French agricultural research and CGIAR reinforce their scientific collaboration on agriculture, food and climate change

The joint declaration , signed by the CEOs of the French research and agricultural training institutions and the Chair of the CGIAR System Management Board, was the result of a joint reflection project initiated in June 2018. The declaration aims at ensuring improved synergy of the scientific capabilities between the French organizations, the CGIAR Research Centres, and the national research systems in developing countries across agriculture and climate change, agro-ecology, nutrition and sustainable food systems. These three thematic areas are of shared interest and align with strategic areas of global development.

"France is proud to have welcomed the headquarters of this international organization, CGIAR, to its territory, moreover I would like to emphasize our recognition of the importance of the CGIAR and of its location in France and most specifically in Montpellier. France wants its collaboration with CGIAR to be part of a genuine long-term strategy . We therefore propose to promote and support the creation of ambitious partnership projects, backed by the joint declaration of collaboration, to achieve our common development goals”, said Laurent Bili, Director General for Globalization, Culture, Education and International Development at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

“CGIAR and France agree on three priorities and this intensified collaboration will enable France to make better use of the strong assets CGIAR has, such as our 15 top-class research centres, our local presence in over 70 countries and our network of more than 3000 partners from national governments, academic institutions, global policy bodies, private companies and NGOs”, said Marco Ferroni, Chair of the CGIAR System Management Board. “Together we are determined to achieve greater science and more impact.”

The reinforcement of France-CGIAR collaboration will be achieved through the exchange of researchers and experts, shared resources, the organization of workshops, joint participation in international programmes, and joint project building and capacity building activities.

This joint declaration is a key step in the development of the CGIAR-France relationship, as it forms the basis of a broader and longer-term framework for an action plan to enhance the ongoing scientific, institutional and financial partnerships being drafted by the Ministries of Research, Foreign Affairs, and Agriculture.

Since 2010, France has been the depository of the Founding Treaty of CGIAR as an international organization. France hosts the CGIAR headquarters (System Management Office) in Montpellier within premises made available by the Occitanie region, in the heart of the Agropolis cluster, which is recognized worldwide for its scientific excellence in terms of agricultural research and training for development.

About CRAI

The Commission for International Agricultural Research is a consultative body composed of the French research organisations concerned by this theme (Agreenium, CIRAD, INRA, IRD, IRSTEA), the Agropolis International association and the three ministries in charge of research, foreign affairs and agriculture. The main role of CRAI is to define strategic positions and coordinate French international agricultural research operations.

About CGIAR

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is carried out by 15 CGIAR research centres in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations and the private sector.