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ACP S&T dialogue

Demanding Innovation
Researchers in ACP countries are facing a growing range of challenges. They are required to respond effectively to the demands of policy makers, private sector investors and donor agencies, farmers and other stakeholders in the agri-food chain. They are being asked to deliver research outputs that will improve agricultural productivity, food quality and food safety, in order to increase their countries competitiveness in global markets, and contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable development. At the same time, researchers must be socially and ethically responsible and contribute to the advancement of science and technology. As the demands for accountability increase and the levels of funding diminish, researchers need to prioritize and strategize their responses.

Differentiated S&T strategies for improving productivity of ACP farming systems
ACP farming systems are very diverse and the scientific community must be able to provide adequate responses to meet the varied needs of small subsistence farmers who make up the majority of the ACP farming community while simultaneously addressing the needs of the medium to large-scale farming enterprises to compete on price, quality, responsiveness to changing consumer demands and reliability in supply in all markets. Therein lies the challenge as there is no one-size fits all approach that will enable researchers to respond to the needs of small scale farmers who are primarily concerned with sustainable livelihoods or medium to large-scale farms who wish to remain competitive and take advantage of any opportunities despite deteriorating environmental conditions and trade and economic restrictions. Within the last few years, the ACP region has seen a resurgence of emphasis on family farms which are being valued not only for their contribution to maintaining social order but to environmental sustainability. This dossier provides guidance and lessons learned on the need for the ACP region to apply a differentiated strategic approach for using science to enhance the performance of ACP agricultural sector.

Early dialogues on S&T policy
Some of the most relevant briefs, notes and documents related to the pre-2007 ACP Agricultural S&T policy discussions.
EU S&T dialogue
Ethics
Financing ARD
Foresighting
ICKM / MIS / ICT

ICT for transforming research for agricultural and rural development
...
Innovation systems
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Measuring the impact of agricultural research
Participatory R&D
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Tertiary agricultural education

Biofuels
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Enhancing competitiveness in the ACP poultry value chain
The poultry value chain in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) countries involves both large-scale integrated enterprises and small-scale production systems. The former have benefited from capital investments, access to information and scientific research, whereas the latter remain isolated despite their significance. Family poultry comprises approximately 80% of the world's total poultry stock and plays a key role in many households in ACP countries for food and nutrition security, livelihoods and conservation of indigenous breeds. An analysis of the family poultry value chain, including its poor productivity and low financial and technical inputs, shows that it contrasts markedly with conditions in large-scale commercial poultry enterprises. Governments and researchers would be well advised to thoroughly review the family poultry value chains to identify priorities for science and innovation that can contribute to improved efficiency for the provision of eggs, live birds, fresh-chilled, frozen and other value-added poultry products. This summary is provided by CABI and CTA, July 2012.
Other commodities

Bananas
The ACP Group of States need to adjust the approach to agricultural production, marketing and distribution to be able to compete in national, regional and international markets. Traditional commodities such as banana are no longer assured of guaranteed prices and ready access to international markets. How then should the ACP region respond? Commodities, traditionally considered as food security crops are now being looked at in a different light. Can scientists assist the countries in making informed decisions to improve efficiency, cost effectiveness, quality and competitiveness?

Coffee
The ACP Group of States need to adjust the approach to agricultural production, marketing and distribution to be able to compete in national, regional and international markets. Traditional commodities such as coffee are no longer assured of guaranteed prices and ready access to international markets. How then should the ACP region respond? Commodities, traditionally considered as food security crops are now being looked at in a different light. Can scientists assist the countries in making informed decisions to improve efficiency, cost effectiveness, quality and competitiveness?
Rice value chain
Sorghum
Sugarcane
Vegetables

Top 20 finalists of the 3rd Africa-wide women and young professionals in science competitions

Author:

Date: 11/04/2013

Introduction:

CTA/FARA/IFS/ANAFE/RUFORUM/NPCA/AGRA: Promoting excellence in science, technology and innovation for agricultural and rural development in Africa

Top 20 finalists of the 3rd Africa-wide women and young professionals in science competitions

CTA and its partners, FARA, IFS, ANAFE, RUFORUM, NPCA, AGRA are pleased to announce the top 20 finalists of the 3rd Africa-wide women and young professionals science competitions 'Feeding 1 billion in Africa in a changing world' which was launched in 2012.

The twenty finalists will vie for the top five places and awards (including trophies, cash and other prizes, book donations) in each category; women and young professionals, at a side event which is planned for 15 - 16 July 2013, during the 6th FARA General Assembly and Science Week in Ghana. Each finalist will make a 15 minute scientific presentation on their research and outreach work to a multi-disciplinary high-level panel of judges drawn from Africa. The chief judge will be Professor Ameenah Gurib-Fakim who is a past winner and role model and also now a member of the expert panel for the science competitions.

CTA and partners are very pleased with the high quality of the final papers which were submitted by the 45 semi-finalists who had benefitted from a scientific writing, communication and policy advocacy training course which was organized by the consortium partners in September 2012 in Uganda. The scientific contributions of all semi-finalists will be published by CTA, FARA and partners.

All semi-finalists will also be fully supported to attend the 6th Africa Science Week and FARA General Assembly from 15-20 July 2013 in Accra, Ghana. The Award ceremony to recognize the winners as well as all the semi-finalists for their contribution to science and development on the continent will be held during the FARA General Assembly.

Get the list: Top 10 Women finalists

Get the list: Top 10 YPOs finalists

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