Developing countries
For more than half a century, CIRAD has been working for international scientific cooperation, a commitment that is reflected in its bilateral and multilateral agreements with more than 90 countries. While sub-Saharan Africa is the continent with which it has the most and the oldest links, over the past twenty years, the number of scientific agreements and joint research programmes with other parts of the world has grown substantially.
Over the past twenty years or so, the relationships between CIRAD and its traditional research partners have changed significantly, while it has forged new alliances on every continent.
In low-income countries, which have seen structural adjustment, national research centres have seen their resources shrink. To be able to continue their research, they have had to join forces. Hence regional platforms have emerged, in which higher education plays a fundamental role. At the same time, emerging countries such as Brazil, China and India have improved their scientific reputation. Through its network of partners and the number of researchers worldwide, CIRAD is now in a position to forge the most appropriate alliances, whatever the circumstances.