For decades, Germany has been a reliable partner in international agricultural research to support sustainable food systems transformation. With GIZ and KfW among the implementers, BMZ has funded numerous bilateral projects, has committed to fund the new, large-scale initiatives of One CGIAR, and supports experts at international agricultural research centers. Under the CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs) and continuing with the One CGIAR reform process and related initiatives, CGIAR research has combined food systems research and innovations with a strong policy interface, informing a growing number of policies and impacting more livelihoods than ever before.  

At this important juncture in which Germany has a new government and CGIAR has announced its complete portfolio of One CGIAR initiatives, it is useful to identify joint research-for-development opportunities for collaboration between Germany and CGIAR, particularly given the growing food insecurity, malnutrition, and climate crisis.  A key area of deliberation will involve further improving the science-policy interface for research to better communicate and inform agricultural policies, strategies, and implementation toward sustainable food system transformation in the face of multiple crises at country, regional, and global levels.

This webinar focuses on the importance of international food systems research and the science-policy interface for advancing key actions in Germany’s strategic directions for agriculture and food and in One CGIAR strategy and initiatives. It will showcase CGIAR’s work and contributions to Germany’s international cooperation in the area of agriculture, food systems, and food security, and will identify joint priorities, opportunities, and entry points for collaboration given Germany’s strategic directions and One CGIAR’s initiatives.

Opening Remarks

• Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess, Project manager of Fund International Agricultural Research, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

Welcome Remarks  

• Dirk Meyer, Head of Division I, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Setting the scene: Understanding our biggest challenges and the response of One CGIAR 

• Kundhavi Kadiresan, Managing Director, Global Engagement and Innovation, CGIAR System Organization 

Building Solutions: Using research to improve practice and policy responses 

Maintaining food and nutrition security in fragile states in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Yemen 

• Clemens Breisinger, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI (Presentation) 

Adapting Green Innovation Centers to climate change: Analysis of value chain adaptation potential 

• Björn Hecht, Head of Component, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (Presentation) 
• Stéphanie Jaquet, Research Team Leader / Finance and Investment for Climate Action, The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (Presentation) 

Looking Forward: Refining goals and prioritizing next steps 

• Khalid Bomba, Managing Director, Agrifood Transformation Agency Support Center (TASC)
• Eike Lüdeling, Professor of Horticultural Sciences, Institute of Crop Sciences and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Germany
• Claudia Ringler, Deputy Division Director, Environment and Production Technology Division, IFPRI
• Lennart Woltering, Scaling Advisor, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Closing Reflections 

• Teunis van Rheenen, Director of Business Development and External Relations, IFPRI 
• Felicitas Röhrig, Senior Policy Officer, Division of Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains, International Agricultural Policy, Agriculture, Innovation, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

 Wrap-up and next steps 

• Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess, Project manager of Fund International Agricultural Research, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

Moderator

• Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess, Project manager of Fund International Agricultural Research, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit