High Level workshop France-CGIAR 7 June 2018, Montpellier, CGIAR System Management Office 14:00-18:30

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1 Workshop Summary High Level workshop France-CGIAR 7 June 2018, Montpellier, CGIAR System Management Office 14:00-18:30 A workshop was held at the joint initiative of France and the CGIAR, as part of the 2018 CGIAR science leaders week 1. The objective of the workshop was to take stock of the current cooperation between the CGIAR and the French System, to get a shared understanding of respective research priorities, to identify promising areas for enhanced and strengthen collaboration, and to discuss practical modalities and mechanisms for enabling it. The workshop, co-chaired and introduced by Marion Guillou, Chair of Agreenium and by Marco Ferroni, Chair of the CGIAR System Management Board, was attended by participants from the CGIAR science leaders week, by research leaders from the French research organizations, as well as representatives from the French ministries in charge of Foreign Affairs and of Research. Participation (see Annex 1) was on invitation by the co-organisers. The workshop was informed by a stocktaking survey, conducted in the CGIAR between April and May 2018, on existing cooperation and on the identification of areas of possible enhanced collaboration. The survey highlighted the richness of current collaboration (see Annex 2): all 15 Centres of the CGIAR and all 12 CRPs do have some form of collaboration ongoing with France, and in some cases for a very long term (see Annex 1 for a brief synthesis of the survey results). It also highlighted areas where there are opportunities and willingness to do more. Given the results of the CGIAR survey, and a discussion amongst French partners prior to the workshop, three themes were identified as promising priority focus areas for joint work in the future 2, and were further discussed during the workshop: 1) Agriculture and climate change, especially on how to combine adaptation, mitigation and food security objectives; 2) Innovative and integrative approaches, such as agroecology and ecosystem-based resources management, that respond to multiple social, environmental and economic challenges; 3) Nutrition and sustainable food systems. Each theme was introduced by one presentation by CGIAR and one by France, followed by group discussions. 1 The science leaders week takes place once every year and gathers the Deputy Directors General of Research of the 15 CGIAR centers, the Directors of the 12 CGIAR Research Programs, and the three leaders of collaborative platforms. 2 These areas do not preclude continuation of good collaboration in other domains. They represent areas where the 2 parties agreed that there is relevance, interest and potential for growth in term of joint work in the future. 1

2 Next steps and to do s: It was decided that CGIAR and French scientists would work together to prepare draft concept notes/proposals for joint work, identifying where French expertise is complementary to the CGIAR, on the three issues of (i) climate change, agriculture and food security; (ii) integrated approaches including agroecology and ecosystem-based resource management, (iii) nutrition and sustainable food systems. Concerning the topic of the impact of research, which is a key topic of the CGIAR Centers and the French research institutions 3, it could be relevant to include such common works on impact assessment in close relationship with what is carried on by the SPIA within ISPC, as a transversal item to the 3 priority themes identified below. Agropolis Fondation could be able to provide seed funds for such workshops or seminars given the above objectives, subject to approval by its Board and extension of the Labex Agro program. Contact : Oliver Oliveros (oliveros@agropolis.fr). List of focal points: Theme CGIAR Focal point France focal point Climate change Bruce Campbell Vincent Vadez b.campbell@cgiar.org Vincent.Vadez@ird.fr Integrated approaches including agroecology and landscapes. Nutrition and sustainable food systems; Mark Smith m.smith@cgiar.org John Mc Dermott j.mcdermott@cgiar.org Etienne Hainzelin etienne.hainzelin@cirad.fr Marie-Jo Amiot-Carlin Marie-Josephe.Amiot- Carlin@inra.fr The focal points shall, in consultation with DDG-Rs and CRP directors, and with French counterparts, prepare the concept notes for 1st December Annexes Annex 1. List of participants Annex 2. Results of the survey conducted by the CGIAR (15 April-15 May 2018) Annex 3. Detailed minutes 3 ImpresS by Cirad (https: //impress-impact-recherche.cirad.fr) and ASIRPA by Inra ( 2

3 Annex 1. List of participants RvsGvVKvKDPfsu4N6MBfNmaMnmTX4gja5Z0lw9vgw?e=J85uxh Annex 2. Results of the survey conducted by the CGIAR (15 April-15 May 2018) All replies to the survey are available in the following dropbox. 1) General points 1. The survey was an internal inquiry to all 12 CGIAR CRPs and, through them, to the 15 CGIAR centers, run between 15 April and 15 May In spite of the short deadline and of competing demands, all CRPs have replied, with replies concerning all 15 CGIAR centres, showing their interest and willingness to show and strengthen collaboration. 3. Replies are very rich, cover a very broad spectrum. There are many initiatives ongoing. Working with French institutions seems quite a normal part of the life of CRPs. 4. Most replies focused on existing cooperation, but some did also suggest areas for strengthened cooperation, both follow ups of existing collaboration and new areas. Some replies mentioned the need for more time. 5. Replies do not pretend to cover exhaustively all ongoing cooperation. The breadth and number of initiatives going on makes that there was no time in the framework of this exercise to collect all information. From the replies, it is difficult to estimate the number of scientists involved. 2) Partners 6. Overall all CGIAR centres have been mentioned in existing collaborations. Numerous French institutions have been mentioned in existing collaborations: CIRAD, INRA, IRD, AgroParisTech, CIRED, IDDRI, Agropolis, IARC, several universities and agronomic schools like University of Bourgogne-Franche Comté, AgroSup Dijon (Agricultural Engineering School), Université de Bordeaux, Faculté d économie, gestion et administration économique et sociale, Université de Rennes, GRET, Office international de l eau, la Compagnie nationale du Rhône, LISODE. 7. Some CRPs and centers do have a very broad range of French partners. As an example, WLE has a particularly broad range of partners, including: the GRET, Office international de 3

4 l eau, la Compagnie nationale du Rhône, LISODE, CIRAD, IRD, INRA, AgroParisTech, Agropolis, Université de Rennes, IRSTEA, 4p Some replies also mention other partners: - National universities and research centres in developing countries such as : Bolivia, Cameroon, Mali, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam - Cornell University, NRI (UK), European universities, particularly when European funded projects 3) Types of collaboration 9. Replies point as well to a series of institutional relations at CRP/Center level. These include for instance the participation of the CG to the CIRAD Science Council, the INRA-F-CIMMYT MoU (signed 2012, expired 2017), an MOU between IDDRI and CIFOR, the role of CIRAD in FTA, 10. To give an example, a reply includes some interesting elements from a draft analysis (2017) of CIMMYT & INRA-F scientists survey about collaboration realities in the context of the INRA-CIMMYT MoU: a) International exchange of germplasm-for-research and associated data is working well. b) A small number of CIMMYT and INRA scientists are collaborating very well, making use of their existing budgets. c) There is no dedicated source of funding to support INRA-CIMMYT collaboration. d) Scientists currently make use of EU funding for multi-country projects, or their core funding. e) All scientists involved collaborate on top of their regular workload, or, in a few cases, in the context of international projects (e.g. ADAPTAWHEAT). f) This analysis also proposes elements for a way forward: o Increase scientists capacity for collaboration and networking across both organizations, for example by placing 2-3 INRA post-doc scientists in any year in CIMMYT Academy, to be engaged in CIMMYT-led projects, joint research and publications. o Both organizations to give priority and internal support to joint small project proposal development. o Both organizations to make special effort in attracting funding for G-20 Wheat Initiative-endorsed HeWDIC, via their respective funder networks. 11. Overall, replies point to some forms of cooperation that seem to work well, in particular cofounded positions, seconded scientists, PHD and master students. FTA gives the example of a PHD at the University of Montpellier, jointly-funded and jointly supervised by 4

5 CIFOR and CIRAD that constituted a very cost-effective form of collaboration, with excellent scientific results and a successful appointment of the researcher to AFD. 12. Another reply suggests to build upon these successful experiences to make Capacity Development through doctoral programs in French universities for Francophone African Scientists. 13. Several replies also propose the development of joint proposals for projects and joint resource mobilisation. 4) Priority areas of collaboration 14. Replies enable to identify some priority areas of collaboration, geographical and thematic. Most of the collaborations identify a specific area of activity. Even those that are presented as global, generally indicate a focus on some countries. 15. The biggest density of projects mentioned seem to be in a. Africa (19 4 ): West Africa (2, 3, 10, 20), but also East Africa (3, 10, 20), coastal east Africa (6), Central Africa (10). Are mentioned: Benin (3, 6), Burkina Faso (20), Burundi (6), Cameroon (6, 7, 12), Cote d Ivoire (3, 6, 20), Ethiopia (2, 4, 6), Malawi (6), Mali (7,20), Nigeria (6, 7), Senegal (7, 10), Uganda (6) b. Asia: South East Asia (6, 19), Bangladesh (6), Cambodia (19), India (10), Indonesia (13), Lao PDR (19), Thailand (6,7), Vietnam (6, 7, 10) c. South America: particularly for roots and tubers, Bolivia (7), Brazil (13), Colombia (6, 7, 13), Ecuador (7), Peru (7) d. Reunion (6), e. Madagascar (6), 16. In terms of substance, the replies, that are not exhaustive, can be grouped in broad themes: - Breeding, crop improvement, and also livestock and fish - Natural resources use, from the field (agroecology) to landscape and global (climate change) - Value chains, food systems in all their dimensions - Nutrition and health, including One Health 4 Numbers refer to the answers of the CRPs, gathered in the dropbox. 5

6 Annex 3: Detailed minutes of the meeting 1) Introduction The meeting was introduced by Marco Ferroni, CGIAR SMB Chair, and Marion Guillou, Chair of Agreenium Marco Ferroni highlighted that one key question is how the CGIAR and France can make together more use of the strong assets we have, such as research programs. There is a changing context for international research, tectonic shifts, and a changed but a continued role for the public sector. There are methodological challenges in assessing impacts and return on investments in agricultural research. The work towards the SDGs is now a reference point of what we do. We must look at the evolving capabilities in the countries. We may do things differently in countries, because of evolutions of national partners. Extreme poverty is concentrated in 41 countries, small economies, with severe governance challenges. What does it mean for us? That plant breeding or agroforestry are not the answer to all challenges. Poverty reduction has a lot to do with what is outside of the agriculture sector: we need economic development and productivity beyond land productivity. There is also a new narrative on hunger: the issue is the one of balanced diets and micronutrient deficiencies. We cannot always deal with these challenges with static structures. We in the CGIAR share the same kind of problems than other organizations. We need organizational simplification, higher rates of innovation and of delivery of solutions. Marion Guillou made reference to the set of French agricultural research and higher education institutions gathered today: CIRAD, IRD, Irstea, Inra, Agreenium. The objective of this workshop is to know each other better between France and the CGIAR, to identify fields of interest for the set of organizations, and to converge on a few priorities and find out how we can intensify collaborations. France is changing: there is a realignment of tasks and a renewed commitment to international development. In the discussion, Stephan Weise, DDG-R Bioversity, said that there is a potential to learn on the way similar institutions differently manage things. For him, besides the discussion on the priority areas, it is important to find out how do we make it work over time after a positive momentum. Victor Kommerell, program manager for the CGIAR program on wheat, said that it all in the end boils down to making project money available. France is hosting the CGIAR: where is the agility to say that on top of that, France can put some project cash behind people working together. Marion Guillou replied that new French international development policy does not mean necessarily more resources for the CGIAR as a body, but money for Africa, Climate Change and for Agricultural Development, for which we must play our role. 2) Main results of the surveys Vincent Gitz (Director of the CGIAR research program on Forests Trees and Agroforestry, and 2018 CRP representative) presented on the results of the survey (see Annex 2). 6

7 3) New expectations for Research for development and new funding opportunities in Europe. Bernard Rey, DG DEVCO, briefed participants about DESIRA, a new European funding mechanism for a new vision of research for development, open to CGIAR and French partners. It is an initiative from the Commission, which spends 1 Billion Euros a year for Agriculture and food security. The aim is to accelerate development, with innovations that are science-based: development smart innovations through research in agriculture. In that context, DGDEVCO funding to research entities should be influential on the 1 billion Euros it spends overall on agricultural development. It aims for embedded research in national development agendas. The program kick starts in the coming weeks, with 90 meuros/yr over 3 years. Gates will bring 300m USD over the same 3 years. Climate change is an overarching objective. Resources from the Commission might be topped-up by resources by other interested member states. It is not another mega call for proposals. We ask the development practitioners (agencies, commission, GIZ, BMZ...): what is the demand for research in countries? How can we put more science in the development portfolio? We need an ampler choice of technological options, promote partnerships with local research. We need to bring together European universities that operate in given countries. Bridge research programs with development practitioners. The CGIAR is present in many countries. We can use the resources to push CGIAR Country Collaboration in support of national development policies, bring CRPs, centers to work together with local partners. Process starts now: first contracting early Mobilize the diversity of the scientific community. I have asked the SMO for a review of which CRPs in the current portfolio have good climate change linkages. This can be inserted in the second batch of contracts. For us the SMO is the entry point to the various CRPs and to assess what the CRPs offer, and where there are resource constraints. Guy Faure, CIRAD, made a presentation on the culture of impact at CIRAD. We need to have a culture of impact, not of promise. How can we be credible? How can we change a culture, change behaviors over the long time? We are not the only ones producing impact in the field. So, we should be careful about simplifying attribution. In 2014, CIRAD conducted 13 case studies with partners, in a participatory mode. Lessons: need to co-produce outputs w/stakeholders and invest in co-production of outcomes. Classification of 4 research models to generate impact. CIRAD has a method, a team, a service unit for project design and monitoring, including training sessions, and publications. It would be good to have common activities with CGIAR there are already common proposals with CIAT. In the discussion, Peter Carberry, DG of ICRISAT mentioned the importance not only to report or analyze impact of success stories, but also of failure stories and to learn on them. Philippe Petithuguenin, CIRAD, said that the distinction between failure and success is more complex than it seems at first sight for two reasons: 1/Different stakeholders have different perspectives on success or failure ; 2/ Impacts are also multidimensional, diverse, so an intervention can induce a positive outcome on one dimension (= success?) and a negative on another (=failure?). So Cirad approach on ex-post impact evaluation is to try not to have any preconceive opinion on success versus failure but to try to record all the multi-dimensional effects generated (including non expected ones). Stephan Weise said that the CGIAR tends to do 7

8 impact stories on things we think we have impacted. We do not get the data for the things that fail. We have a gap, a blind eye: we are working and publishing about the 30% of things that work, not on the 70% where we do not know anything. This gives a renewed importance to the grey literature, where the latter can be described and reported, that has not been covered by the rest of the literature as not enough attractive. Marion Guillou concluded the discussion by highlighting that French institutions and the CGIAR are different kinds of institutions in the R&D continuum. Different French institutions also have different missions, and therefore are evaluated differently. The richness of the interaction lies in the diversity of comparative advantages: richness of exchanging experience from different angles. 4) Stock-take and future trends (see presentations available in the following folder h_s8w?e=htgktt) a) Agriculture and climate change, especially on how to combine adaptation, mitigation and food security objectives; Bruce Campbell (Director of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security CCAFS) presented on the CGIAR work on climate change. This goes much beyond the CCAFS, the climate change (CC) focused program of the CGIAR: all other CRPs work on climate change, either centrally like FTA with a dedicated flagship program, or with important contributions. Julien Demenois (CIRAD) presented on the 4per1000 and on the H2020 project CIRCASA, led by Jean-Francois Soussana (INRA). One of the objectives of this 2.5m Euros research partnership and coordination program is to prepare an international research consortium. CIRCASA gathers more than 30 partners, with CIAT, IITA, CCAFS, WLE, and works in 82 countries. John Porter, chair of the Independent Steering Committee of the CGIAR program on Wheat commented that since 1990 there is a decrease of experimental studies and an increase in modelling studies related to climate change. This is big problem when looking at interactions and resource efficiencies. We need more experiments, not more modelling. Regarding 4per1000: the problem is keeping the carbon in the soil, which has enormous implications for agriculture. For this, there is a need for perennial crops. Also, it means that we need to start by focusing on low carbon soils, where there is likely the highest chance of being able to store C than already C-rich soils. b) Innovative and integrative approaches, such as agroecology and ecosystem-based resources management, that respond to multiple social, environmental and economic challenges; Philippe Hinsinger (INRA) presented on the work of his division (700 permanent staff) and on the joint INRA/CIRAD strategy on agroecology. There is a need to move from low biodiversity 8

9 based agroecosystems to high biodiversity based agroecosystems, providing a range of ecosystem services, beyond crop production. This means plant diversity, in space and time (rotation), e.g. more complex systems, intercropping, agroforestry systems. We need to look for new traits and develop novel breeding strategies for such systems. We need to consider interactions occurring at the plot scale but also at the landscape scale. We also need to integrate farmers and stakeholders, to codesign innovations with participatory, multi-actor approaches. These approaches promoted by Horizon 2020 will be a focus of Horizon Europe: the forthcoming program ( ) published today. There will be 10 billion Euros for food and agriculture R&D and bioeconomy. Researches on agroforestry, soils, genetic resources and diversity, natural resources management shall provide many opportunities for scaling-up the agroecological transitions through future cooperation between CGIAR and INRA or CIRAD. Mark Smith (Deputy Director General of IMWI) started by quoting the FAO Director General at the Agroecology symposium. Agroecology is a big agenda, to which we need to be able to respond. Elements that can be influenced at landscape scale. We have a network of partnerships, and able to mobilize impact. The CGIAR brings a menu of capabilities. c) Nutrition and sustainable food systems. Marie-Jo Amiot-Carlin, from INRA, presented on the work of her division (400 permanent staff), on eating behaviours, health function, nutrients, microbiota, toxicological aspects, etc. They work in Quebec, Brazil, India, through joint international laboratories. There is a need now to talk about food and nutritional security, not just food security. In the nutrition transition context, in terms of the balance between plant and animal proteins, as well as protein quality issues, the quality of absorption of nutrients is important. Regarding micronutrient deficiencies and hidden hunger, there is a role of some compounds (anti-nutritional) for the bioavailability of vitamins in the whole diet. Finally, there is a role of the microbiome in chronic undernutrition, and to counteract stunting. We need a double strategy: microbiota and nutrition interventions. Moreover, basic research in nutrition could help to orientate agriculture toward an nutrition-sensitive agriculture and sustain food systems. Stephan Weise presented (also on behalf of John Mc Dermott, Director of the CGIAR Research program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health A4NH) on the A4NH program. The focus is on national food systems for healthier diets. Vietnam, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Nigeria are priority countries. They look at food system changes and dietary transitions. Supply chains get longer, with multiple agents. There are also different drivers in different countries. Therefore different food based dietary guidelines. Need also to consider urbanization, food safety. CGIAR is part of the Agrinatura consortium. In the discussion on nutrition, participants mentioned the importance of a more diverse and more qualitative supply of food. Trying to understand consumption behaviour. Go to more localized sourcing of food. Short value chains for animal sourced food, and other perishables. In the modernisation of food systems, the challenge is how to avoid going all the way to industrialization. Avoid losses and waste. Implement the One health approach: nutrition and 9

10 risks including zoonoses. Wildlife resources, along value chains. Increased importance of food born diseases. Importance of vulnerable people, of the 1000 days. Expertise could be interesting to other institutes in the context of under-nutrition. What is doable? Phd students exchanges. Engage students. 5) Plenary: Making it work Elisabeth Claverie, Deputy Director General of Research of CIRAD: France is ramping up from 0.39 to 0.55 % ODA. It is a budgetary trajectory, with a steep increase by 20, 21, 22. Stars are aligned: trajectory for development assistance will mean billions more. How will it be spent? AFD will be a new platform for development: 9.5bi to 13.5bi/yr (loans, but also more grants). Africa as focus. Thematic focuses: climate change, biodiversity, gender. We need integrated R&D projects, and a stronger component on impact assessment. Also, France will look at the Sahel and Africa. How we can do things differently in the Sahel? We have failed massively. Lot of money without results, security concerns. We need to tackle the development root causes, agriculture and food security. There is a Sahel Alliance in the making: FRA, GER, EU, WB, ADB, UNDP. There will be new integrated pipelines of projects, in 5 pillars, one on agriculture and food security, led by the ADB. There will be money. Will we be able to deliver? In the discussion, Vincent Vadez (IRD, ex ICRISAT) highlighted the importance of partnership platforms, international mixed research labs, with exchanges of PhD students, post doc, scientists. He presented a recently granted project under the MOPGA call that followed US withdrawal from the Paris agreements on climate change. This project proposes a partnership between French institutions (IRD, CIRAD, INRA), and a CG institution (ICRISAT), in the scope of partnership platforms (IAVAO and LAPSE) in the West-Central Africa region. Caroline Martin (Agreenium) presented on Agreen-U, a webportal and E-learning platform to reinforce the international attractiveness and impact of the French training offer. There are different products proposed on the digital university : prerequisites, videos library, pedagogical modules and Moocs. AMOOCs offer is proposed in several languages (French, Spanish, English) for multilingual training depending on target audiences (hosting by the France Université Numérique ). The portal contains all functions, products and services of a digital campus, and is linked to a pilot campus in Senegal. Finally, Oliver Oliveros, presented Agropolis foundation. Agropolis is a local foundation with a regional mandate to support the scientific actors in the region and some overseas territories like Reunion. It has a pre-incubation function, works with 40 research institutions and 1500 scientists. The focus is on plant and plant related disciplines. It makes calls for proposals, emphasizing the importance of partnering with the private sector. It supports French participation in some CRPs. It can seed fund workshops, organize seminars to build research programs. In conclusion 10

11 On Climate change, it was decided that the CGIAR would get together to identify key topics where French expertise is useful. Bruce Campbell would take the lead on this. This could be linked to the INRA metaprogramme on CC, the 4 per 1000 initiative, and the Cirad metaprogramme on CC. Vincent Vadez will be the contact point for France. On Nutrition and food systems, John Mc Dermott was identified as CGIAR contact point, to look with a French counterpart Marie-Jo Amiot-Carlin on opportunities. On Innovative and integrative approaches, Mark Smith was identified as CGIAR contact point, to look on opportunities with French counterpart Etienne Hainzelin. Overall: 3 dimensions of joint work were identified: - we need a deeper understanding on what is impact and how to measure it? For instance, linked to landscape restoration, agroforestry, ecosystems? - we need to strengthen scientific exchanges building on existing mechanisms - we need partnership platforms. Marion Guillou asked the three couples of focal points to work in different groups and get back to us within 6 months with proposals. Agropolis can provide seed money for funding workshops or contacts. Marco Ferroni concluded the meeting by saying that together we are determined to achieve greater science and more impact. We can be inspired by what political leadership can achieve in France. 11