Promoting international agricultural research for rural development

Project description

Title: Fund International Agricultural Research (FIA)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Worldwide
Overall term: 2019 to 2025

Context

The problems that smallholders in developing countries face include a decline in the size of farmland, water shortages and the loss of biodiversity. Adding to these problems are new plant diseases and pests, much of this exacerbated by climate change. At the same time, the food and production systems are all too rarely environmentally friendly, profitable or socially just. The global research partnership for a food-secure future (CGIAR) and other research centres (CGIAR++) are addressing these issues.

Objective

Smallholders are benefiting increasingly from innovations by CGIAR++ centres that are geared to environmental, economic and social standards.

Approach

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the project supports international agricultural research in three areas.

1. Research projects:

More than 50 research projects in the CGIAR++ centres are currently receiving bilateral support. The focal areas are:

• Cultivating more productive, nutritious and climate-adapted plant varieties
• Promoting agricultural solutions for demand-oriented livestock breeding and aquaculture
• Developing appropriate technologies and farming methods that protect soil, water and biodiversity
• Preserving plant diversity in seed and gene banks
• Sharing research findings in practice

Starting in 2022, support will focus on large-scale One CGIAR research initiatives funded by several donors.

2. Staff development in cooperation with the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM):

The project funds nine European experts in the centres, thereby strengthening the skills of the international research teams.

3. Advisory services and policy agenda-setting:

The project helps BMZ to shape Germany’s contributions to international agricultural research and adopt a position on current developments. Participation in various CGIAR bodies is part of this.

Last update: September 2021