ICARDA News

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105;
E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
Website: www.icarda.org
18 January 2007
                             Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
 
Assessing Agricultural Science and Technology in CWANA
Opening session of the 3rd authors' meeting of the IAASTD's CWANA assessment. Left to right: Dr Khaled Makkouk, Coordinator, ICARDA/NVRSP, Dr Hans Herren, IAASTD Co-Chair and Director of the Millennium Institute, Dr Haniya El-Etribi, President, Agricultural Research Center, and Dr Ahmed Sidahmed, Director, KMD, and ICARDA Focal Point for IAASTD.
The International Assessment for Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) is a global review that aims to assess how agricultural knowledge, science and technology can be used more effectively to reduce hunger and poverty, improve rural livelihoods, and facilitate equitable and environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development. The IAASTD is analyzing lessons from the past, assessing how the world may change over the next 50 years, and providing options for action. The assessment is done by authors who are experts in various fields, and reviewed by other experts. The program is sponsored by multiple agencies (FAO, GEF, UNDP, UNESCO, World Bank, WHO), and coordinated by lead institutions in each region. ICARDA is the coordinating agency for the CWANA region.

 ICARDA-Cairo hosted the third authors' meeting of the IAASTD's CWANA assessment, during 15-19 December 2006 (earlier meetings were hosted by ICARDA in Aleppo, Syria and Amman, Jordan). The meeting reviewed the first draft based on the issues raised by peer reviewers. A revised draft will be circulated in April to key representatives of governments, research institutes, civil society, and other experts in the CWANA region for further review.

Dr Khaled Makkouk, ICARDA/NVRSP Coordinator, opened the meeting on behalf of Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General. He expressed ICARDA's appreciation for the efforts by more than 40 distinguished authors, on a voluntary basis–which clearly demonstrates that CWANA nationals have assumed "ownership" of this strategically important task.

Dr Haniya El-Etribi, President of the Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Egypt, expressed her optimism that the assessment would benefit the region, which is challenged by climate change and demographic pressure. She also stressed the importance of new science and technologies.

Dr Hans R. Herren, Co-Chair of the IAASTD, Director of the Millennium Institute, and recipient of the World Food Prize, gave an overview of the IAASTD, and the process of intergovernmental consultations that will lead to decisions related to the proposed outputs. He also discussed the major challenges facing global agriculture and posed the question: "Why is the production base a concern?" Dr Herren expressed concern about "disconnects" in both developed and developing countries.

Dr Ahmed E. Sidahmed, ICARDA Focal Point for IAASTD, MP-6 Director, presented the objectives of the meeting. He stressed that the aim of the workshop was to address the complex but interesting issues facing the CWANA sub-global assessment. He acknowledged the participation of the Review Editors, and stressed the importance of discussing the various issues raised at the last global IAASTD meeting in Costa Rica in order to harmonize the CWANA report with the global one.

During the remainder of the 5-day meeting, the authors, in collaboration with the review editors, discussed revisions in their chapters in light of reviewers' comments, allocated writing responsibilities, and prepared summaries for decision makers.
 

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.

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