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S cience for Agricultural Development Changing contexts and new opportunities. AGM 05, Marrakech Lisa Sennerby Forsse Science Council. Aim of the publication. Decision-makers who invest in research for development Public sector research community Private sector research community
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Science for Agricultural DevelopmentChanging contexts and new opportunities AGM 05, Marrakech Lisa Sennerby Forsse Science Council
Aim of the publication • Decision-makers who invest in researchfor development • Public sector research community • Private sector research community • Development practitioners worldwide Share knowledge of trends and emerging issues in the application of science and technology to agricultural development. For:
Contents • Understanding the continuum from research to development impact • Scientific opportunities: potential for success • The consequences of a changing global environment • The enabling environment for research: a changing international landscape • Conclusions and key messages
The publication makes a strong link between science for development and the MDGs • The first MDG – Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger – is the one directly targeted by agricultural development • Research on agriculture must consider environmental concerns - Goal 7:ensure environmental sustainability • Women’s participation in agricultural research is vital - Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women • Decision makers, researchers and practitioners must understand each others’ approaches - Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development
Understanding the continuum from research to development impact • Science for agricultural development has a good track record of delivering real benefits to poor farmers • Agro-ecologies and research spillovers: science and technology spillovers have been a pervasive feature of the history of agricultural development • Incorporating them into the planning stages requires improved use of data on the distribution of the biophysical attributes of the world’s agricultural production environments
Figure shows an agro-ecological typology of the world’s cultivated systems
Emerging scientific opportunities The research related good news of the past four decades is that today’s farmers are feeding almost twice as many people with better quality food from virtually the same land base. Emerging opportunities: • Genomics: Scientists can now produce genetic maps such as that of the rice genome that pinpoint the precise location and sequences of genes • Nanotechnology: is potentially relevant to agriculture e.g. energy storage, ICT, productivity enhancement, food processing and storage, pest detection and management • Information and communication technologies (ICTs): offer new opportunities e.g. bioinformatics and e-agriculture
The consequences for research of a changing climate • A changing climate will affect the distribution of pests and diseases • In the dry lands, rainfed tropics and subtropics even small increases in atmospheric temperature are likely to lead to decreases in yield for some crops • The role of irrigation is expected to increase and water resources will be a major factor constraining agricultural expansion in South Asia, North Africa and the Near East Climate change: is the largest current threat to the global environment. The projected changes will have both beneficial and adverse effects at the regional level on water resources, agriculture, natural ecosystems and human health. For example:
The enabling environment for research: a changing international landscape • Regional diversity in expenditure on research and development (1995-2000)
Public and private sector share of agricultural research and development expenditure, circa 2000 (ASTI)
Conclusions Publication shows track record of science for agricultural development in delivering benefits to farmers and concludes with messages for four main communities: • Decision makers who invest in agricultural R&D: partnership approaches add value to the potential impact • Public sector research community: can contribute to the MDGs through innovative partnerships • The private sector: researchers are increasingly aware of potential benefits of working with the private sector and of the IPR issues involved • Development practitioners: development impact can be greatly enhanced by research outcomes