Expert opinion

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a member of the CGIAR, aims to improve the health and welfare of those who depend on rice-based agri-food systems, protecting the environmental sustainability of rice farming. In an interview with Remy Bitoun, head of IRRI Tech Transfer, Sarah Cummings discussed the current status of engagement with the private sector from his personal perspective and what initiatives can be scaled up by the CGIAR in the context of OneCGIAR. »

Food security, climate change and environmental degradation are global challenges that require joint action by multiple organizations. That is why several donors stimulate multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs). What is known about these platforms? Do they achieve what they aim for? Do agriculture- and food-related MSPs contribute to food security, sustainable development and the position of smallholders? Edith van Ewijk and Mirjam Ros-Tonen of the University of Amsterdam dived into the literature and found positive results but also important limitations. »

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is an international, public sector research centre, part of the CGIAR network, based in Hyderbad, India. ICRISAT’s Digital Agriculture programme, which has received considerable support from senior management, is a self-sufficient research programme with a radical approach. In this programme, ICRISAT plays the role of innovation broker, linking farmers with public-private partnerships (PPPs) and tech startups. An interview with by Sarah Cummings with Ram Dhulipala. »

Seed trade in the Asia-Pacific region has been strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of surveys among seed company executives conducted in April, May and August 2020 shows adverse effects on the demand for sowing seed, although the situation in August was much better than in April or May for most crops. Still, »

Every year the Global Nutrition Report (GNR) succeeds in inspiring the international nutrition community. The 2020 edition is revolutionary as it focuses on the “underlying inequities, the unjust systems and processes” that result in the unequal distribution of opportunities in the world, between and within countries, rural and urban, poor and rich, men and women as the root cause of malnutrition. Read the blog written by Arine Valstar of NWGN. »

In this report, Pepijn Schreinemachers from the World Vegetable Center, and Kanokwan Chodchoey, Steven Layne and Weeranuch Mhadlhoo from the Asia & Pacific Seed Association (APSA) give the results of a second survey among seed enterprise members of the APSA. This second survey showed that seed companies continue to report the same difficulties, but that there are clear improvements in nearly all aspects.  »