavy exploitation. It his the Solomon Islands, stud- proper management. t\iMY) become clear in recent years that such ies in the reefs around the CGIAR 5 (Continued from page 5) coral reefs of the world into a relational naut Survey Program, enables marine Reef database designed to accommodate a park rangers, resort operators, recreational wide spectrum of uses. The first version and sports divers to be a part of efforts to come virtually extinct. Additionally, of ReefBase on CD-ROM was formally monitor coral reefs via a simple method- coral reef fish in and around a small, released at the 8th Intemational Coral ology and certification scheme. newly created Marine Protected Area Reef Symposium in Panama in June The information, gathered from the at Discovery Bay in Jamaica are being 1996. ReefBlase 2.0, which is currently existing literature, through collaborations tagged and released in order to shed in production, may be purchased for with national, regional and international light on the potential degree of out-mi- US$95 by June 1997. Aside from the organizations, volunteer divers, Interna- gration of various species from pro- CD-ROM, as much of the information tional Coral Reef Initiative and GCRMN, tected areas. as may be accommodated is available is made available to the general public The Aquatic Environment Program is through the ReefBase website (http:// through an annually produced CD-ROM directly involved with the IYOR through www.cgiar.org/iclarm/resprg/reefbase). and the worldwide web. The informa- its ReefBase activity. ReefBase is the glo- ReefBase is the information resource tion will also be used to come up with bal database of coral reefs and their re- center of the International Coral Reef Ini- sets of criteria to determine reef health. sources. The ReefBase project, which tiative and is also the repository of sum- The ability to determine the state of began in late 1993, aims to gather infor- mary reports of the Global Coral Reef health of a reef is necessary for proper mation on the ecology, harvest practices, Monitoring Network (GCRMN). In ad- management. tourism, stresses and management of dition to this, ReefBase, through its Aqua- The Coastal Aquaculture Centre (CAC) in Solomon Islands is developing methods to improve the productivity of economically valuable species associated 1%W RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS 4%1 with coral reefs through aquaculture and stock enhancement. The methods are Saving The Genes of Our Future Food being tested in partnership with tradi- tional villagers in Solomon Islands, but A new crop-breeding strategy that will help ensure food security for the world's poor- are intended for use by coastal commu- est has been developed by ICARDA. The objective is twofold: to breed crops that will nities throughout the Indo-Pacific. The give greater yield stability, and thus food security in the world's harshest environments; current focus is on several species of gi- and to preserve, through use, the plaiit biodiversity that is the raw material of such ant clams and the blacklip pearl oyster. crops. These species yield products of high ICARDA's new strategy includes: value, and can be cultured in a way that * Using local landraces and crop wild relatives to breed new crops, for example Arta is not detrimental to wild stocks or other barley, derived from landraces, which has been returned to farmers' fields in the species associated with coral reefs. For Middle East, and is outperforming local landraces by 70 percent, despite a harsh example, juvenile giant clams can be pro- environment and lack of inputs. duced in simple hatcheries, grown-out at * Bringing in farmers as partners in the crop-breeding program, so that their feed- coastal villages and then exported to lu- back can be incorporated but also so that the varieties thus produced are already crative markets in the aquarium and live in the fields when the process is completed, making it easier for their neighbors to seafood trade. adopt them. And it means that the genetic diversity used in the process stays in the The CAC is also developing methods countryside and is preserved. for restoring overfished populations of * Besides maintaining a genebank of over 110,000 accessions, working with national giant clams and increasing the harvests programs on new ways of preserving wild relatives and landraces in-situ, where of sea cucumbers by producing juveniles they will continue to adapt. This is being done through a project that may become a in hatcheries, for release into the wild. model for in-situ conservation worldwide. Giant clam farmers assist in nurturing a Cooperating with IPGRI in the drive to preserve biodiversity in West Asia, North proportion of the juvenile clams until Africa and the newly-independent republics of Central Asia. they are large enough to be "released" "Since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, organizations like ICARDA have worked onto reefs. In the case of sea cucum- hard to spread the word that the store of genetic material used in agriculture is the most bers, ICLARM aims to increase the vital area of biodiversity to human existence," says ICARDA's Director General, Adel catch rates of traditional fishers by aug- El-Beltagy. "There have been numerouis conferences and seminars, but that's not enough. menting wild stocks with juveniles It's time to stop talking, and act." reared in captivity. (ICARDA) (ICLARM) 6 4kCGIAR SPOTLIGHT Triticale: A Reappraisal by G. Varughese, W.H. Pfeiffer, and R. J. Penia "From a scientific curiosity to a viable crop in the course of a few decades" is the message of two articles "Triticale: A Successful Alternative Crop" which appeared in CEREAL FOODS WORLD (vol. 41, Nos. 6&7) and are excerpted here. Only two developing countries-South Africa and Brazil-are among the major triticale producers but others are planting small areas between 3,000 and 16,000 hectares: Algeria, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco and Tunisia. A full text reprint of the articles is available from CIMMYT Humans have existed on earth for ondary amphiploids of durum wheat and Wilson in Scotland in 1875. However, more than two million years-over 99 rye. Durum wheat, the donor of the A the first doubled-and hence fertile percent of this period as andBgenomes,isknownforitshighyield hybrid between wheat and rye-was hunter-gatherers. It was only during the potential and adaptation to relatively dry produced by W Rimpau in 1888. It was last 10,000 years that they learned to environments. On the other hand, rye, during the crop season of 1918 at the domesticate plants and animals. Dur- the R genome donor, has lower yield Saratov Experimental Station in Rus- ing this period, they played an enor- potential but is well adapted to extreme sia that thousands of natural hybrids mous role in shaping the evolution of cold, drought, and acidic soils and is between wheat and rye appeared in cultivated plants. Today's agricultural grown in almost all geographic ranges. many wheat fields. For the next 16 crops are their creation. Humans can- Triticale cultivation around the world years, Meister and his colleagues ex- not survive without them-nor can the during the last 25 years indicates that it ploited these hybrids. The name "'triti- crops they have selected and bred sur- possesses the yield potential of wheat and cale" first appeared in the scientific lit- vive without their presence. the hardiness of rye. Consequently, triti- erature in 1935 and is attributed to The past century was a remarkable cale is successfully grown in almost all Tschermak, one of the rediscoverers of period in history because of the human environments where its parental species Mendelian Law. It was also during this ability to manipulate the earth's natu- are grown. ral resources to our advantage. Our The yield potential of triticale under Table 1. Main Triticale Producers knowledge of the basic principles gov- optimum crop production environ- (Area Harvested in thousand hectares) erning the evolution of crop species, ments has reached the level of wheat COUNTRY 1986 1991/92 their relationship to their kins, and in- while outperforming wheat in marginal Australia 160 100 heritance of traits have culminated in environments. A recent comparison Brazil 5 90 an array of improved cultivated crops between triticale and wheat indicates Bulgaria 10 100 including the creation of triticale (X that triticale accumulates more nitro- France 300 162 Germany 30 207 Triticosecale Wittmack). gen during heading and physiologic Poland 100 659 To date, progress made by triticale maturity than does wheat. The differ- Portugal 7 90 has been remarkable. The time span ence in nitrogen accumulation is maxi- South Africa 15 95 (former) USSR 250 500 from its creation to its commercializa- mum under lower levels of N applica- Spain 30 80 tion has been less than 100 years, as tion, indicating that triticales are better USA 60 180 compared with thousands of years for crops for.soils with low nitrogen fertil- World 1,076 2,468 a species to evolve in nature. In 1979, ity. Most studies, to date, would indi- Arne Muntzing said in his book on triti- cate that the initial biologic problems, cale: "It can be expected that the new, such as partial sterility, shriveled seed, same year that Arne Muntzing at manmade cereal, triticale, will defi- excessive height, and lateness in estab- Svalov, Sweden, initiated his lifelong nitely join the old cereals as food for lishing triticale as a productive crop, dedication to triticale. the rapidly growing human populations have been resolved. Acceptance of triti- Today, CIMMYT/Mexico and Poland and their domestic animals." The first cale by producers and consumers in have the two most successful triticale commercial triticale cultivars were re- different parts of the world would also programs in the world; they were initi- leased in 1969 and as of today, 25 years indicate that triticale is here to stay as ated in 1964 and 1968, respectively. later, triticale is grown on more than a classical example of ingenuity in Several people have contributed to the 2.4 million hectares worldwide. This modifying crops to our needs. success of triticale and the details of crop contributes more than 6 million . their efforts are summarized in several metric tons per year to global cereal History production. See Table 1. The first deliberate hybrid between Continued on page 15 Today's successful triticales are the sec- wheat and rye was reported by A. S. CGIAR '& 7 | I RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS | Sustainable Crop Protection An Update on The System-Wide Program on Integrated Pest Management Origins of the System-Wide country. The participants concluded global or inter-regional importance. Program that a considerable body of IPM re- . The SP-IPM is envisaged as encom- The CGIAR agenda has evolved dur- search was already being conducted passing the totality of Center activi- ing recent years, broadening to encom- within the Centers, but was failing to ties in the field of sustainable crop pass a more holistic, multi-disciplinary achieve its full impact on sustainable protection. The Lead Center of the approach to problem solving and em- agricultural development, for want of SP-IPM, for the current three year phasizing sustainable natural resource a coherent CGIAR policy on IPM and period is the International Institute management. This evolution in the for lack of coordination. To address of Tropical Agriculture. In principle, CGIAR agenda as a whole has been these weaknesses, the establishment of all sixteen International Agricultural reflected in an increasing, and chang- an IPM Network was proposed. Research Centers belong to the Pro- ing role for crop protection research. gram, though to date only ten have Pesticides were initially an important "n principle, all sixteen actively participated. In addition, two part of the package of inputs which research Centers which are not affili- supported the increasing yields of the . ated to the CGIAR but which have a Green Revolution. However, as pests InternationalAgricultural strong interest in IPM, ICIPE and became resistant to chemicals and pes- Research Centers belong to AVRDC, are also full members. Many ticides had to be applied more and other partners participate in Program more heavily, their natural enemies the Program, though to date activities, and indeed it is explicitly were destroyed while human health recognized that the success of the and the environment were threatened only ten have actively program depends on its ability to by the unforeseen side-effects of these forge effective partnerships: these in- chemicals. Integrated Pest Manage- participated." volve both other research organiza- ment-or IPM, as it is generally tions (in industrialized and develop- known-is an approach to crop protec- ing countries) and those principally tion designed to help agriculture escape Plans were further defined at a sec- concerned with IPM implementation, from this vicious circle of pesticide de- ond meeting, held at ISNAR in Febru- including governmental, inter-govern- pendence. Based on an increased un- ary 1995. The participants developed ment and non-governmental organi- derstanding of biological and ecologi- a policy statement, designating IPM as zations. Special emphasis is placed on cal processes in the agro-ecosystem, the CGIAR's preferred approach to forging close partnerships with na- 1PM combines biological control and crop protection (see Box 1) and pro- tional agricultural research and exten- appropriate farmer management prac- posed that the IPM initiative be for- sion services. tices with host plant resistance, to mini- mally established as a System-wide Pro- Responsibility for steering Program mize or eliminate the use of pesticides. gram. This proposal was endorsed by activities lies with the Inter-Center [PM has become so important to envi- the CG Technical Advisory Commit- Working Group on IPM, which com- ronment health that it was identified tee, financial support was pledged by prises representatives of the partici- in Agenda 21 as one of the key elements Norway and Switzerland and the pro- pating research Centers. To ensure in sustainable agricultural develop- gram was formally launched in Janu- proper coordination with other IPM ment. ary 1996. activities worldwide, the Working The CGIAR, as part of its response Th System-Wide PrGroup also includes representatives to Agenda 21, decided to undertake a of two other important entities: the review of all IPM-related activities The System-wide Program on IPM IPM Forum, concerned mainly with within its research Centers. An initial (SP-IPM) is one of several inter-Cen- coordination and information issues, planning meeting, attended by eight ter initiatives established as part of a and the IPM Facility, whose priority CG Centers and nine partner organi- re-structuring of the CGIAR research is IPM implementation. The IPM Fo- zations, was held in Aas, Norway, in agenda. These initiatives draw together rum is an entity, still in the process May 1994, with support from the host relevant resources from all or several of evolution, which was originally Centers and bring them to bear, in a constituted as the International IPM 8 fCGIAR coordinated manner, on a problem of Continued on page 9 (Continued from page 8) FAO. The SP-IPM is similarly repre- mation and IPM is a discipline which Crop Protection sented on the steering groups of these depends heavily on sharing informa- two organizations. In the first meet- tion: between researchers and ings, during 1996, a number of op- implementers, and between practitio- Working Group, to promote the portunities for productive collabora- ners of different disciplines, as well wider use of IPM. The IPM Facility is tion have already been identified. as among a wider constituency in- a joint enterprise of the World Bank, Successful coordination depends on volved in agricultural development UNDP, UNEP and FAO, managed by effective exchange of relevant infor- Continued on page I0 Box I CGIAR Policy Statement on Integrated Pest Management Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is here defined as ecologically-based pest-management that promotes the health of crops and animals, and makes full use of natural and cultural control processes and methods, including host resistance and biological control. It uses chemical pesticides only where and when the above measures fail to keep pests below damaging levels. All interventions are need-based and are applied in ways that minimize undesirable side-effects. The Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CCGIAR) has stated that its mission is, "through research and related activities.. to contribute to sustainable improvements in the productivity of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in developing countries in ways that enhance nutrition and well-being, especially of low-income people." In pursuance of this mission and recognizing the key role of IPM in sustainable agricultural develop- ment as a system that contributes to productivity in an environmentally sound and equitable manner, the International Agricultural Research Centers (IARCs), affirm that IPM principles should guide all pest control efforts within the CG system and strongly support research leading to its wider application. This IPM policy is in full accord with the articles of UNCED Agenda 21 and the Biodiversity Convention and is a significant element in the response of the CGIAR to these initiatives. To ensure full use of the potential and actual capacity that exists within the IARCs, the CGIAR will create a System-wide Program on IPM according to the guidelines elaborated below. The IARCs promote IPM development and implementation as follows: * IPM development and implementation will be inter-disciplinary and holistic in approach to management of agricultural and natural ecosystems. * 1PM strives to maintain and exploit biodiversity as a fundamental principle of pest management in the context of sustainable agricultural develop- ment. * The IARCs will develop their comparative advantage in pest problem diagnosis, IPM component development, pilot project implementation and impact assessment. The IARCs will give increased emphasis to collaboration with NARS, NGOs, and other appropriate national, international and bilateral organizations with experience or interest in IPM. In full-scale IPM implementation, the IARCs will play a supporting role to organizations such as national extension services, NGOs and FAO. * The IARCs recognize that, due to the diversity of agronomic and socio-economic systems, IPM implementation requires farmer participation in problem diagnosis, research and on-farm testing. Adoption of IPM depends on the ability of farmers to make informed decisions using the best available knowledge. The IARCs fully subscribe to this empowerment of farmers and furthermore view IPM as building on indigenous knowledge systems for pest management. An important element of sustainable IPM develop- ment will be decision support systems for policy makers as well as farmers. Communication between farmers, t; ", - I. ; timplementation organizations and policy makers should be encouraged. - -' ' £ . ' \ j . * The IARCs acknowledge the role agrochemicals and . -_ drugs have played in control of plant and animal pests. The IARCs encourage improved strategic use of these products in an IPM context, as well as development of new products that promote sustainable agricultural pro- A k l L s JIL.'-j' - o rduction and minimize environmental degradation. IARCs J - - ,* - , . will seek effective collaboration with the private sector -^ { _ i , , c , - ., in developing these component IPM technologies where appropriate. 3[ 4[ - i fS .K.... * Recognizing the potential contribution of biotech- _ _ *iNs nology to IPM, the IARCs will continue to be involved in further development and application. In accordance vv ; ~ ~~- t '* ot - * * J with IPM principles, application of biologically engi- . '. -. - ~ r , . _K ' a ' 'jE Ca ' neered products will be carefully evaluated for their pos- -~ r .- ^ : ---# sible nontarget effects before deployment. An 1PM course. (CIP) CGIAR 4 9 RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS 1 (Continued from page 9) Crop Protection of pest outbreaks. Wildly inaccurate Box 3 estimates of pest losses were identi- Current project Task Forces of the efforts. The SP-IPM has joined the fied as another concern to be ad- System-wide Program on IPM IPM Forum, IPM Europe and the US- dressed, in so far as they can seriously based Consortium for International distort policy decisions in agricultural * cereal stem borers (CIMMYT) Crop Protection in establishing development. . insect pests of grain legumes IPMfocus, a partnership whose spe- Finally, the SP-IPM affirms the (ICRISAT) cific objective is to facilitate the ex- comparative advantage of the CGIAR . whiteflies and associated virus dis- change of IPM information related to in conducting research on IPM. Such eases (CIAT) chane ofIPMinfomatin rlate to research should be closely linked with sustainable development. A number thea imp ld befforse of wit- . parasitic weeds (IITA) the implementation efforts of p art- of initiatives are already under way, o incuintve aes tabliea n ofdr data ner organizations, to ensure its rel- * weed management in rice (WARDA) basesding o M resourceshpersons dand- evance and impact, and farmer par- . tsetse and trypanosomiasis manage- bases of IPM resource persons and projects and the establishment of an ticipatory methods should be used ment (ILRI) Internet website as a common access wherever appropriate to strengthen . methodologies for farmer-participa- pInternet o . . the link between research and imple- tory research (CIAT) and po thtte wealth Of electronically tr eerh(IT n published 1PM information. As well mentation. Guidelines have been es- * functional agrobiodiversity (ICIPE). publishe IPMinfora . Atablished to ensure that research ef- as improving coordination, such ii- forts are demand-driven and address New Task Forces to be established tiatives help to raise general aware- . . ness and impact of CGIAR activities issues of widespread economic impor- * IPM of soil-borne pathogens in sustainable crop protection. tance. Improved sustainability, conser- (ICARDA) The viability of IPM as a part of vation of biodiversity and enhance- * Evaluation of methodologies for IPM production systems is very sensitive ment of human well-being are also implementation and impact assess- to the regulatory climate in which key criteria. The Centers are seen to ment (CIP) have a special strength in carrying out agrculture is conducted. The SP-IPM . a . . in * IPM of weeds (interim leader: agriculture ~~~multi-disciplinary research on the also has an important role in advo- . . . the WARDA) cacy-providing a common voice biological and ecological processes with other IPM practitioners on issues that underpin agricultural production * I PM of multi-host diseases (IRRI) which affect their work. For instance, systems. Discussion Groups recently formed the Inter-Center working group at its Project Task Forces * Biotechnology in IPM (CIP) 1996 meeting felt so strongly about New initiatives of the SP-IPM are * Entomopathology (IITA) the issue of pesticide misuse that it tackled through the establishment of issued a statement (Box 2), pinpoint- t Crop loss assessment (IRRI) ing their importance as a major cause Continued on page 12 (IITA) Box 2 Statement on Insecticides The CGIAR Inter-Center Working Group on IPM, including Insecticide overuse continues to be associated with: i) out- representatives of the Global IPM Facility, at a meeting held at dated government policies, promoting the use of insecticides, ISNAR, Den Haag, March 4-6 1996, expressed serious concern that do not reflect the current state of scientific knowledge; ii) about insecticide overuse and agreed that this concern, sum- aggressive marketing and promotion by the pesticide industry, marized in the following statement, should be communicated especially as markets shrink in developed countries; and iii) con- through the Chairperson of the IPMWG to the CGIAR Cen- tinuing use of development assistance, grant- and loan-funds to ters, donors, and policy makers. subsidize insecticide sales. Insecticide overuse is the major cause of insect pest outbreaks The SP-IPM urges IARC scientists and managers to inform in intensified agriculture in developing countries. Examples of policy makers, scientists, and the general public about the im- insecticide-induced, production-threatening pests include: pact and causes of insecticide overuse. The SPIPM also urges whiteflies, planthoppers, armyworms, thrips, leafminers, mites, multilateral and bilateral agencies to link their development etc. In addition, field use of insecticides is also a major occupa- assistance to commitments by recipient countries to reduce in- tional, public health, and environmental hazard. secticide dependency. 10 4 CGIAR To provide our readers with a glimpse of what others are saying: a few soundbytes from the heated debate on IPM Sustainable Agriculture are protected by a structural barrier that limits insect damage. Often, crop by Jos Bijnlsanl breeders intentionally alter the chemical profile of the plalnt. By concentrating naturally occurring chemical repellents, feed deterrents, and ... India, in r ecent decades, adopted chemical-intensive farming techniques toxicants, crop breeders can create cultivars that by themselves can deter in order to achieve self sufficiency in food production. While this goal has or overcome pest attack. been reached, particularly with the help of high yielding wheat and rice Unfortunately, as Marcus Kogan of the University of Illinois has pointed varieties, the natural environment has seriously deteriorated, due to heavy out, crop breeding has proceeded without great concern for the underlying use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. New environmentally friendly biocheniiical mechanisms involved. Some resistance factors may be broadly technologies, which maintain or increase current levels of productivity, are toxic to beneficial insects, animals, or humans. For example, certain needed if the use of chemical inputs is to be reduced. Biofertilizers, alkaloids of potatoes defend the plant against the Colorado Potato Beetle biopesticides anid transgenic pcst and disease resistant plants could possibly but are hazardous to humans. So far, traditional crop-breeding methods contribute to solving the environmental problem (and also reduce the remain largely unregulated. As risk-assessment procedures and toxicity concomitant threat to human health). measurements become more refined, however, these altered crop cultivars Problematic Alternatives may become increasingly suspect. Some researchers are using genetic engineering to find new ways to reduce by l,eonairui Gianlessi2 growers' dependence on chemical pesticides. In most cases, this research is Ironically, the search for nonchemical alternatives to pesticides may be focused on large-acreage crops. Genetically engineered plants may resist thwarted by many of the same regulatory concerns and public fears that certain pests or diseases; some may even release their own insecticides. In thwarted ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~adiin virse mayy he geetcal altere touatr makern them mrc potent.ha currently surround chemical pesticide use. Although traditionally viewed as addition, viruses may be genetically altered to make them more tet environmentally safe, biological control methods-which include the breeding Already, public concern over the potential risks has blocked the release of and releasingof natural enemies, such as parasites, predators, orpathogens, a number of biotechnology products. Though the relative risk of most to reduce pest populations-are being increasingly viewed by entomologists biotechnology products is likely to be low, the public's fear may be high, as carrying unrecognized risks. Once released into the environment, these creating a further obstacle to the development of nonchemical alternatives species can multiply, cause unpredictable negative effects, and be impossible to pesticides. to recapture. Biological control activities can even lead to species extinction; The pubhc research agenda should consider the potential risks of the Francis G. Howarth of the J. Linsley Grassit Center for Research in nonchemical alternatives and weigh them against those of the chemical Entomology has concluded that species introduced for biological pest control pesticides that they are intended to replace. Otherwise, millions of research have been strongly implicated in the extinction of nearly 100 species dollars may be spent on nonchemical control techniques that prove to be worldwide. Insects or pathogens introduced to control a plant pest may unacceptable. become pests themselves. One other option that deserves mention is the small group of nonsynthetic There is little regulation of biological control methods and subsequently pesticides. Organic farmers spurn synthetic chemicals, relying instead on little analysis of any unintended side effects. Recently, however, the U.S. natural compounds such as sulfur and copper But human health ad environmental concerns have been raised about several of these natural Department of Agriculture canceled a plan to release a parasitic wasp and a esticidenthe usern s ha s been disrutive o tese nat fungsfroAustaliaocotrolrassoppesonUS. angeandsaproect pesticides, and the use of others has been disruptive to integrated pest fungus from Australia to control grasshoppers on U.S . rangelands-a project angmn rgasbcuete fetbnfca rdtr n intended to replace synthetic chemical insecticides-for fear that the parasitic management programs because they affect beneficial predator d wasp might attack some beneficial grasshopper species. parasites. In addition, because they are generally less effective in controlling Microbial pesticides, which consist of microscopic living organisms (viruses, pests, natural compounds must be used in greater amounts than synthetic bacteria, or fungi) and can be applied like chemical pesticides, are drawing increasing scientific attention as alternatives to chemical pesticides. Since Pesticide Poisons the registration requirements for biological pesticides are essentially the same as those for chemical pesticides, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by Robert J. Spear3 (EPA) will need to anticipate all possible problems. Experiments will have to By 1980 nearly 500 major insect pests were resistant to pesticides, and be designed to show that each virus is not a threat to humans, animals, or the at least 20 now are resistant to all widely used insecticides. The National environment. If, as has been pointed out by Louis A. Falcon, an insect Academy of Sciences reports that resistance to chemicals has developed in pathologist at the University of California at Berkeley, some negative effect 150 plant diseases, 133 species of weeds, 70 species of fungus and 10 species were to be caused by a living, replicating virus, it probably could not be of rats. It expects that by 2000, practically all major insect pests will have controlled or stopped. The public may have considerable apprehension about gained some form of genetic resistance. This does not sound to me like a having their foodstuffs sprayed with viruses. situation that Mr. Gianessi and his group have under control. Another longstanding method of nonchemical pest control is crossbreeding. For example, plants can be bred for increased tissuie hardness, so that they Continued on page 12 'Biotechnology and Development Monitor 24 2 Senior Research Associate, National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, Washington D.C. Excerpts from "The Quixotic Quest for Chemical-Free Farming," in: Issuzes in Science and Technology, Fall 1993. Excerpts from a letter to the Editor, Washington Post (February 1l, 1997) commenting on Mr. Gianessi's views as exprtessed in a letter to the Editor (January 29, 1997) on an article (January 13, 1997) "After Century of Pesticides, Getting Bugs Out of Crops Naturally," dealing with IPM practice in the U.S. insj tween these and the remaining WANA cally disadvantaged states of South countries. The oil exporters with only WANA (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and A Regional Vision 7 percent of the region's population Sudan) have a per capita GNP of only represent the region's highest per capita US$88 that is less than 1 .2 percent of GNP, averaging just over US$9,400 the oil exporters with small popula- which, even so, is only a quarter of the tions. In fact, 42 percent of the total rich. Consider Libya, Oman, Saudi per capita GNP of industrialized coun- population of 239 million people has a Arabia, Kuwait and United Arab Emir- tries. The remaining 93 percent of per capita GNP of less than US$1.0 per ates as examples of the major oil ex- WANA's population has a far lower per day and is thus in the grip of severe porters. We find large disparities be- capita income. The four most economi- poverty. There is more absolute poverty and incidence of poverty in rural than ur- ban areas in WANA. Even though in- frastructure in the rural sector has im- (Continued from page 10) ing undertaken are shown in Box 3. proved in the last twenty years, there Crop Protection Centers and partners have already has not been a proportional increase in shown considerable support for the employment or poverty alleviation. Task Force approach. The first to Economic disparities will continue to Task Forces. Each Task Force is led by lead to implementation of a project fuel migration from rural to urban ar- a research Center with a special in- is that on whiteflies and associated eas and from poor to rich countries terest in the particular field. The first viruses which is expected to begin both within and outside the WANA responsibility of the Task Force leader work, with support from Denmark, region. is to undertake a wide process of con- early in 1997. WANA's agriculture employs large sultation with other interested par- Conclusion parts of the population; nearly 50 per- ties, within and outside the CGIAR onc uslon cent, for example in Turkey and Mo- system, to establish the current state In summary, the SP-IPM seeks to rocco. Women contribute about half of knowledge and define any out- draw attention to, make better use the agricultural labor, well above their standing needs. The process is in- of, and further develop the wealth share of the total labor force. tended to be flexible, with the scale of resources available within the and nature of activities tailored to the CGIAR Centers and partner orga- Food Consumption and particular problem addressed. A Task nizations in the area of sustainable Production Force may go on to establish a full- pest management. The goal of the Most calories and protein in human scale inter-Center project or it may Program is thus to ensure that this diets in WANA comes from plant be decided that holding a workshop work can realize its full potential in sources-mainly cereals-with some or establishing a discussion group is contributing to sustainable agricul- pulses. Diets have improved in most sufficient. Task Forces currently be- tural development. of WANA over the last two decades, but still lag well behind in quantity and (Continued from page 11) quality of protein. Dairy, poultry and Soundbytes fish production are rising in WANA, but are still far behind those of indus- Mr. Gianessi's contention that we should not continute experiments with natural controls trialized countries. Deficiencies of mi- because previous experiments have failed is a rather odd comment. I cannot imagine that cronutrients in diets of women and he has never learned of the many success stories of natural controls in entomological and agricultural history. His contention that the several thousand insect "crop pests" are best children can have permanent negatve controlled with "about 100 broad-spectrum pesticides" rather than with "nature's own effects on the quality of life. controls" that are specific to a single species, is off the mark. From 0both a scientific and In Egypt, agriculture is almost totally environmiental view, if controls must be used, to have an agent that deals with one single dependent on irrigation, but this is not "pest" and harms nothing else is exactly what one would wanit. the case for the majority ofWANA coun- Modern pesticides are not necessarily safer: they are more concentrated and potent than ever before. Some remain effective in concentrations as low as a few parts per billion tries which rely mainly on raifed agri- and less. The paradox is that the damages caused by such small aumounts become culture. Grain production has just kept increasingly difficult to discover, and the period of time during which harm imiay be pace with population growth, benefiting occurring grows longer as the technology needed for detectioni and verification lags behind from research results and policies aimed the technology of production. at putting these to good use. Per capita One mutst wonder then if the sustained misuse of synthetic chemical poisons on otir consumption of all grains has increased, crops is part of the problem rather than part of the solution. consumpt ion has held, while pulse consumption has held con- stant. Income growth and concessionary 12 8 ~CGIAR Continued on page 13 (Continued from page 12) ricultural policy; CIMMYT/ICARDA clude Turkey in the WANA aggregate; A Regional Vision on wheat; and CIMMYT on maize. this has the effect of overstating the There have been important positive region's productive capacity. impacts on productivity in these areas. If per capita consumption of all grains Other countries of the region face a remains constant at 1990 levels to the pricing have enabled the import of grains more serious and challenging situation year 2020, and the UN population pro- for food and feed to fill the gap. than Egypt. Pakistan. Afghanistan, jections prove as realistic as in the past, The role of pulses in human diet is Sudan and Ethiopia, for example, im- we should expect a total aggregate grain greater than their small quantities sug- port little grain though their popula- consumption of about 217 million tons gest, due to their high protein and en- tion growth has outpaced production in 15 countries of WANA proper, with- ergy content and their use in diets of the growth. Their per capita consumption out the burgeoning populations of poorest people as substitutes for animal levels were lower in 1990 than in 1970. Sudan, Ethiopia and Pakistan. products. Faba beans, lentils and The 1990 per capita consumption of The grain gap in 1990 was of the or- chickpeas enhance the value of cereal all grains was about half of that in der of 27 million tons. If the rate of pro- dominated diets as they provide comple- Egypt. In such countries, increases in duction growth can be sustained at 2 mentary essential amino acids and min- per capita consumption over the 1990 percent per year to 2020, the 15-coun- erals. Pulses are 'the poor man's meat." try grain gap will increase to 70 mil- ICARDA's projections of Egyptian "Even though infrastructure lion tons. If we exclude Turkey and con- grain production in 2020 are based on sider only a 14-country WANA the five-year average around 1990. Four in the rural sector has aggregate, the 1990 grain gap was about assumed rates of production growth, and 33 million tons. This deficit will easily the UN's population projections, allow improved in the last twenty reach 86 million tons by the year 2020. us to imagine upper and lower limits for Again, this is a conservative estimate per capita production in 2020. Sustain- years, there has not been a which assumes no growth in per capita ing a 3 percent yearly production growth income or consumption. rate to the year 2020 would be enor- proportional increase Assuming grain will cost only $100 per mously challenging. A zero growth rate, ton, 86 million tons of grain per year will on the other hand, is possible but posi- in employment or poverty cost $8.6 billion, no less than 30 times tive rates of production increase must be .i . the size of the current annual budget of expected.A respectable 2 percent growth alleviation. the CGIAR system. To visualize the is achievable, but will require concerted quantity of 86 million tons of grain im- technological and policy advances. ports for WANA in 2020, imagine a rail- In addition to grains and pulses, Egypt levels are much needed. Per capita con- road train 12,000 kilometers long. produces and consumes fruits, vegetables, sumption, however, is a function not The challenges facing these grain-im- edible oils, meat, dairy products and eggs. of want or need but of effective de- porting WANA countries are formidable: Consumption of all foods has risen on a mand and is directly related to income. per capita basis. Assuming no change in In contrast, Turkey's per capita pro- * how to sustain production growth? per capita consumption of all foods from duction of grain is nearly double that - how to achieve income growth suf- that in 1990, domestic production must of Egypt. With abundant rainfall, good ficient to fill the remaining grain grow at well over 2 percent annually to soils, and policies promoting private in- gap with imports? close Egypt's food import gap by 2020. vestment in agriculture, Turkey is the An additional per capita increase in food only substantial net exporter of grain * and how to do both while sustain- consumption would make this an even in WANA but it exports grain not nec- ing the natural-resource base. bigger challenge. essarily to other less well endowed Egypt's approach has been to seek WANA countries. Most analysts in- Continued on page 18 the best economic balance of crops by allowing their prices to match the world market. Research has been en- In the next issue... hanced by active partnerships with the IARCs-in particular with IRRI on rice; - The CGIAR and Biotechnology in a Changing World with ICARDA on food legumes, crop- - Information Needs of Small Scale Farmers in Africa: ping system resource management, and The Nigerian Example regional cooperation (Nile Valley Re- - D gional Program); with 1SNAR and -DiversitybyDesign IFPRI on research organization and ag- 13 CGIAR Nt13 (Continued from page 1) ous harvests have been largely depleted, ies landraces) from Burkina Faso and one Maize Production and when the new plantings of other white Colombian variety were selected crops and traditional varieties are not following careful experimental assess- ready for harvesting. ment of 80 varieties. The three varieties Burkina Faso (7.4 percent), Mali (6.6 As a result of increased production, had the virtue of being extra-early (for percent), and Zaire (5.5 percent). dried maize is available in local markets example, the Colombian varietyflowered Nigeria, the most populous country for much longer periods than in the past. 42 days after planting, 7 days earlier than in the region, scored substantial gains This is true not only of markets in large the local check variety). But both had as well. The annual rate of growth in Sahelian towns such as Bamako and relatively low yield potential-2 tons per area cultivated to maize was 3.5 per- Ouagadougou, but also in many villages hectare. The three extra-early varieties cent, and the annual gain in produc- and small towns throughout the region. were crossed to selected promising, im- tion was 5.3 percent. Moreover, new uses have been found for proved white and yellow varieties to de- In each country, the rate of growth the increased production. Maize is being velop new varieties combining extra-early of production exceeded the rate of substituted for sorghum and millet in maturity with other desirable agronomic growth of land area devoted to culti- some local dishes, and industries are us- characteristics. vation. This indicates that the in- ing it for brewing and for oil extraction. By 1987, one yellow and three white creases in production were due to Everybody seems to have benefited-the varieties that mature in 75-80 days and gains in yield per unit area, and not farmers who grow the crop, the major with a yield potential of 3 tons per hect- .merely to expansion of area. distributors, the so-called middlemen and are had been developed. By this time, the women, the petty vendors selling green West and Central Africa Maize Network Evidence abounds maize on the roadside or selling dried (WECAMAN) had become the maize Evidence of the gains in maize produc- maize by the cup, as well as industrial- component of the second phase of the tion in the region literally stares an in- ists. SAFGRAD Project. The network com- vestigator in the face. Green maize boiled Regional collaboration prised maize scientists in the various na- on-the-cob, or roasted, has become a tional agricultural programs of the region common sight along roadsides in villages IITA scientists started work on new and in the intemational agricultural re- and towns and along highways in the maize varieties under the auspices of the search and development centers. The four Sudan savanna. Green maize is available Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and De- extra-early varieties were offered to na- as early as April where farmers take ad- velopment Project (SAFGRAD). The tional programs of the region for evalua- vantage of the residual soil moisture along SAFGRAD Project, covering maize, sor- tion and further development. the river banks. This early production ghum, millet, and cowpea, was sponsored helps alleviate hunger when the previ- by the Scientific, Technical, and Research Disease resistance Commission of the Organization of Af- National program scientists were en- _ .. . . ....... rican Unity (OAU/STRC) and the US thusiastic about the new varieties' it.. 2 -: 94^j Agency for Intemational Development extra-earliness in the humid ecological (USAID). IITA was responsible for the zones of the region, although the variet- ... -.< . maize and cowpea components of the ies had been developed for the Sudan Sa- Project. vanna. Yet, to grow them in the humid The development of extra-early vari- zones would require them to be pro- eties of maize (varieties maturing fully tected against several diseases. in 80 days) became a research objective Historically, diseases were not a prob- in 1984 and followed earlier success in lem in the Sudan Savanna. However, sci- k krrt s^;;> ^ - - -- breeding early (90-day) varieties. entists surmised that climate change, in- g S 4ib d- Achievement of the new objective called cluding erratic rainfall at the beginning ¢ ! - ,j>vvwr - ~ for activities that only an international of the season, would cause changes in - * Y " a > * X - research organization stood any chance farming practices. Such changes could a t - - V->r of successfully carrying out. Maize vari- induce an increased buildup of maize -., .:_ t _ - rw eties with potentially appropriate char- disease organisms, and usher in hitherto _ t , . acteristics were assembled from around nonexistent diseases. Africa, Colombia, India as well as from For these reasons, scientists began, in MF- , i * i ; ~~~~~~the extensive collection at Centro 1988, to breed resistance to diseases into Women traders come to the roadside to sell maize to middle- Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maizy the extra-early varieties, including the men and market "queens," who will move their produce and e to major markets. (CMY)yringo (CIMNMY adealaeTi)il experiments. Two yellow-grained indigenous variet- Continued on page 15 14 F CGIAR (Continued from page 14) (Continued from page 7) Maize Production Triticae 1plete triticales developed in the 1980s and 1990s over three years in maxi- mum yield trials at Obregon reveals historic reviews. overall yield progress to be 1 7 percent. maize streak virus disease, a disease In 1965, when CIMMYT'sTriticale Major contributions resulted from in- unique to the African continent. Program was initiated, plants were creases in harvest index (16%) and IITA had already bred resistant vari- tall, highly sterile, and late maturing. spikes per square meter (12%) with an eties and developed techniques for in- They also had shriveled grains-com- associated increase in grains per square corporating the resistance into other va- mercially unusable. Progress in over- meter (17%). Average plant height de- rieties (an accomplishment for which it coming triticale's technical limita- creased from 140 to 125 cm (11%) and won the King Baudouin Award for tions has been made in incremental test weight increased 12 percent from International Agricultural Research in steps. Improvement was driven by the 68 to 76 kg/ha. Modest reductions in 1986). genetic variability scientists were able days to maturity and grain-fill duration Promising streak resistant, extra-early to generate. The techniques to sys- by four and three days, respectively, varieties were tested by scientists, mem- tematically produce primary triticales were accompanied by a 10% reduction bers of WECAMAN. They also con- and create genetic variability opened in vegetative growth rate and straw ducted agronomic trials to determine the the door for directed genetic im- yields but a 21 percent increase in the optimal farming practices for the new provement. grain biomass production rate. varieties. The recommendations they came up with raised the yield potential "Today, CIMMYT/Mexico Agronomic Traits of the varieties to 5 tons per hectare. For most of the earlier problems (e.g. Inherent advantages and Poland have the two excessive plant height, low head fertil- ity, low test weight, poor winter- The new extra-early varieties were re- most successful triticale hardiness, and late maturity), significant leased by WECAMAN, the maize net- improvements have been achieved. work. They have been adopted widely programs in the world..." Existing genetic variabilities for by farmers in the Sudan Savanna and in value-added traits, trait heritabilities, the Sudan-Sahelian transition ecologi- and correlations among these traits sug- cal zone. Their extra-earliness ensures Production statistics in Europe in- gest high projected genetic gains for that they fit into the shortening grow- dicate increased adoption of winter agronomic components associated with ing season, enabling them to escape triticales due to their low-input fea- grain yield, test weight, most of the drought, and generally reducing the risk tures under conditions of low-cost traits associated with plant morphol- to farmers caused by climate change. production and/or better adaptation ogy and phenology, and agronomic Their multiple disease resistance en- compared to other small grains, for traits such as threshing ability. Traits, larges their zones of ecological adapta- growing on both barren rye soils and like grain-fill duration, where projected tion, leading to a considerable expansion high productive wheat soils. Triticale progress may occur in small incremen- of maize area in West and Central Af- appears to be an ideal low-input crop tal steps, warrant special attention in rica. for nonextractive, sustainable agricul- future breeding efforts. Adoption and spread of the variet- ture and organic farming. Differences ies have been facilitated by the par- in N uptake and efficiency favor Abiotic Stresses ticipation of many national agricultural spring and winter triticales when Breeding for marginal lands (acidic, programs. Internal trade within coun- compared with other small grains. sandy, or alkaline soils), trace element de- tries has aided the movement of the Genetic variabilities for these traits ficiencies (copper, manganese, and zinc), new varieties across ecological zones. among triticales could be exploited or trace element toxicities (high boron), The increased trade among neighboring in future breeding efforts. and the different types of moisture stress countries in West and Central Africa environments constitutes a major effort (much of which is informal) has also Yield Potential in spring and winter triticale improve- helped the spread of the varieties. There has been considerable ment. Breeding for acid soils, moisture The quiet revolution represented by progress made in improving genetic stress, and enhanced tolerance to high and the expansion of highly productive, yield potential in winter and spring low temperatures is generally addressed disease resistant maize varieties across triticales. In CIMMYT spring triti- by exploiting key locations during the savanna belt of West Africa is a tes- cales, maximum grain yields mea- germplasm selection, screening, and yield timony to the efficacy of scientific cre- sured at Ciudad Obregon under irri- testing, as well as by shuttle breeding and ativity and well-conceived research gated, near optimal conditions collaboration. increased from 2.5 t/ha in 1968 to Continued on page 17 (IITA) 9.7 t/hain 1991. Comparison of com- CGlAR i | RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS 4W The World Water And Climate Atlas For Agriculture A New Technology Scientists at the International Irrigation funded by the Government of Japan being grown," says David Seckler. "It will Management Institute (IIMI) and Utah through the CGIAR. also show what more valuable or more nu- State University have created a new glo- "The Atlas will assume even greater im- tritious food crops farmers might grow on bal database called The World Water and portance in coming years, as water, espe- their land." Climate Atlas for Agriculture that will cially for agriculture, becomes scarcer," says The Atlas demonstrates how the two serve as a high-tech tool for farmers, David Seckler, IIMI Director General. most important measured values-avail- agronomists, engineers, conservationists, "Some 70 percent of all water used each able water and temperature-influence meteorologists, researchers and govern- year goes for irrigation, which produces plant growth, crop yields, and the choice ment policy makers. 30-40 percent of world food crops on just of various management practices. Scien- "The Atlas integrates the available agri- 17 percent of all arable land." tists can combine the long-term data with cultural climate data into one computer Practical Applications crop growth simulation models to assess program and represents the most compre- the value of different plants and plant traits hensive, quality-controlled climatic data The Atlas will provide an extremely for plant selection and/or plant breeding. set in existence," says CGIAR Chairman powerful base for further mapping of wa- The Atlas will serve the interests of Ismail Serageldin. small and poor farmers in at least three The Atlas enables users to zoom in on ways: any 2.5 square kilometer region of the World Water and Climate Atlas . International funding agencies such as globe and extract critical data such as pre- - - - the World Bank, along with national and cipitation and probability of precipitation, local governments, will have a much maximum and minimum temperatures . . - ' ^' clearer picture of how to direct increas- and average temperatures. ..J. ingly scarce agricultural investment "All of this data is converted into maps - resources; that clearly delineate climatic conditions, i * Extension agents can print and distrib- no matter how remote an area of land may Y,&t ute data generated by the Atlas for spe- be, in a user-friendly computer program cific areas to help improve the perfor- that agronomists can use to assist even the * mance of water resource and irrigation poorest farmers," says Mr. Serageldin. "The 5 systems, ultimately leading to improved Atlas will help identify the agroclimatic JP E faNIVEIRS - cropproductionbypoorandsmall-scale conditions appropriate for specific crops." farmers; Donald T. Jensen, Director of the Utah ter-related data-for river basins, land us- * By helping poor farmers to increase Climate Center at Utah State University age projects and population centers-and their incomes, the Atlas would help to in Logan, Utah, and Andy Keller, Ph.D., as the basis for exploring the changes in better preserve the Earth's environ- of IIMI, created the Atlas from data re- agricultural potential that would result ment-where too many people are ceived from 56,000 weather stations from independent estimates of climate poor, hungry orunemployed, preserva- around the world. The Atlas covers the change. The Atlas itself is not a predictor deteriorate. 1961 to 1990 period, in order to conform of such changes, but will bge a valuable tool with World Meteorological Organization in interpreting the effects of any changes. What the Atlas Contains (WMO) specifications for a "normal pe- Using this meteorological encyclopedia, The World Water and Climate Atlas in- riod" of climate examination. engineers can develop very specific plans cludes ten-day, monthly, and annual sum- "The Atlas, because of its precise map- for irrigation and water conservation manies of average, maximum and mini- ping of weather data over a 30-year pe- projects for districts, states and entire coun- mum temperatures, precipitation and riod, could help scientists increase their tries. The quality of irrigated land in many . . . . . . ........... precipitation probabilities, evapotranspi- understanding of the global warming phe- places is declining due to increasing soil ration (the total water evaporated from nomenon," says Mr. Jensen. "We expect salinization, overpumping and contamina- scientists to find many other important tion of groundwater aquifers. bodies of water or used in crop growing) applications for the Atlas that we haven't Agronomists and researchers can use the avlity index, delineate re iswhre even dreamed about ourselves." Atlas' long term climate data to assess the availabisty inse duelineates regions where Some of the data is now available on potential for plant adaptation to climatic moisture is adequate to grow crops. The CD-ROM. In July, the entire Atlas will be conditions. "The Atlas will show, for in- second index measures a new concept, accessible on the Intemet.The project was stance, where rice or potatoes, or any crop, , 16 CGIAR could be grown where they are not now Continued on page 17 (Continued from page 16) (Continued from page 15) erosion in Texas cotton production areas. Atlas Triticale Triticale has proven suitable in the recla- mation of highly compacted and polluted mine spoils in Czechoslovakia. However, the difference between evapotranspiration laboratory screening methods. further studies are needed to determine and precipitation. It helps locate areas triticale's potential in metal uptake (cad- needing irrigation. Human Consumption mium, lead) for specific pollution situ- If the NET in a designated area during As a food grain, triticale uses-al- ations and to compare it with other a certain period is positive, it means not though in many cases proven to be suit- crops. Triticale also has been considered enough rainfall exists to maintain current able-have not been extended to the as a raw material in bioethanol pro- cropping patterns without supplementary commercial level. Given its generally in- duction and as insulation material in irrigation. Where the NET is negative, ferior breadmaking quality, triticale is not building construction. Although enough rainfall for crops exists. The NET yet envisioned to be a suitable flour for bioethanol production equivalent to is not the same throughout each year. In breadmaking, particularly if wheat flour 1,000 L of fuel per hectare can be Southern California, for example, in win- is available. In limited cases and due to achieved, feasibility will depend on ter, the NET is negative; in summer, it is wheat shortages, triticale has been used, energy input per hectare and govern- positive. particularly by small-scale landholders, ment policies. The CD-ROMs contain monthly and alone or blended with wheat, for the annual summaries of rainfall and tempera- ture, which are displayed on maps. For Table 2. Food Uses of Triticale in Some Major Producer Countries example, net rainfall (rainfall minus evapo- Country Product Proportion of Triticale Flour ration) is designated by different colors; deep blue marks heavy rainfall, green less Australia Breads, cookies & biscuits 100%, blend and red signifies dry. In South Asia- Brazil Variety breads 35% mainly India, Pakistan and Bangladesh- Germany Leavened bread 40% Poland Rye-type bread 100% only the southern region is blue in Febru- Russia Rye-type bread 100%, blend ary, with the northern regions of the U.S.A. Layer cake 50% Indo-Gangetic plains green and red. By May through August, the entire South Asia region turns all blue as the monsoon sea- manufacture of local homemade breads. Outlook son reaches its peak. By September and Rolled triticale ("flakes") and whole meal The transformation of triticale from a through December, the northern regions flour, whole meal specialty breads, and scientific curiosity to a viable crop in the again become red and green, showing that other health foods have been marketed course of a few decades has been a re- they have dried out significantly. in small amounts in different countries. markable achievement in plant breeding. A user can then focus onto a smaller See Table 2. However, several grain and nongrain fac- area, which will then fill the computer Animal Feeding tors have caused triticale to fail as a com- screen to get more detailed information mercial food grain. Over-enthusiastic about climate variation on that smaller Most triticale production is utilized as promotion of triticale as a "great nutri- area of interest. A user can extract infor- a feed grain forage, or both in animal feed- tious new grain" in the early 1 970s dis- mation from a point on a map, or by de- ing, including poultry, monogastrics, and appointed those who attempted to ex- lineating an area, such as a water basin or ruminants. Triticale serves as a substitute ploit it commercially, greatly damaging irrigation system. for other cereal grains or as a partial sub- the "image" of a cereal that was still far "By looking at patterns of the past, we stitute for protein sources such as soy- from having more stable and acceptable can find patterns on the future. We will bean meal. attributes. Global wheat surpluses, lack see that when some regions of the globe One important problem faced by the Of year-to-year consistency in the com- are dry, it will mean that other areas will feed grain industry in Australia is that the position of triticale grain, absence of of- be wet," Mr. Jensen says. large variation in grain protein content ficial triticale grading systems, and lack For monthly data, the Atlas is produced exhibited by triticale in a given cropping Of proper promotion are additional fac- on 6 CD-ROMs, which divides the world year does not permit incorporating a tors that have not permitted the forma- into sections. The first section-covering steady amount of triticale in the feed for- tion of the farmer-industry-cfosumer data for Asia-is provided on the initial mula. chain necessary for triticale to become CD-ROM, with additional data on the Miscellaneous Uses established as a commercial food grain. Internet. For 10-day data, IIMI and the . . This resulted in disappointment for both Utah Climate Center will issue 17 addi- TrCticale has been used as a cover crop tional CD-ROMs. to prevent runoff and erosion in vineyard Coninued on page 18 soils of South Africa and to control wind 17 Continued on page 19 CGIAR 1,7 (Continued from page 17) (Continued from page 13) Global Economic Integration and Triticale A Regional Vision Food Security Wise use of natural, human and capi- tal resources in each country will al- farmers and researchers in developed and Natural Resource Stewardship low agriculture to make sustainable contributions to food security. This developing countries. Heading the list of resources that are would imply dropping the uneconomic Despite this, efforts to resolve the ba- no longer abundant in the region is wa- goal of food self-sufficiency in favor of sic problems of triticale continued. As a ter. Despite the scarcity of water in economic self-reliance. Given the fluc- consequence, the areas under triticale WANA, many countries have poor wa- tuating nature of productivity in rainfed production worldwide during the 1986- ter use efficiency. Open access to aqui- farming systems, optimizing storage 1992 period increased from 1 million to fers by private wells is common.The costs and imports of grain must receive nearly 2.5 million hectares. At present, charged for the maintenance and opera- greater attention in the future. most triticale cultivation is in Europe tion of irrigation structures in agriculture WANA countries that are increas- (78%), followed by North America (7%), often do not fully reflect the investment, ingly dependent upon food imports will Africa (6%), Latin America (5%), and let alone the cost to future generations find their food bills rising as developed Australia and New Zealand (4%). Except of exhausting groundwater supplies. countries reduce production and ex- for a few planted areas in China, the crop Water harvesting and supplementary ir- port subsidies under GATT. is not commercially grown in Asia. Ac- rigation are alternatives for increasing and Greater integration with world mar- tive research in enhancing the produc- stabilizing yields of crops grown in rainfed kets will become more urgent. Invest- tivity and end-product quality and pro- areas. ments in human capital, natural re- motion of triticale is underway in more Land itself must be protected from source management, research and than thirty countries. degradation through the use of judicious technology development are essential. Farmers in every part of the world have technologies. Inheritance traditions and The following are a few important adopted new techniques and accepted land tenure laws have caused land frag- issues on which agricultural research in new crops that are considered profitable mentation, hindering productivity and WANA can contribute to food security and consistent with their circumstances. resource stewardship. and prosperity: The first factors, which favored farmers' Rangelands inWANA, covering about adoption of triticale, were its superior per- 30 percent of the land area and provid- 1. Methods for determining the best ag- formance under unfavorable production ing a third of the diet of some 300 mil- ronomic practices (economically and conditions including acidic soils, severe lion small ruminants, are typically open environmentally), and for encourag- disease or insect pressures, or drought. to unrestricted grazing and therefore se- ing their adoption, are essential for Second, it had the ability to produce verely degraded. Traditional grazing man- sustaining productivity and for im- higher biomass and high regrowth capac- agement, which integrates crop by-prod- proved water use efficiency. ity after grazing and ability to grow bet- ucts and rangelands, is under serious 2. Research on livestock management ter under relatively cool temperatures, stress. Hand in hand with this goes loss and nutrition should be intensified, making it an excellent forage crop. Third, of soil from wind erosion, water runoff, given the current emphasis on na- and equally important, was the useful- and other causes and, where it has not tional veterinary and animal breed- ness of triticale as a feed grain mainly for been lost, the draining of nutrients ing investments and the importance monogastric animals. through inappropriate management. of livestock in the region. Considerable effort is underway to im- A key resource which should not be prove the milling and baking qualities of overlooked is biodiversity. Desirable plant 3. Conservation and enhancement of triticale. Millers and markets find it diffi- species have been lost or diminished in plant and animal genetic resources are cult to accept a new crop because of the large areas of WANA. These are the ge- essential to the future not only of additional investments involved in modi- netic centers of origin of some of the WANA but of the planet's entire food fying the milling procedure or adding world's most important cereals (wheat production system. new holding facilities. However, when the and barley) and legumes (lentil, chickpea 4. Where pastoralists and farmers are in- world is faced with the problem of slow- and forage legumes), and where the wild secure tenants they cannot be ex- ing productivity of established crops like relatives of these plants are found. pected to take long term responsibil- wheat, maize, and rice and the popula- Continued degradation of the natural ity for the natural resources they use. tion keeps growing at its high rate, op- resource base in this region is hence of This issue is central to policy research. tions like triticale to enhance sustainable grave consequence for all of humanity. 5.Informal seed sectors should be en- production will continue to be important 5. by seed sears on meth- in feeding the world population. hanced by strategic research on meth- (CIMMYT) ods, followed up with well informed (CIMMYT) extension. 18 K >CGIAR Continued on page 19 (Continued from page 18) (Continued from page 17) A Regional Vision Atlas perature to within 1 degree Celsius (Centigrade) and precipitation to within 10 percent for most locations. . . ~~~~~~The grids may be less accurate along It is no coincidence that ICARDA's To accomplish the mapping, state-of-the- The coass an for hlly and munteain mandate is focused on these areas of art spatial interpolation techniques are need for strategic research. This re- used-daily data from the weather stations ous regions. search work is aimed at yielding knowl- are plotted on the map electronically, and The Atlas also estimates what the edge (including genetic information) daily estimates are made for locations be- past temperatures and rainfall were like and human capital for the sustained tween the stations. world. benefit of mankind. Partnerships with The Atlas also incorporates digital eleva- world. and among the national agricultural tion modeling, or DEM, which captures ef- Future Versions research systems (NARS) of WANA are fects from mountains and other high areas, The Atlas contains data that has met a key to success and essential for bring- such as temperature lapses (temperatures rigorous quality control standards dur- ing resources and critical masses of re- decrease with altitude) and rain shadows ing the mapping process. "This is the search skill to bear on the issues. This (more rain falls on the windward side of first issue of the Atlas," says David will require concerted efforts of NARS mountains than the leeward sides). Seckler, "and like other new software with international research centers like The Atlas also improves the quality of development, feedback isrequired from ICARDA. the maps through careful screening of data, users to correct any errors and add new The challenges to agriculture and which is important because many of the data." When new or improved data be- natural resources ofWANA are tremen- sites at which data is collected are "biased"- datail aben esprom dal dous, and must be faced now because for example, by airfields and towns, where comes available, especially from local agricultural development is needed not large expanses of concrete result in higher statio e incorporated in sub- sequent versions of the Atlas. only to fill food consumption gaps in temperatures than prevail in surrounding "We already have begun work on a future but also to encourage overall de- agricultural areas. Also, by comparing cli- second edition, which will be even velopment and job creation. Agricul- matic data of one station with other nearby, more accurate," explains Mr. Seckler. tural development is important for re- similar stations, data that was not properly "The next version will improve the pre- ducing poverty, and for conserving and collected or recorded is screened. cision by more than 50 percent, pre- enhancing the natural resources that are The "cleaned" data is processed through senting the data at one kilometer inter- vital for the future of people in WANA advanced mathematical procedures to pro- vals. Such a fine resolution of the and beyond. duce a grid of 2.5 km squares (1 square instrument will make it something akin mile) of interpolated data for the surface of to electricity when it was first in- Adel El-Beltagy is Director General the earth. Each "grid" includes all selected vented-no one can predict how many of ICARDA. climatic variables. The Atlas estimates tem- uses the Atlas will be put to in time." (IIMI) Past & Upcoming The CGIAR Mid-Term Meeting (MTM97) will take place in Cairo, Egypt (May 26-30). Main topics on the agenda are: CGIAR Research Plans 1998-2000; Positioning the CGIAR in the Global System; CGIAR System Review; Evaluation and Impact Assessment in the CGIAR; Implementation of CGIAR Decisions on Central/Eastern Europe. Before the meeting, on May 25, the new ICLARM research facility in Abbasa, Egypt, will be inaugurated. After the meeting, a visit to ICARDA Headquarters in Aleppo, Syria, will be organized, coinciding with the center's 20th anniversary (June 2). The Ecoregional Fund. A Fund for Methodological Support to Ecoregional Programs was established in 1995 with the objec- tive of stimulating ecoregional initiatives within and outside the CGIAR. The Dutch government made a founding contribu- tion of $5.8 million in 1995 through the Netherlands Ministry of Development Cooperation. Other donors have been invited to contribute. The fund supports research projects of maximally five.years for up to $500,000. "Agricultural Research and Development: The Need for Public-Private Sector Partnerships" is the title of a study by Clive James, Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), a non-profit network with centers in several regions. He had helped the CGIAR in establishing the Private Sector Committee. The study, published as Issues in Agriculture 9, is available from the CGIAR Secretariat. CGIAR 4f 19 The CGIAR CGIAR Centers CGIAR Chairman - *CIAT-Centro Internacional de *IFPRI-I,iterioational Foodi Policv Ismail Serageldin .. ~ Agrictoltura Tropical Research Institute .AptaoArero6713 1200 17th Street, NW - .js ~~~~~~~~~ai-ooibaWashington, D.C. 20036-3006 USA Cosponsors ...-- ,ITOFC(57).'2i4450 000 N Tel. (1)202-862-5600 Fax (5)-44073Fax (1)202-467-4439 Food and Agriculture Organizatofitf~ie Unit~ed Natio-n i, F AI) , 5)-45 7 United Nations Development Programme (,UNDP) *CIFOR-Center for International --..l,1l-lnternational Irrigatioii United Nations Efivironment¸f4ogramme (UNEP)- y/- Forestry Research Ma-naigement Institute The World Bank /P.O. Box 6596 P --- 0 iiox 2075 -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~JKPWB Jakarta 10065' Indonesia "CoIornboF!\ri Lanka CGIAR Member .7,~Tel. (62)251-34ii652' . ~ Tel '(94)1-867404 DeveMfied /.zCoimnirie.~~~~~~~~~~ __ -. f~~~,% ..d,_'12-'6433 ~ , Fax.'(4--45 ___ ,r~~~~~~~~~~-..t-.CIM1MYT:Centro Internacional de 11 lIT.) Iit.rni oi,ui.iI Institute of - ~~- ~ D5eve ig ff I,~eoaie eMaiz y Trigo l.II i.sr.uir B~tii~lol.. Hi nil. Cini. C.I..ibi.j I "Lsboa 27, P.O. Box 6-641 - B Australia, Austria, Belgium Cai.i)-.li I/ l " hi'1. m.. Denmark,F ~~inan Franc C. ntm i..'.- .~tmd Inln.r-I. 06600 Mexico, D.F. 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