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A EUROPEAN STRATEGY FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT[1] INTRODUCTION In 1995 the Member States of the European Union, the European Commission Norway and Switzerland joined their forces in an informal way for better co-ordination and concerted actions in Agricultural Research for Development (ARD). The shared commitment resulted in the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD). In 1997 EIARD was confirmed in the Communication (COM (97) 126) and it was acknowledged as an instrument for greater coherence and complementarity in another Communication entitled "Scientific and Technological Research: A Strategic Part of the European Union's Development Cooperation with Developing Countries" (COM (97) 174). Both Communications were presented by the European Commission and endorsed by the Council and Parliament. Scientific and technological knowledge is one of the key production factors in economies at the end of the 20th century. It is becoming recognised as an essential capital asset in relation to sustainable development and improved livelihoods for the poor worldwide. At the same time the knowledge gap between the developed world, new emerging economies on the one hand and developing countries on the other hand is widening. EIARD is addressing this gap by mobilising research resources in Europe and Developing Countries towards its goals. The goal of EIARD is to contribute to the improvement of the livelihoods of poor people in developing countries by strengthening the impact on food security, poverty elimination and environmental sustainability of European investments in ARD knowledge and thus reducing the potential for conflicts. In this sense agriculture is assumed to encompass all renewable natural resources including fisheries, forestry, livestock and wildlife and relevant policy and socio-economic research. EIARD`s activities are based on voluntary co-operation between its members, other ARD stakeholders in Europe and partners in the South. It includes co-ordination to ensure that national and Community research policies and development policies are mutually consistent (Amsterdam Treaty, Articles 165 and 180). THE CHALLENGE More than 800 million people do not have enough food or access to other primary commodities to meet their basic needs. Food insecurity is largely a consequence of poverty. Although food production and food availability have improved over the last 20 years there are areas for example in parts of Africa where food availability and consumption per capita have declined. It has been estimated that the global food production will need to increase by 50 % by 2020 to meet the needs of growing populations, poverty elimination, rapid urbanisation and increased aspirations arising from economic growth. The current economic turmoil and fluctuations in food production patterns highlight the need for better use of natural resources to underpin sustainable development and to help cope with economic stresses and shocks. These food production increases must be achieved while halting and reversing the current degradation of the environment particularly in marginal areas, forests and aquatic systems. Attainment of these goals requires not only access to knowhow and environmentally safe technologies but improvements in international and national policy and in the trade environment; effective, accountable institutions; better and more responsive rural services; and improved access to resources. This agenda can only be achieved if underpinned by continuous supply of new knowledge and technologies to inform policies, improve management decisions and increase the range of options and opportunities. New research paradigms are emerging to respond to the challenge. The knowledge revolution in biotechnology, in ICT[2] and new opportunities in agroecological research through participatory approaches require new research partnerships to respond. The European Forum is evolving as a platform for a concerted mode of cooperation of European research partners in ARD. The Global Forum on Agricultural Research is a frame to strengthen knowledge partnerships for development and to mobilise the global agricultural research community. The CGIAR Centers are important partners in these new emerging networks. There are strong market failure arguments for the continued use of development assistance for funding agricultural research and in many cases this implies long-term commitment of public funding. The ratio of agricultural research spending to agricultural output in most developing countries is only a quarter of the level observed in developed countries. Evaluating the impact of natural resources research is methodologically difficult but many studies indicate high rates of return, of the order of 20% or more, suggesting that such work is under funded. Europe together with other industrialised countries in the north has the ability and capacity to work in partnership with developing countries to raise agricultural productivity, reduce poverty, and increase food security while improving the long-term sustainability of the natural resources base. The European research community has a record of being innovative, at the cutting edge of science and a trend-setter in agricultural research with considerable potential for benefiting agricultural research in developing countries. Many European countries also have a long history of providing support to developing countries in their efforts to build strong and well functioning National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), Agricultural Research Institutions (NARIS) and Extension Systems that can carry the research outputs to the end-users, i.e. farmers and consumers. European support for ARD is commissioned both on a bilateral basis between Governments in Europe and the South, and through a range of European Commission instruments either for development or specifically focused on scientific and technological co-operation. In all cases it usually involves research collaboration between individual scientists, universities or research institutions in both Europe and the South. EIARD`s purpose is "to support Developing Countries in their effort to enhance the appropriateness and effectiveness of ARD in developing countries both at the national and regional levelby improving coordination within Europe and between Europe and the South in a spirit of partnership, mutual respect and understanding." This strategy seeks to identify areas where European Countries can work together to enhance the impact of agricultural research for development without infringing national policies or priorities. GUIDING PRINCIPLES Listed below are the principles which will guide EIARD Members in their joint activities in support of agricultural research for development. Partnership EIARD will seek to promote partnership, equality and mutual respect between collaborators in the South and in Europe. Such relationships should be demand driven by the problems of the South taking into account the opportunities provided by Europe`s research strengths and comparative advantage. Subsidiarity EIARD will promote initiation of regional or sub-regional ARD related activities between partner countries in the South when they can be shown to be cost-effective and efficient. Actions initiated at the European level must be complementary and add value to existing bilateral actions by EIARD Members. They should be designed in proportion to the objectives to be achieved and planned and executed at the lowest possible level where they can be effectively carried out. Differentiation The principle of differentiation requires that EIARD Member`s actions and initiatives should take into account the social, economic and cultural conditions in partner countries and regions in the South. They should be tailored to fit the specific priority needs and research capacity of the clients whether this is at the institution, national, regional or sub-regional level. Involvement of All Stakeholders Collaboration between stakeholders (researchers, institutions, extension services, farmers, NGO, private sector etc) is necessary to make research relevant for its end-users. National stakeholders must be involved in the formulation of research priorities, research plans etc. Improved Impact of Investment in ARD Scarce resources for ARD make it imperative to improve the impact of agricultural research. The impact of research can be viewed as the capacity to produce results and make results known and adopted by potential end-users. EIARD will encourage agricultural research that is likely to have a major social and economic impact in developing countries. Outputs Within the overall purpose of EIARD defined above, four important areas of work are identified. Institutional development An essential element in achieving EIARD`s purpose is mobilisation of support for the development of well functioning and sustainable national agricultural research systems. The national agricultural research system includes various stakeholders such as research institutions, universities, NGOs, extension services, farmer`s organisations, farmers, private sector etc. Well functioning NARS are envisaged as having close and effective linkages between the various participants. Well functioning NARS also require research institutes with qualified and committed research and management staff, and good infrastructure facilities that allow research to be carried out and the results disseminated according to beneficiaries needs and interests. European countries and scientists have a long and well-established history of support and involvement with NARS. European support for strengthening of NARS must continue to rely on existing policies and commitments of individual EU member countries, the European Commission, Switzerland and Norway. A wide spectrum of policies, priorities and preferences exists today among European countries with regard to support for agricultural research and capacity building. EIARD will promote co-ordination of activities between European partner countries. Such co-ordination will be guided by the principles outlined earlier and in all cases the outcome should add value to what individual countries are doing alone. For the partnership to succeed and show impact, NARS on the other hand need to demonstrate greater awareness of the needs of poor people, provide science of the highest international standard, good systems for dissemination and adoption of research results, involvement of farmers organisations, the private sector, NGOs etc. Research has to be part of a knowledge system for innovation and all stakeholders necessary for such innovation have to be involved and enabled to play their part. Indigenous knowledge systems complemented in a participatory way by external knowledge often develop the best problem solving solutions. Relevant national policies will also need to show awareness of the benefit of ARD on the livelihoods of the poor and the range of possible funding opportunities for ARD. The following are priority areas: |
