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| Global Forum on Agricultural Research | |
|---|---|
| Name | Global Forum on Agricultural Research |
| Abbreviation | GFAR |
| Formation | 1996 |
| Type | Intergovernmental network |
| Headquarters | Rome, Italy |
| Region served | Global |
| Parent organization | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
Global Forum on Agricultural Research The Global Forum on Agricultural Research was an international multi-stakeholder network created to coordinate agricultural research agendas among international organizations, national institutions, and civil society. It convened parties from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Bank, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, and regional bodies to align research priorities with development targets such as the Millennium Development Goals and later the Sustainable Development Goals. Acting as a platform, it connected actors across continents including representatives from the International Fund for Agricultural Development, national ministries, and non-governmental organizations like OXFAM and CARE International.
GFAR operated as a convening mechanism, bringing together representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Bank Group, World Food Programme, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, and regional research networks such as the CGIAR centers, International Rice Research Institute, and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. It emphasized partnerships among universities such as Wageningen University, University of California, Davis, and Iowa State University, private foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and farmer organizations represented by entities like the International Federation of Agricultural Producers. GFAR sought to bridge policy dialogues occurring at venues including United Nations Climate Change Conference, UNESCO forums, and meetings of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Founded in 1996, GFAR emerged from high-level discussions involving the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Bank, and United Nations Development Programme following concerns raised at conferences such as the Rome World Food Summit. Early milestones included partnerships with the International Fund for Agricultural Development and coordination with research institutes like the International Livestock Research Institute and International Food Policy Research Institute. GFAR adapted its agenda in response to global shifts articulated in documents from the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, and worked alongside initiatives spearheaded by the G20 and the African Union to respond to crises including the 2007–2008 world food price crisis.
GFAR governance included representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, World Bank Group, and regional organizations such as the African Union Commission and the European Commission. Membership spanned national research systems like India Council of Agricultural Research, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), and Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, as well as civil society actors such as Greenpeace International and Heifer International. The Forum convened stakeholders from universities like Cornell University and University of Reading, and donor agencies including United States Agency for International Development and Department for International Development.
GFAR supported programs focused on capacities and innovation platforms that allied with projects at International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Bioversity International, and World Agroforestry Centre. Initiatives targeted topics featured in reports by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and activities coordinated with Global Environment Facility funding. GFAR promoted farmer-led research, connecting farmer organizations to research agendas through mechanisms similar to those used by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa and networks such as the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture. Programs addressed issues relevant to conferences like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meetings and policy processes in the Committee on World Food Security.
GFAR collaborated with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and multilateral banks including the Asian Development Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. It linked with research centers such as CIMMYT and IRRI, universities including University of Pretoria and Michigan State University, and foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation. Civil society partners included International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, World Vision International, and regional farmer bodies such as the Asian Farmers’ Association. GFAR engagement extended to standard-setting organizations like the International Organization for Standardization when addressing seed systems and intellectual property topics related to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
Proponents credited GFAR with creating dialogues that influenced policy processes at the United Nations General Assembly and elevated priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Zero Hunger Challenge. Its platforms facilitated collaborations among CGIAR centers, national systems, and farmer organizations that contributed to projects in regions covered by the African Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Critics argued GFAR sometimes duplicated roles of organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Bank and questioned its measurable outcomes versus activities of the International Food Policy Research Institute and donor-driven programs like those funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Observers from think tanks like the Overseas Development Institute and universities such as London School of Economics noted challenges in accountability, representation, and sustained financing.
GFAR funding combined contributions from multilateral institutions including the World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, bilateral donors such as United States Agency for International Development and United Kingdom Department for International Development, and philanthropic organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. It also mobilized resources through project partnerships with regional development banks including the Asian Development Bank and institutional partners like the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Financial oversight involved donor coordination mechanisms similar to those used by the Global Environment Facility and reporting practices compatible with standards applied by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Category:Agricultural organizations