Now, Phase Seven

The hallmark of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is combining the best in science to contribute to development. Throughout its history, working in partnership with national agricultural research systems (NARS), and increasingly with other partners, the CGIAR has contributed to sustainable and poverty-reducing development through the research and research-related activities of its Centers. This has resulted in major productivity gains and improved policies and institutions for the benefit of the poor.

Like other institutions, the CGIAR has evolved over time, changing its focus and structure to adapt to the needs of the present while, at the same time, nurturing the competence and imagination to wrestle with the demands of the future. Indeed, the CGIAR has evolved from a small group of research Centers focused on raising agricultural production largely through crop breeding to one that, today, encompasses a much larger number of research Centers and expanded partnerships addressing a broader and more diverse portfolio of research for development. At least seven distinct phases of development can be identified over its brief history:

• plant breeding oriented to high-yielding varieties of rice, wheat and maize, the major food staple crops (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and International Rice Research Institute, 1960-1965);
• plant breeding underpinned by agronomic activities tailored to the needs of high-yielding varieties, crop protection, irrigation, soil fertility and plant nutrition (International Center for Tropical Agriculture, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, 1965-1975);
• farming systems research to fine tune agronomic and technological activities to meet the specific needs of diverse agricultural groups, with more socioeconomic and policy research to address distorted policies and weak institutions, in recognition of the critical role that good agricultural policies and strong NARS play in accelerating technological change and fostering agricultural development, and to enable impact (International Food Policy Research Institute and International Service for National Agricultural Research, 1975-1980);
• broadening research objectives by including biodiversity, natural resource management, ecosystems and agroforestry (Bioversity International, Center for International Forestry Research, International Water Management Institute, World Agroforestry Center, and WorldFish Center, 1980-1990);
• as farmers themselves can't solve some problems unless the conditions are created that enable them to do the right things, adopting ecoregional approaches to integrate efforts at higher levels (Ecoregional Programs, 1990-1998);
• combined and collaborative efforts by the Centers to address global concerns (Challenge Programs, 1998-2007); and
• mobilizing science and stimulating agricultural research by public and private investment, and greater and more extensive use of partnerships with the private sector and civil society (current).

Clearly, the CGIAR saw its agenda broaden considerably as it moved from a strongly supply-side orientation to one led considerably more by demand (often from donors). At the same time it started moving away from delivering concrete research products (e.g., improved crop varieties) to developing approaches, articulating problems and deriving common agendas and solutions with its partners. Its role as a moderator, initiator, facilitator, stimulator and bridge to broader stakeholder groups has become increasingly important. That evolution is also making clear what is needed from the Science Council (SC), the science-advisory organ of the CGIAR, to ensure that CGIAR research and partnerships remain of the highest relevance and quality.

The mission of the SC is to (a) enhance and promote the quality, relevance and impact of science in the CGIAR; (b) advise the Group on strategic scientific issues of importance to its goals; and (c) mobilize and harness the best of international science for addressing the goals of the international agricultural research community. With respect to the last point, and considering the current seventh phase of CGIAR development, the SC is committed to ensuring that the CGIAR System is as well positioned as possible to meet the challenges inherent in effectively mobilizing global science to realize CGIAR goals. A particular focus will be placed on bridging the gap in the current research-to-development continuum and creating a collective node in the "open science" system. This will be achieved through four channels:

• Promoting excellence in research: Two SC standing panels - on monitoring and evaluation and on impact assessment - focus their efforts on strengthening processes related to planning, monitoring and evaluating research, including documenting the poverty-related impacts of the System's research.
• Ensuring the implementation of System priorities: The SC continues to interact with the Alliance Office to help develop, improve and implement the Framework Plans following a CGIAR System strategy.
• Encouraging partnerships: The SC seeks ways to best stimulate partnerships, including with the private sector and civil society, to open up new avenues for development. For the Centers to develop these relationships requires a different mode of operation and attitude. The sense of mission and dynamism in the current environment demand such change, which the SC is available to stimulate and support.
• Conducting strategic analyses: The SC will follow through on the provision of necessary contextual issues to support the research agenda of the CGIAR, including support to develop Systemwide guidelines on intellectual property rights (in particular regarding product stewardship and liability), ethics, streamlining medium-term plans, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation processes, in particular the performance measurement system.

These activities will sharpen the relevance of the CGIAR to development and contribute to the Millennium Development Goals, especially the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger and the development of a global partnership for development. The role of the SC as a catalyst and facilitator is modest but, when done in the right way, very productive and effective. That is our goal.