CGIAR and Germany mark 50 years and look ahead to inaugural Flagship Report

Berlin, December 11, 2024 - Germany and CGIAR marked over half a century of partnership in a reception that doubled as a preview of what lies ahead. Hosted by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and GIZ, the event celebrated over 50 years of Germany's dedicated support to CGIAR agricultural research. It also looked ahead to the CGIAR's inaugural flagship report, "Insight to Impact: A Decision-Maker's Guide to Navigating Food System Science" which will be launched in April 2025.

Jürgen Vögele, Chair of the CGIAR System Council brought the stark urgency of our shared tasks into the room. "The reality is that today we are facing challenges, particularly in the last few years, that were unimaginable, even five or ten years ago. The speed at which climate change is coming at us and farmers around the world is not what anyone expected. … The rate of return of investing in agricultural research is increasing by the minute, while the costs of not doing it are phenomenal."

Fifty years of impact

Germany has been a linchpin of CGIAR's mission since its founding days in the 1970s, offering financial support, research collaboration, and policy alignment. Together, they have tackled some of the world's most pressing agricultural challenges, developing stress-tolerant crops adopted by millions of smallholder farmers and advancing climate-smart agricultural practices.

"We are very proud to have been able to support CGIAR for more than fifty years," said Jochen Flasbath, BMZ - State Secretary, in his opening remarks. "Challenges for research and CGIAR have changed over this time, but the fight against hunger is as relevant today as it was decades ago."

Germany's contributions have not only fueled scientific breakthroughs but also elevated CGIAR's global reach. Partnerships with German research institutions, including collaborations on initiatives like the Global Hunger Index, have amplified the organization's ability to address complex food system challenges. They have also taken a key role in initiating and funding the new flagship report.

"CGIAR wishes to thank Germany as they have been and continue to be such a vital supporter of our mission," said Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR, in remarks at the event. "Together, we've achieved impactful milestones. And partnerships with German research institutions have enriched our work and extended our global impact."

First look at Insight to Impact

The event's centerpiece was a first glimpse of CGIAR's Insight to Impact: A Decision-Maker's Guide to Navigating Food System Science. This report, driven by decision-makers, seeks to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and practical policymaking. Scheduled for an April 2025 release during CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, the report distills decades of research into actionable insights for decision-makers navigating the complexities of food, land, and water systems. It is built on a consultative process that will continue after the report launch to help CGIAR package their science into products that decision-makers need.

"Policymakers need more help to navigate food systems science," said Lindiwe Sibanda, Chair of the CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board, during the preview presentation. "The most powerful scaling of agricultural research that I have experienced is through policy, where a policy environment is created in a way conducive for CGIAR technologies to be taken up. Yet not all researchers, not all scientists, are comfortable in the science-policy interface. This report marks a step towards bridging this gap."

The report's development involves extensive consultations with stakeholders, especially policymakers from low- and middle-income countries. Every aspect of report design has been guided by the advice of these decision-makers.

From climate adaptation to gender equity, the document addresses key areas where science can inform and enhance decision-making. It promises to be visually engaging, jargon-free, and grounded in real-world examples.

The weight of trade-offs

A panel discussion, moderated by Julianne Biddle, the report's lead researcher, delved into the core theme of evidence-based decision-making: trade-offs. Panelists, including leaders from Nigeria's Agricultural Research Council and Germany's IDOS, reflected on the difficult choices required to balance priorities like agricultural productivity, environmental protection, and social equity.

Panel discussion at CGIAR / Germany event in Berlin. Photo: GIZ

"We operate in a political and economic context that means finding a balance between prioritizing commodity crops, versus domestic production for food security," said panelist Professor Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN). "This is where agricultural expertise is critical in navigating these tradeoffs."

The panel's discourse was frank, but ultimately hopeful. Speakers shared stories of success and failure, offering lessons on how to better align science with the needs of decision-makers and the communities they serve. The report, they agreed, has the potential to act as a bridge between knowledge and action.

Looking ahead

The evening concluded with a networking dinner, where discussions spilled over into informal conversations.

And Biddle struck a determined tone: "We are not here to merely track the challenges - we are here to solve them. But science alone is not enough. We need partnerships, policy alignment, and bold investments to transform the systems that feed the world."

As CGIAR looks ahead to the report's formal launch next year, the reception in Berlin offered both a moment to reflect and a call to action. The challenges are significant, but so is the commitment of those working to address them.

Story by Adam Hunt, Senior Content Advisor. Photos: GIZ. We would like to thank all funders who support our research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund and bilaterally, and the special support for the flagship report from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with GIZ.

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