Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa by Dr Annor-Frempong- FARA

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Framing AR4D’s contribution to achievement of CAADP’s vision:

Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (S3A)

Dr Irene Annor-FrempongFARA

Presentation at the AR4D Consultative Round Table pre-10th CAADP PP, Durban

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa 2

1. Why Africa needs a Science Agenda

2. Achievement of the AR4D system

3. Process and content of the Science Agenda

4. Institutional arrangements for implementing the Science Agenda

5. How AR4D stakeholders must be organized

6. Conclusions

Outline

Why a science agenda now?


– Produce more food on less land, water, chemicals, waste, GHGs

– Produce safer, healthier more nutritious foods

1. Higher expectations from agriculture in a more challenging environment

Frontiers of S & T and opportunities

Nanotechnology has estimated global market $ 2.5 trillion in 2015 with promising applications for food security

• Improve precision farming through nanotech-based sensors and monitoring systems

• Provide efficient delivery system for water, nutrients and pesticides

• Provide smart food packaging system

Strategic Thrust

Strengthening & aligning Institutions, Policies & Leadership

Knowledge & Knowledge

Support

Financing & Investments in

Agriculture

Knowledge, Information

and Skills (KIS)

Agriculture Science Agenda

Agriculture Education and

Training

ICT in Agricultural

Transformation

2. Recommitment to CAADP—sustaining the CAADP momentum and Science Agenda as a tool to deliver

Wealth Creation

Job Opportunities and Food Security

Economic Growth Resilience

Impact

Productivity CompetitivenessRegional &

Global Integration

Outcomes

Strategic Thrust

Strengthening & aligning Institutions, Policies & Leadership

Knowledge & Knowledge

Support

Financing & Investments in

Agriculture

Land and Water

Research& Knowledge

Food & Nutrition Security

Markets, Private Sector

CAADP Pillars


• Trajectory of economic growth in Africa more domestic resources available

• Increased external investments including CGIAR reforms

• Post-food price crisis era:

- greater awareness of the strategic importance of domestic / regional food supply

- Increased profitability of the sector

3. Stage set for increased investment in agriculture, agro-industry

Status of research and science capacity in Africa

Global Knowledge Production

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Global Inequalities in production of scientific knowledge

Worldmapper: Countries re-sized according research output

Output of World Scientific Research Papers Indexed in Web of Science (2013 )

9

Africa2%

S.Korea4%

China16%

USA26%

Rest of World52% Africa

2% S. Korea6%

China30%

USA17%

Rest of World45%

Nanotechnology

Achievements of the AR4D system in Africa under CAADP

1. Strengthened AR4D institutions and architecture

NARIs

FARA

SROs

Education

Extension

Private Sector

Policy

Producers

(RECS)

(Governments)

(AUC & NPCA)

(ANAFE)

(AFAAS)

(RUFORUM)

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3/17/2014 12Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

2. Increased regional coherence and coordination for AR4D in Africa

• CAADP

• CGIAR reforms

• Agricultural productivity Programmes (WAAPP, EAPP, APSA)

• Increased recognition of agriculture in national priorities

• New Alliance – prioritising food security

• Learning and knowledge sharing platforms

Small-holder farmers

Rural technicians and artisans

Extension workers

Entrepreneurs, traders, processors,

Policy makers, scientists, researchers, managers

Generation of knowledge and technologies

Dissemination

Adoption

Capacities & Actors

3. Enhanced capacity for innovation in agriculture

SCARDA

SABIMA

DONATA

UN

IBRAIN

FARA Interventions

I A R 4 D &

I F A T

RAILS

eCapacities

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4. Reform of AR4D institutions and services

Support to CAADP country processes

– FAAP

– CAADP Pillar IV Strategy and Operational Plan

– Support to CAADP Country Teams and RECs


• Response to Maputo Declaration of 10% contribution of national budgets to agriculture

• Increased coordination of investments– Multi-donor trust funds

• In SSA, CGIAR is 12% of total ARD public investment but receives 2/3 of all donor support to AR4D

5. Increased investments for AR4D in Africa

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6. Increased African leadership and ownership for effective implementation of African development agendas

The Science Agenda builds on:

• Principles of ownership and leadership

• Past achievements and experiences

• AUC’s Human Resource, Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA)

• NEPAD’s Science & Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA)

• SPAAR-FARA’s Vision for African Agricultural Research

• Other think pieces: IAC (Inter- Academy Council), IAASTD International Assessment of Agricultural S&Tfor Development)

Methodology and Process - “Accra Consensus”

1. Development of methodology by FARA, TAG [Jan –Mar, 2013] o framing and scoping

2. Discussion Paper prepared by the Expert Panel [June ]

– E- consultations

– Face-to-face consultations; Science week, regional & continental consultations

3. 3. Zero Draft and first draft [September 2013]

4. Consultations hosted by SROs, FARA & CGIAR [Oct, Nov]

5. Synthesis paper [November]

6. 2nd draft of Science Agenda [November]

7. Review by FARA Board, a final round of revisions & a communication strategy

8. Final Draft for submission to AUC [February 2014];

9. CAAPD PP, Ministerial meeting,

10. Launch by AU Heads of State [Jun/Jul 2014]

11. Development of an implementation plan

Process

– Technical Advisory Group (TAG) established to provide technical guidance

– Institutional mechanisms established

– Science Agenda Expert Panel orientation and Planning, Accra, March 2013

– Reflection and Planning meeting, Rome, 18th- 20th March, 2013

– Synthesis Team of the Expert Panel (STEP) Planning and Preparatory meeting, Dublin, 17th April, 2013

1. Framing and Scoping

Institutional Arrangements for Developing the S3A

Expert Panel

Oversight Group

CAADP-CGIAR alignment Steering

Committee


Oversight Group (OG)

• Provides oversight

• Builds stakeholder ownership

Composition

AUC, NPCA, FARA Sec, SROs, Education networks, AFAAS, PAFO, PanAAC, RECs, CGIAR Consortium, World Bank, IFAD

Oversight Group & Expert PanelExpert Panel

• 12 members

• Provides technical advice to OG

• Writes the S3A

• Synthesis Team: commissioned to do the analysis & writing


1. Kanayo Nwanze (Chair/ Champion)

2. Geoffrey Mrema (co-Chair)

3. Yusuf Abubakar, ARC, Nigeria

4. Siwa Msangi, IFPRI

5. Ndéye Coumba Fall

6. Pierre Fabre, CIRAD, France

7. Nairobi, CGIAR Consortium Board

8. Lance O’Brien, TEAGASC, Ireland

Composition of Expert Panel (EP)

Synthesis Team of the EP (STEP)9. Yihenew Zewdie

10. Mandi Rukuni

11. Gabrielle Persley

12. Howard Elliot


Main elements of the Science Agenda

The breadth of science, meaningful engagements between disciplines & effective transfer of outcomes of science to end users

It provides:

What the Science Agenda is about

1. African decision-makers with the rationale for increased investments in science for Agriculture

3. The case for strengthening synergies in AR4D at all levels

2. The rationale for effective engagement of tertiary agricultural educational institutions with agricultural research systems & CAADP

4. A framework for measuring the impact and returns from agricultural innovations


“By 2030 Africa ensures its food and nutrition security; becomes a recognised global scientific player in agriculture and food systems and the world’s bread-basket”

Vision resonates with Agenda 2024 (STISA) and 2063 of the AU

In the short- to -medium-term, the Science Agenda will advance CAADP’s targets under the Sustaining the CAADP Momentum strategy

production, productivity, competitiveness and regional integration.

Vision for Science in African Agriculture


Categories

1. Sustainable productivity in major farming systems

2. Food systems and value chains

3. Agricultural biodiversity and natural resource management

4. Mega trends and challenges for agriculture in Africa

ThemesCross cutting themes

1. Sustainable intensification,

2. Modern genetics and genomics

3. Foresight capabilities,


Categories





Themes

• Crop improvement and crop protection

• Livestock breeds, health and feed

• Aquatic and inland fisheries

• Agro-forestry and forestry

• Agricultural mechanization

• Transforming production systems


Categories





Themes

• Food and nutritional security, food processing, safety and storage

• Post-harvest handling, processing and storage


Categories





Themes

• Conserving and enhancement of biodiversity

• Land and water resources and irrigation management


Categories




4. Agricultural Mega trends, policy and institutional dimensions

Themes

• Climate change, variability adaptation and mitigation

• Policy and institutional research, including market access and trade

• Improving livelihoods of rural communities


1. Connect the components of the science for agriculture system– Thematic – Geographical scales– Among the various actors (science, policy, end users,

intermediaries)

2. Ensure capacity at the national level– Sustaining a basic science capacity at the national level

– Integrating higher agricultural education with research and extension

Realising the Vision: Making it happen


3. Enhance supra-national collaboration and collective action (regional, continental and Global)– Regional centres of excellence

– Facilitate mobility of people, knowledge and resources among African countries and beyond

4. Sustainable financing of the Science Agenda– Financing from domestic sources is the key



5. African Solidarity in Science– Commitment to share benefits of discovery– African Solidarity in science Fund– Science honours (African Food Prize)– Science mobility– Engaging Africans in the diaspora.

6. Creating a favourable policy environment for science– legislative and regulatory environment

– Strong commitment to women and youth

– Managing the science-policy interface


Institutional system for Implementing the Science Agenda


• Crafting more effective modalities of collaboration and solidarity in the next 5 years at national and regional levels

• Planning for the various work-streams necessary for deploying the Science Agenda vision ahead of the AU Summit 2014 and beyond

• Mobilizing AR4D stakeholders at all levels to embrace the Science Agenda and developing practical ways towards implementation and realizing the vision

Institutional system for Implementing the Science Agenda

How the AR4D coalition will organise itself

With partners through subsidiarity

FARA

SROs & sub regional thematic networks

Extension

Business

National Institutions

?

Education

Policy

Farmers


?


?

CGIAR

CONTINENTAL

SUB-REGIONAL

NATIONAL

1. No society has transformed itself socially and economically without adequately leveraging the power of science, especially in the dominant sectors

2. Essential for Africa to mobilise science to drive its transformation agenda (demystify science)

3. Science for agriculture in Africa is too important to be outsourced. Africa’s leaders must take responsibility for expanding the role of science in society and economic development

4. The difference between this Science Agenda and others before it is Science Agenda process and its development has emphasized ownership and buy-in by African stakeholders

5. Sharpening the participation of the AR4D network in the operationalization particularly at country level is the key

Conclusions

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Thank youwww.fara-africa.org

http://www.fara-africa.org/

Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa by Dr Annor-Frempong- FARA

Education

agriculture knowledge

african agricultural

science capacity

web of science

status of research

increased investments

agricultural transformation

ar4d system