Agricultural Research for Development Creating Opportunities

Transcription

1 Agricultural Research for Development Creating Opportunities BMZ Information Brochure e

2 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 3 Preface Agricultural research makes a vital contribution to food security and the conservation of natural resources in agriculture. Without the agricultural research undertaken over recent decades, the level of food production worldwide would be far lower than it is today, and hunger and malnutrition would be even more widespread. expectations of agricultural research are likely to increase in future. According to current projections, the global population will grow by a further two billion people and reach nine billion by mid-century. At the same time, agricultural production conditions will alter, and in many places worsen, as a result of climate change. rising demand for food under changed supply conditions, especially in the developing and emerging countries, poses challenges which we must address. Without agricultural research, this battle would already be lost for agricultural research involves an ongoing search for more resilient and higher-yielding varieties, smarter plant protection systems, better techniques in veterinary medicine, sustainable production methods, ways of conserving the natural resources which form the basis of farming, and appropriate strategies to ensure that the world s poor, hungry and undernourished people have access to adequate food. Agricultural research for development creates opportunities which can only be utilised to the full if it is carried out in the field, under the natural production conditions existing in the various regions of the world. for that reason, the german government has for many years provided support for the agricultural research being carried out by the international research centres located around the world. the support from the federal ministry for economic cooperation and Development (BmZ) currently totals around 20 million euros annually, making germany one of the largest donors in this area. germany s support for international agricultural research is an integral element of its efforts to promote rural development and food security, which have at last resumed their rightful place at the forefront of german development policy. Dirk Niebel, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development to ensure that the research findings can be integrated into practical farming operations as quickly as possible, german development policy also supports capacity building for the developing countries own national research centres by assisting them to participate in global programmes. networking between the international agricultural research centres and german universities, research institutions and private companies promotes the exchange of knowledge and experience and more rapid application of new research findings. the know-how available in germany can thus be utilised even more effectively to promote food security, combat poverty and facilitate sharing of new research findings. By linking agricultural research and development, germany is helping to ensure that the research centres findings reach those who need them most the farmers in the developing countries. Dirk niebel

3 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 53 Contents A growing population, dwindling resources 6 Agricultural research for food security 8 Agricultural research is diverse 10 rice 10 maize, wheat, barley, legumes 12 forage crops, peas, millet and sorghum 12 potato and vegetables 14 livestock and fish 16 insect pests 18 Water and forest resources 18 conservation of agrobiodiversity 19 policy 19 international agricultural research centres supported by germany an overview 20 How it works 21 Germany s contribution 22 Partnerships for the future 23

4 6 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t A growing population, dwindling resources there are around seven billion people alive in the world today. some 925 million of them almost one seventh of the world s population are living in hunger. in all, around two billion men, women and children suffer from malnutrition: their diets lack the micronutrients, such as vitamins, essential fatty acids, protein and minerals, that are vital for health. experts predict that by the mid 21st century, the world s population will increase to more than nine billion people. Almost all this population growth will occur in the developing and emerging countries. to ensure that this ever-growing population has enough to eat, food production will need to increase by around 70 per cent compared with today. Worldwide, the amount of cropland per capita has been decreasing for decades, as a growing world population has to share the limited land resources available. there are now very few land reserves left any where in the world. What s more, every year, around 12 million hectares of cropland equivalent to around one third of germany s land area are lost to erosion caused by poor land management, as well as to road-building and construction, for example. Biological diversity has also decreased at an unprecedented rate over recent decades, with agricultural biodiversity affected as well. this agricultural diversity was created over thousands of years by farmers, who adapted crops and livestock to their local environmental conditions and their own needs. the agrobiodiversity which still exists forms the basis of our agricultural systems and modern plant and livestock breeding.

5 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 7 the demand for water is steadily rising for human consumption, industry, and agriculture. however, the availability of water resources is decreasing because far too much groundwater is being consumed. Almost one seventh of the world s population has no access to safe water. Worldwide, agriculture accounts for more than two thirds of freshwater use. climate change will exacerbate the problems of hunger and resource scarcity in many regions of the world, such as sub-saharan Africa and the coastal regions of Asia. rising sea levels, more frequent and intensive droughts, shifts in rainfall patterns, increasingly frequent heavy rainfall and storms, and changes in fauna and flora and, indeed, entire ecosystems are just some of the climate change impacts already confronting people in many regions of the world today. Left: The farmers plant the rice in fields that have been flooded by the rains. This gives the plants the water they need to grow and ensures a plentiful harvest. Top: Fishing provides a livelihood for millions of people living in rural areas in developing countries and emerging economies. Middle: Only top-quality chilies make it onto the market. Bottom: Higher peanut yields and more resistant plants are two achievements of agricultural research.

6 8 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t Agricultural research for food security Agricultural research is an investment in the future. it helps us to conserve our natural basis of life and adapt it to future challenges, some of which cannot yet be predicted. Agricultural research makes a major con tribution to food security and the conservation of natural resources. Without agricultural research, our farming systems would be producing much lower yields today. Agricultural research has many dimensions: sustainable production systems in arable farming, livestock husbandry and fish farming, the conservation and sustainable management of forests, and ways of creating synergies between farming and forestry in order to conserve cropland and increase food production are just some of its diverse aspects. the management of water catchments and water- efficient irrigation methods are also topics being addressed in agricultural research. the scientists working at the agricultural research centres are increasingly focusing their research on the challenges posed by climate change. Among other things, they produce forecasts identifying new opportunities for crop cultivation or shifts in production areas, for example in the coffee sector, and monitor the spread of animal and plant diseases. they are also engaged in the development of new varieties of crop which are more tolerant of arid conditions or a higher salt content in soil, also with a view to the future. to develop these new varieties, researchers utilise the agricultural research centres extensive gene banks, which store the seed and plant genetic resources of hundreds of thousands of food and forage crops. the agricultural research supported by the federal ministry for economic cooperation and Development (BmZ) is development-oriented. this means that the scientists engaged in this agricultural research aim to develop solutions to help improve the food supply for people in the developing and emerging countries and reduce poverty, especially in rural regions. producing policy studies and identifying new income generation opportunities therefore also fall within the scope of agricultural research for development. the scientists research is geared towards meeting people s social and economic needs, so they work closely with farmers when developing new crop varieties, for example. they also cooperate with government agencies and the private sector to establish the basis for the development of new cultivation techniques or the production of new vaccines for livestock under market conditions, based on their research findings. however, prices must be structured in such a way that poorer population groups can also afford the new products.

7 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 9 Project profile: Agricultural extension: ICRISAT and the University of Hohenheim support knowledge sharing among farmers farmers in the sahel have been feeling the effects of climate change for years. As part of the code-wa project, scientists are therefore working with farmers from niger, mali, Burkina faso and ghana to develop strategies for adaptation to climate variability. code- WA is a joint project involving the international crops research institute for the semi-arid tropics (icrisat), the university of hohenheim and various national agricultural research centres in West Africa 1. new pearl millet and sorghum varieties which grow more quickly than the traditional varieties form part of the strategy for adaptation to climate change, along with efforts to increase diversity at the crop and variety level. the best and most important extension agents are the farmers themselves. code-wa therefore organises regular exchanges of farmer experience among the project countries. groups of farmers from niger, mali and ghana have already visited Burkina faso in order to share their knowledge and experience with their colleagues and learn new techniques. tomato production is a good example: in Burkina faso, farmers only grow tomatoes during the dry season and therefore rely on irrigation. so that the plants derive maximum benefit from the water resources used, the tomato plants are grown in furrows. in ghana, on the other hand, tomatoes are grown during the rainy season. to prevent the plants from getting too wet, they are grown on mounds. As a result of this knowledge sharing, the farmers in Burkina faso are now growing tomatoes during the rainy season as well, using the cropping techniques learned from their southern neighbours and thus earning an additional income. 1 All the projects profiled in this brochure receive funding from the federal ministry for economic cooperation and Development (BmZ). Field training farmers training other farmers

8 10 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t Agricultural research is diverse Rice the diversity of agricultural research for development is also reflected in the agendas and research priorities of the international agricultural research centres supported by germany. there are 17 of these in total, with 15 of them supported by the consultative group on international Agricultural research (cgiar). they are the oldest and most important institutions working in the field of international agricultural research. All these institutions have a common mandate: to contribute to food security and improve the conditions of life for the poor in developing and emerging countries. specialisation among the centres increases their efficiency, but does not preclude the possibility of cooperation on specific issues. rice the world s most important staple food is the main focus of interest at two institutions. the international rice research institute (irri) in los Baños, philippines, and the Africa rice center (Africarice) in cotonou, Benin, address issues and problems relating to the breeding, cultivation and protection of this tropical cereal. over the last 50 years, scientists at irri have developed 864 new varieties of rice. the first was ir8, dubbed miracle rice for its far superior yields compared with existing varieties. A kind of miracle was also achieved by plant breeders at the Africa rice center. their new rice for Africa ( nerica ) is an interspecific cultivar of rice developed by crossing traditional African and Asian varieties. its yields are twice as high as those of the traditional African varieties, but like these traditional varieties, it is well-adapted to Africa s more arid climatic conditions. Over 109,000 different varieties of rice are stored at the International Rice Genebank at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The institution draws on them for its work breeding new varieties of rice.

9 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 11 Project profile: A small but crucial difference: IRRI breeds flood-tolerant rice every year, around 15 million hectares of rice fields in south and south-east Asia are flooded for several days or even weeks after heavy rainfall. if the rice has already been planted, this can have a disastrous effect, for prolonged submergence drowns the young plants. often, farmers lose their entire crop, resulting in reduced incomes and even hunger for many families. As modern high-yielding rice varieties cannot survive a prolonged period of submergence, smallholders in risk-prone areas often resort to planting traditional local varieties which are better able to withstand flooding. the downside is that these varieties are generally very low-yielding. nonetheless, they contain a wealth of valuable genetic information. scientists at the international rice research institute (irri) have identified a gene in a traditional indian variety which makes rice flood-resistant. they dubbed it the sub1 gene. the scientists successfully isolated the gene and transferred it into modern rice varieties using conventional breeding techniques. swarna-sub1 is one of these new varieties and is currently taking india s rice fields by storm. farmers in low-lying rice growing areas are especially keen to get their hands on the new variety. Within a year of its release in 2009, more than 100,000 farmers in rural regions had switched to this new variety. the genetic make-up of swarna-sub1 differs from that of the popular swarna variety in one small but crucial respect: it contains the sub1 gene. this means that it can survive a good two weeks of submergence unscathed, growing on afterwards as if no flooding had occurred. By contrast, plants without the scuba gene die off. farmers who plant the new variety have doubled their rice yields. The Swarna-Sub1 variety of rice, which was developed by IRRI scientists, can withstand two weeks of flooding unharmed.

10 12 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t Maize, wheat, barley, legumes Forage crops, peas, millet and sorghum the research undertaken at the international center for the improvement of maize and Wheat (cimmyt) in mexico city, mexico, established almost 70 years ago, is dedicated to the development of improved varieties of wheat and maize two other staple foods of crucial importance for world food security. most of the varieties of wheat and maize grown in the developing countries today were developed at cimmyt. they include varieties which are able to withstand arid conditions and poor soils, or are pest-resistant. Wheat is also one of the crops being researched at the international center for Agricultural research in the Dry Areas (icarda). other important agricultural crops are barley, lentil, faba bean and chickpea, all of which originate in the middle east, where icarda is based. scientists at icarda s headquarters in Aleppo, syria, study the biodiversity of these crops and are also developing techniques for improving water-use efficiency and for conserving soil fertility, for example. two of the research centres focus specifically on farming in the tropics: the international center for tropical Agriculture (centro internacional de Agricultura tropical ciat), with headquarters in cali, colombia, and the international institute of tropical Agriculture (iita) in ibadan, nigeria. ciat s main areas of interest are beans, cassava, tropical fruits and forages. this research work is supplemented by studies on sustainable resource management in mountain areas of latin America, east Africa and south-east Asia. iita focuses its research on crops such as cassava and yam, which are important for food security in Africa. for example, researchers at iita have developed varieties of cassava which are resistant to specific recurrent cassava viruses. this has doubled yields in nigeria, which is now the world s largest producer of cassava. A farmer applying the biofungicide developed by IITA to his maize field to protect the crop from Aspergillus flavus. The fungus produces a highly toxic substance. Sorghum: the new varieties developed b a height of between 2.5 and 5 metres.

11 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 13 Project profile: Controlling a mycotoxin: IITA develops a new aflatoxin control method An estimated 4.5 billion people in developing countries are chronically exposed to aflatoxin, a type of mycotoxin that occurs in foods, particularly maize and groundnut, and is not destroyed by cooking. Aflatoxin is highly toxic. it causes liver cancer, suppresses the immune system, increasing susceptibility to hiv and malaria, and retards the growth and development of children. fatalities as a result of ingestion of high doses are by no means uncommon. in Kenya, for example, 200 people have died from aflatoxin poisoning in recent years. however, researchers at the international institute of tropical Agriculture (iita) in ibadan, nigeria, have shown that it is possible to outwit the mycotoxin. they have developed a biofungicide which is effective against aflatoxin. the scientists studied 4,500 strains of Aspergillus flavus a fungus which is one of the main producers of aflatoxin in nigeria and identified 20 strains which lack the capacity to produce toxins due to a genetic defect. these atoxigenic strains form the basis for the new biocontrol technique. iita s researchers have already carried out practical trials, which were very successful. sorghum grains are vaccinated with the good fungi and then scattered on fields in a similar manner as fertiliser. As soon as they come into contact with the moisture in the soil, the fungi start to grow and spread. Because they grow more rapidly than the toxigenic strains, they quickly gain the upper hand. farmers who applied the biofungicide to their maize fields found that aflatoxin contamination was reduced by 80 to 90 per cent. And because the good fungi are stored along with the cobs, the maize no longer deteriorates during storage. the pesticide was developed with significant input from german development cooperation. commercial production is due to commence soon. y ICRISAT in West Africa grow to The new breeds of sorghum yield twice as much as the old varieties. They are also more resistant to disease and drought.

12 14 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t chickpea, pigeonpea, millet, sorghum and groundnut are the most important food crops in the semi-arid tropical regions. in conjunction with its sister centre icarda, the international crops research institute for the semi-arid tropics (icrisat), headquartered in patancheru, india, has developed 365 new varieties of these crops over the last 25 years, and these are now being cultivated in around 70 countries. in india, for example, the new varieties of pigeonpea are proving to be extremely successful, doubling yields compared with the traditional varieties. new varieties of sorghum have been developed specifically for West A frica, increasing yields by around 20 per cent compared with the traditional varieties even in poor growing conditions, and doubling yields where growing conditions are good. the new varieties are also drought-tolerant and disease-resistant. Potato and vegetables potato is the third most important food crop in the world. the international potato center (cip) in lima, peru, is dedicated to this energy-rich, nutritious tuber. for example, cip researchers are working with farmers to improve the disease resistance of the traditional native varieties grown in the Andes. they have also developed fast-growing varieties so that an additional crop can be grown each year. however, potato breeding is only one aspect of cip s work. it is also developing new cropping techniques and environmentally friendly methods of pest control, for example against the potato tuber moth. this increases yields, especially for smallholders, and improves their food security. cip also carries out research on sweetpotato, which is an important staple food for many people in developing countries. the same applies to other root and tuber crops which are native to the Andes and play an important role in food security. Potatoes at a market in Kenya. For some years now, potato cultivation has been on the increase both in Kenya and across Africa.

13 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 15 Developing new and improved varieties of vegetable and better cropping techniques, and identifying new marketing opportunities, are the main focus of the World vegetable center (AvrDc) in tainan, taiwan. As well as chili pepper, tomato, eggplant and other vegetables which feature on the menu in every country of the world, AvDrc s researchers also take a keen interest in local indigenous vegetables, some of which are almost forgotten but are often far more nutritious than other vegetables. in this way, AvrDc is making an important contribution to food security in the developing countries rural regions. Project profile: Small, hot and strong: AVRDC breeds resistant chili varieties chilies are the only source of income for many smallholder farmers in tropical Asia, especially in china, india, indonesia and thailand. however, growing this crop is a risky business, for viral, fungal and bacterial diseases can wipe out the entire harvest. on average, these diseases destroy around one third of the chili crop in Asia every year. until now, farmers have sprayed expensive pesticides to protect their crops. however, this practice may soon be consigned to history, for scientists at the World vegetable center (AvrDc) in taiwan have now developed varieties of chili which are resilient against the main diseases affecting the production areas in tropical regions of Asia. resistant strains from the center s own chili collection were used as the basis for the new varieties: the researchers then crossed these resistant strains with selected varieties which are popular with smallholder farmers in china, india, indonesia and thailand. in this way, strains were progressively developed which are resistant to viral, fungal and bacterial diseases. the smallholder farmers can propagate the new varieties themselves. Potato harvest in the Andes Potatoes were already being grown in the area south-east of Lima some 10,000 years ago. Today, they are the third most important staple food in the world.

14 16 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t Livestock and fish livestock cattle, goats, sheep and poultry and the diseases which affect them are the focus of interest at the international livestock research institute (ilri) in nairobi, Kenya. specialist techniques are being developed here to identify cattle which are particularly resistant to specific diseases, such as African animal trypanosomiasis (AAt), so that they can be used in breeding programmes. Another major disease which is currently the subject of intensive research at ilri is African swine fever and its transmission mechanisms. combating these and other diseases is vital for many livestock farmers, who depend on their animals for their livelihood security. Another issue on the researchers agenda is avian influenza, which is now prevalent throughout the world. Alongside diseaserelated research, the sustainable intensification of small-scale livestock farming is another important field of research for the scientists at ilri. Project profile: Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia: ILRI develops new diagnostic techniques contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (cbpp) is currently the most important bacterial disease affecting livestock in sub-saharan Africa. Around 15 per cent of infected animals die, while surviving animals become chronically sick. the milk production of infected cows is substantially reduced, meat production is affected, and infected draught animals have a much reduced capacity for work. the annual economic cost of cbpp is estimated to total more than 44 million euros for the countries that report the vast majority of outbreaks. scientists at the international livestock research institute (ilri) in nairobi, Kenya, are therefore developing new techniques for rapid and reliable diagnosis of the disease, including tests that can be used on chronically sick animals. this is important because quarantine measures imposed at the start of an outbreak are difficult to enforce and monitor in remote areas. nomadic herds may be a reservoir of the disease, posing a threat to healthy animals. Animals which are infected but show no symptoms of the disease also pose an ongoing threat to healthy livestock. until now, however, it has been almost impossible to screen and identify these animals. the new diagnostic techniques are based on the identification of the molecules which cause the disease and animals specific reactions to them. in parallel, scientists at ilri are also developing new and more effective vaccines against the disease. For many people, fish is not only a source of income but an important foodstuff. It provides the protein the human body needs.

15 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 17 the work of the Worldfish center in penang, malaysia, makes an important contribution to improving the nutritional status of rural populations. for example, through a selective breeding programme, Worldfish scientists developed a strain of nile tilapia (oreochromis niloticus) with superior growth. combined with better survival traits, a larger number of tilapia are now reaching maturity. With productivity thus increasing by one third, fish farmers can boost their sales and achieve higher levels of profitability. the supply of fish to local markets has improved at the same time. Cattle herd in the Ghibe Valley, Ethiopia Thanks to the successful control of the tsetse fly, cattle can now be kept in places where this was formerly not possible one of ILRI s success stories. Every blade of grass is used to feed the cattle. The animals not only provide milk and meat but are also a form of insurance against hard times.

16 18 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t Insect pests insects are vectors of diseases which affect crops, livestock and humans, including malaria and trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). these diseases and ways of controlling them are the subject of the research work being undertaken by scientists at the African insect science for food and health (icipe). the focus is on soft methods of disease control, such as the use of fungi which kill mosquitoes but have no effect on humans. icipe is headquartered in nairobi, Kenya. Water and forest resources freshwater is a scarce resource. the international Water management institute (iwmi) in colombo, sri lanka, produces studies on the management of water resources as well as needs and productivity analyses as the basis for policy-making. this work helps to safeguard food security in regions affected by water scarcity, such as the middle east and north Africa. rainforests, mangrove forests, dry forests all types of tropical forest are of interest to the scientists working at the center for international forestry research (cifor) in Bogor, indonesia. much of their work investigates the social, environmental and economic impacts of rainforest destruction and aims to develop alternative strategies. trees and their role in agricultural systems are the main focus of the research work undertaken at the World Agroforestry centre (icraf) in nairobi, Kenya. for example, native fruit trees whose products can be sold offer an opportunity for families to generate additional income while also helping to conserve species and agricultural biodiversity, as recent studies carried out in east Africa have shown. Cleared forest in the Amazon region, Brazil CIFOR is developing strategies to help cushion the impact of rainforest destruction.

17 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 19 Conservation of agrobiodiversity researching and safeguarding agrobiodiversity is the main focus of the work of Bioversity international in rome, italy. its scientists work closely with other international and national institutions on the collection and conservation of agricultural plants. Policy the international food policy research institute (ifpri) in Washington, usa, produces analyses of food policy, markets and political and economic conditions, thus supporting decision-making by politicians, development experts and economists worldwide. for example, ifpri s research on international trade liberalisation has influenced the current world trade round. in conjunction with the german non-governmental organisation Welthungerhilfe, ifpri also produces the annual global hunger index, a well-known statistical tool that tracks countries hunger situation. Project profile: Contracting out of poverty: IFPRI s approach smallholder mango farmers in peru who establish a long-term contractual relationship with the sunshine company are securing prices up to 8 per cent higher for their produce than those paid to non-contract farmers. the contracts were signed in 2006, and within three years, the farmers were selling almost 90 per cent of their mango crop to sunshine. they have also improved the quality of their produce, as the company only buys high-quality mangoes. the success is based on a well-crafted contract developed by the international food policy research institute (ifpri). sunshine pays the farmers a bonus for good-quality produce, and the 600 farmers also receive advice and production aids, as well as access to credit facilities. in this way, sunshine is investing in agricultural and rural communities. the contract structures developed by ifpri are thus having a dual effect: they boost farmers incomes while contributing to rural development. the model has proved so successful that a second company has now entered the frame, with a view to concluding contracts with 200 farmers. the inter- American Development Bank (idb) has set up a fund to promote this type of contract farming in central America. ifpri has developed similar contracts for tanzanian and vietnamese dairy farmers. It is difficult to beat a path through the dense virgin forest. But those who know the forest well can find food and medicinal plants.

18 20 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t International agricultural research centres supported by Germany an overview Institution Research priorities Africa Rice African Rice Center Bioversity International CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture CIFOR Center for International Forestry Research CIMMYT International Center for the Improvement of Maize and Wheat CIP International Potato Center ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas ICRAF World Agroforestry Centre ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute IITA International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ILRI International Livestock Research Institute IRRI International Rice Research Institute IWMI International Water Management Institute WorldFish Center AVRDC World Vegetable Center ICIPE African Insect Science for Food and Health Rice in Africa: Development of new varieties, agricultural policy Agrobiodiversity: Research, conservation of agricultural biodiversity Beans, cassava, fruits, forage crops: Development of new varieties, resource management Tropical rainforests: Sustainable forest use and management Maize, wheat: Development of new varieties, soil management, cultivation techniques, resource management Potato, sweetpotato, Andean roots and tubers: Development of new varieties, cultivation techniques, plant protection, resource management Wheat, barley, lentil, faba bean, chickpea: Biological diversity, development of new varieties, water efficiency, soil fertility Trees and their role in agricultural systems: Sustainable production systems, conservation of species diversity, improving incomes Millet, sorghum, groundnut, chickpea, pigeonpea: Development of new varieties, resource management International food policy: Policy and market analyses Cassava, yam, soybean, cowpea, banana/plantain, maize: Development of new varieties, sustainable plant protection, cultivation systems Livestock: Breeding, sustainable production systems, diseases Development of new varieties, sustainable production systems Water: Water resources management, needs and productivity analyses, water for agriculture Fisheries and aquaculture: Breeding, sustainable coastal zone management, small-scale fisheries, aquaculture Vegetables: Development of new varieties, cultivation techniques, marketing Insects and their role as vectors in diseases in crops, livestock and humans (e.g. malaria, sleeping sickness)

19 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 21 How it works Agricultural research works. from the mid 1960s to the end of the 20th century, the centres supported by the consultative group on international Agricultural research (cgiar) developed nearly 7,200 new varieties of the main food crops 2. Although it often takes years for visible successes to be achieved, the research findings are being integrated into practical farming operations. By the end of the 1990s, for example, varieties developed by the cgiar agricultural research centres were being grown on two thirds of the fields under cultivation in developing countries. on average, they provided an annual increase in yield of 0.7 per cent for rice, wheat, barley, maize, potato, legumes and cassava. investment in agricultural research not only in the development of new varieties but also in plant protection pays off. for example, according to experts, research investment in the biological control of the cassava mealybug alone has produced an extremely high return: the savings to affected countries and farmers are estimated to amount to at least 6.5 bil - lion euros. Without the CGIAR centres research findings... > global food production would have been 4 5 per cent lower in the past; > world cereal prices would be per cent higher today; > the area under food crops in the developing countries would have to be expanded by an additional million hectares, resulting in further destruction of primary forests and ecosystems and their associated biodiversity; > food supply per capita in the developing countries would be around 5 per cent lower on average, and as much as 7 per cent lower in the least developed countries; and > million more children would suffer from malnutrition. 2 the data presented in the section how it works and the box are based on: renkow, m. and D. Byerlee (2010): the impacts of cgiar research: A review of recent evidence. in: food policy 35 (2010), p elsevier. Research findings being discussed on the ground The farmers opinions count for as much as those of the scientists.

20 22 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t Germany s contribution germany has supported international agricultural research for development for the past four decades. Development-oriented agricultural research is vital for the sustainable development of rural regions and agriculture in the developing countries, as well as for food security. to ensure that research findings can be integrated into practical farming operations as quickly as possible, german development cooperation also supports capacity building for the developing countries own national research centres by involving them in its funded research projects. germany s support for development-oriented agricultural research is an integral element of its efforts to promote rural development and food security, which play a central role in german development cooperation. the german government provides around 700 million euros annually to promote rural development, agriculture and food security. of this figure, around 20 million euros are channelled into international agricultural research, making germany one of the largest donors in this area. Besides providing financial support for the research centres, BmZ also plays an active role in international strategic and policy-making processes of relevance to development-oriented agricultural research. the german contribution is coordinated and managed by the Advisory service on Agricultural research for Development, established by the Deutsche gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (giz) gmbh. IFPRI Wash. DC USA ICARDA Aleppo Syrian Arab Rep. ICRISAT Patancheru India AVRDC Tainan Taiwan CIMMYT Mexico City Mexico CIP Lima Peru Bioversity International Rome Italy CIAT Cali Colombia ILRI Nairobi Kenya AfricaRice Cotonou Benin IITA Ibadan Nigeria IWMI Colombo Sri Lanka World Agroforestry Nairobi Kenya IRRI Los Baños Philippines CIFOR Bogor Indonesia WorldFish Penang Malaysia ICIPE Nairobi Kenya Map of CGIAR centres and of the other two research institutions (shown in red) that are also supported by Germany ( org/centers/index.html, modified).

21 A g r i c u l t u r A l r e s e A r c h f o r D e v e l o p m e n t 23 Partnerships for the future An important aspect of germany s support for development-oriented agricultural research is networking among the international agricultural research centres and german universities, research institutions and scientists. this promotes the exchange of knowledge and experience and more rapid application of new research findings. new partnerships between international and german agricultural research centres will further improve the exchange of experience in future. the know-how available in germany will thus be utilised even more effectively to promote food security and reduce poverty through this facilitated sharing of new research findings. All the findings produced by the international agricultural research centres are in the public domain and are accessible to everyone. this means that farmers can propagate the new varieties of wheat, rice and maize themselves, without having to pay any licence fees. private companies can also make use of new vaccines, diagnostic techniques, plant protection products, or business models developed by the international agricultural research centres. the inter national agricultural research centres are thus paving the way for the private sector to expand existing or open up new fields of business, based on the re search findings. Agricultural research bears fruit higher yields, more income, better prospects for the future.

22 Published by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Division for development education and information Edited by the BMZ Division for rural development; global food security Text: Beate Wörner, journalist, Fellbach Design and layout BLOCK DESIGN Kommunikation & Werbung, Berlin Printed by Bonifatius Druck und Verlag, Paderborn Photo credits Cover photo: AVRDC; p. 6: IRRI; p. 7: (top) WFisch / He Qing Yunnan, (centre) AVRDC, (bottom) ICRISAT; p. 9: Ludger Herrmann; p. 10 IRRI; p. 11: IRRI / Adam Barclay; p. 12: (1) IITA, (2) ICRISAT / Dimitry Ivanov; p. 13: ICRISAT / Dimitry Ivanov; p. 14: CIP; p. 15: CIP; p. 16: WFish; p. 17: (1), (2) ILRI / Stevie Mann; p.18: (1) Neil Palmer / CIAT, (2) CIFOR / Terry Sunderland; p. 21: IFPRI /Maximo Torero; p. 22: p. 23: Charlie Pye-Smith / ICRAF As at August 2011 Addresses of the BMZ offices Bonn Office Dahlmannstraße Bonn Tel (0) Fax + 49 (0) Berlin Office Stresemannstraße Berlin Tel. +49 (0) Fax +49 (0) poststelle@bmz.bund.de