Challenge
Programs Gather Momentum: Gates Foundation Awards $25
Million Grant to HarvestPlus
The CGIAR Challenge Programs launched over the
past year are making steady progress.
HarvestPlus
In a significant development and vote of confidence
for the Challenge Program concept, the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation announced a $25 million grant to HarvestPlus
(formerly known as the Biofortification Challenge Program).
The award was announced at the National Press Club in
Washington, DC. Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman, Joachim
Voss, Director General, CIAT, and Howarth Bouis, Director,
HarvestPlus, briefed journalists about the research
program to combat malnutrition, a leading cause of child
deaths in the developing world, by improving the nutritional
quality of
staple foods in developing countries.
The first crops to be developed by the HarvestPlus initiative
include those most widely consumed in the developing
world, such as rice, wheat, maize, beans, cassava, and
sweet potato.
Speaking about the special nature of development challenges
to be addressed by HarvestPlus, Howarth Bouis, Director
of HarvestPlus noted that those most affected by malnutrition,
the rural poor, are also the most difficult to reach
with traditional nutrition programs. "Biofortified
crops have the potential to transform the health of
these communities by allowing them to grow crops that
are naturally fortified with essential micronutrients"
he explained.
For more information, visit www.harvestplus.org
Water and Food
With the completion of inception phase, the research agenda
of "Water and Food" Challenge Program was launched
in Nairobi at a special conference held at United Nations
Office in Nairobi (UNON). The meeting gathered scientists,
policy makers and interest groups from across the globe
to debate water, food and environment challenges, and
to set the research agenda for the coming years.
The Water and Food Challenge Program has received strong
signals of support. More than one-third of the $100-120
million goal for the initial six year research phase
has already been committed by The World Bank, Netherlands,
France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway.
Through a major competitive selection process, 50 research
projects have been approved for funding. On average,
each project includes 7 institutions. The approved projects
will contribute to achieving impact on the ground by
focusing on nine benchmark river basins, working closely
with local water managers and farmers. Overall, 15 CGIAR
Centers, 162 national programs, 20 NGOs, and 31 advanced
research institutions are participating in the projects.
The Nairobi conference was covered by international
and local media.
For further information, visit www.waterforfood.org
and www.cgiar.org
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