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Mexico Hosts
CGIAR Annual General Meeting 2004
At the opening session of AGM04. L to R: Francisco Reifschneider,
Ian Johnson, Secretary Usabiaga, Victor Villalobos,
Kanayo Nwanze and Per Pinstrup-Andersen.
Nearly 1,000 participants attended the CGIAR's Annual
General Meeting 2004 (AGM04) hosted by the Government
of Mexico during October 27-29, 2004. Secretary Javier
Usabiaga of Mexico delivered inaugural remarks from
President Vicente Fox, pledging the Government of Mexico's
strong support to rural development and confidence in
the long-standing partnership with CGIAR.
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Mexican Secretary of Agriculture,
Javier Usabiaga, presents opening remarks on behalf
of President Vicente Fox. |
In his speech, "Bridge to the Future," Ian
Johnson, CGIAR Chairman reminded participants to focus
on the goal of helping the world's poor to begin a permanent
escape from poverty. Growth, linked with responsible
practices and policies, is the starting point of that
process. For the great majority of the poor who live
in rural areas, sustainable agriculture is the basis
of sustainable growth he said, urging that the CGIAR
must maintain momentum on the reforms.
 A
highlight of the meeting was a session on "Strategic
Directions in CGIAR Research for Development" addressed
by Francois Bourguignon, World Bank Chief Economist
and Vice President. His presentation focused on the
key role of agriculture in meeting the Millennium Development
Goals, and noted that the challenge was greatest in
Sub-Saharan Africa.
Increasing productivity of agriculture
- directly through new, higher-yielding crop varieties
and indirectly by improving rural infrastructure - was
central to meeting the challenge he urged. Glenn Denning
of the Millennium Project and Per Pinstrup-Andersen,
Chair, CGIAR Science Council and World Food Prize laureate
also addressed the group.
The meeting and associated events were an opportunity
to strengthen the CGIAR alliance and advance its mission
of mobilizing public goods science to benefit poor farmers.
Eight CGIAR Science and Communication Awards were given
to CGIAR scientists and partners, celebrating the excellence
and impact of CGIAR science. The 2004 King Baudouin
Award went to the Rice-Wheat Consortium of the Indo-Gangetic
Plains for pioneering resource-conserving technologies
in South Asia's breadbasket.
At the Centers' Forum, Kanayo Nwanze (Chair of Center
Directors Committee) and William Dar (incoming Chair,
CDC) provided examples of partnerships and impacts.
Participants also toured experimental plots at CIMMYT
and INIFAP.
The 2nd CGIAR Innovation Marketplace featured 9 examples
of innovative partnerships among CGIAR researchers and
civil society organizations in Latin America. In addition,
six farmers from three continents addressed the plenary
and presented their perspectives on impacts of agricultural
research on livelihoods. The Farmers' Dialogue marked
an innovative effort at reaching out to CGIAR's primary
clients, poor farmers in developing countries.
At a "Ministerial Roundtable" four Ministers
from Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Mexico, and Venezuela
spoke, joining two leading private sector representatives
for a discussion on how public-private partnerships
could spur rural innovation and benefit poor farmers.
At the business meeting, CGIAR Members unanimously
approved the "CGIAR Charter" signaling their
strong support to the alliance.
Mexico is the birthplace of the CGIAR, and the Annual
General Meeting 2004 and related events helped to solidify
the Mexico-CGIAR partnership. A special luncheon organized
to celebrate the founding of the CGIAR featured Robert
S. McNamara (former World Bank President), Norman Borlaug
(Nobel Peace Laureate) and Evangelina Villegas (World
Food Prize Laureate). They recalled early days of CGIAR
and the critical role it continues to play in promoting
sustainable development.
Summaries of Proceedings
from AGM04 are Now Online
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