Working as I do for a large international organization, I’m used to seeing people come and go. No sooner does a familiar face disappear from the radar than a new face pops up in its place.
How do we make agricultural research available, accessible and applicable?
This is a key question for improving the impact of our agricultural research. And you have probably heard alot about this from us. But what about from real research projects and researchers trying to do their part?
On Tuesday, at the Share Fair in Rome, Rob Burnet presented an inspiring keynote speech entitled “How can we make agriculture more attractive to young people in Africa”.
When 255 stakeholders spread across three continents were tasked with designing a research program (in two short months) with the potential to effectively impact food security, nutrition, and income, they knew they had their work cut out for them. Especially, when you consider that it was logistically impossible to get all of them together in one room at the same time.
Everyone knows that agricultural research is vital if we are to overcome the current threats to food security, natural resources and the environment. Right? Everyone knows what the CGIAR is doing to mitigate these threats. Right? Everyone knows where they can access CGIAR research outputs. Right?
Videos and the Internet have revolutionized the way in which an increasing number of scientists are now communicating ideas and the results of their research. Videos can efficiently convey large amounts of information and depict scientific procedures that would otherwise require pages upon pages of written text to achieve the same level of understanding.
These days, more than ever, we are reminded of the growing need for food security and improved livelihoods in many of the world’s developing countries. This is not just a task for those presently at the helm of agricultural research for development (AR4D) endeavors; it will surely also be a priority for many generations to come.
Every day, we see images of refugees fleeing a drought-ridden Somalia, crowding into camps along the country’s borders, desperate for food and shelter to stay alive.
The latest development of the CIARD (Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for Development) initiative has been launched on its website – namely the CIARD virtual Fair. For those who are involved in the capture, management and communication of research information and knowledge, the Fair provides a rich environment for discovery, learning and sharing.
