New Partnership Celebrates Scientific Innovations Shaping Global Agriculture Today

Global agriculture coalition Farming First and the CGIAR Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres have joined forces to highlight the powerful impact that investments in science and innovation can make on global development.  A new interactive essay compiled by the partnership demonstrates how these investments can go beyond simply meeting food security needs, but contribute to broader interlinked goals such as natural resource management, improved nutrition and resilient rural livelihoods.

View the interactive essay “Celebrating Science & Innovation in Agriculture” at:

www.farmingfirst.org/science-and-innovation

“Scientific discoveries and innovations are helping farmers make breakthroughs every day,” comments Robert Hunter, Farming First Co-Chair, “helping them feed their families, earn a better living, and look after the natural resources we all rely on. This collection of case studies illustrates how science and technology can help lift a farmer from poverty, to prosperity”. 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 793 million people in the world are still undernourished. Despite reductions in poverty levels in recent years, World Bank research estimates that 100 million people could be pushed back into poverty due to climate change. Farming First and CGIAR intend for the interactive essay to demonstrate how effective investments in scientific research and innovation for agriculture can be in meeting these challenges.

“Studies have demonstrated for decades that agricultural research is the most cost-effective investment that exists for development,” comments Frank Rijsberman, CEO of CGIAR Consortium. “Our planet is under unprecedented pressure to simultaneously ensure healthy diets for all, boost rural incomes and employment as well as protect vital natural resources. As we begin our path towards the Sustainable Development Goals, agricultural research for development must play a central role”.

The interactive essay explores, through photographs and videos, the scientific advances that are transforming rural lives all over the world today. The 28 case studies sourced from Farming First supporters and CGIAR centres are organised into five themes: natural resource management, agricultural extension, improved inputs, resilience and market access.  They include:

• Drones and satellite mapping systems that are tracking plant health and land use change 
• Improved crop varieties that are more nutritious, resilient to disease and able to survive under extreme weather conditions
• Innovative extension models that are delivering training via mobile, video and radio to farmers in remote locations
• Faster, more efficient electronic systems that digitise tracking and payment information for small to mid-sized agribusinesses 

The infographic is the latest in Farming First’s multi award-winning creative products in support of sustainable agriculture around the world. View the full series at: http://www.farmingfirst.org/infographics/

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Farming First
Farming First is a multi-stakeholder coalition of than 180 organisations operating around the world. The coalition exists to articulate, endorse and promote practical, actionable programmes and activities to further sustainable agricultural development worldwide. Farming First organisations represent the world’s farmers, scientists, engineers and industry as well as leading agricultural development organisations. With one shared voice, Farming First highlights the importance of improving farmers’ livelihoods and agriculture’s potential contribution to global issues such as food security, climate change and biodiversity. 
www.farmingfirst.org

About CGIAR Consortium
CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR is the only worldwide partnership addressing agricultural research for development, whose work contributes to the global effort to tackle poverty, hunger and major nutrition imbalances, and environmental degradation. Research is carried out by the 15 Centers, members of the CGIAR Consortium, in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations and the private sector.
www.cgiar.org