45% of Earth's land surface is drylands
INTRODUCTIONThe CGIAR 2030
Global Strategy for
Resilient Drylands
Future-proofing global drylands
Climate change, conflicts, outdated agricultural practices, and population growth exacerbate complex challenges faced by dryland communities across the globe.
As CGIAR's first cross-center drylands strategy, the Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD) draws on 50 years of science, innovation, and collaboration across the 15 CGIAR Research Centers, and partner networks. The strategy harnesses cutting-edge technology, fosters creativity, and tailors solutions to the specific needs of different dryland regions, ensuring a thriving future for the millions of people who rely on drylands for food and livelihoods.
PARTNERSCGIAR Research Centers and partners – together for drylands
Led by ICARDA and ICRISAT alongside CIFOR-ICRAF, CIMMYT, CIP, IFPRI, IITA, ILRI, IWMI, and WorldFish, and supported by national research organizations, governments, private sector partners, and civil society, the GSRD embodies a unified, multi-center approach that fosters climate-smart agriculture to generate resilient livelihoods for dryland communities worldwide.
Advocating for the transformation of agrifood systems in drylands, including fragile and conflict-affected areas, the GSRD is grounded in partnerships with local, national, and international stakeholders. It follows strong principles of gender equity and youth and social inclusion, to facilitate widespread adoption and scaling of its innovations.
“The Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands, charts CGIAR’s innovative path towards a prosperous and resilient future for dryland communities on the frontline of the climate crisis.”
- Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR
“This strategy is a transformative journey to empower global dryland communities through a coordinated approach to enhancing agriculture and conserving biodiversity.”
- Dr Stanford Blade, Interim Director General, ICRISAT
“The CGIAR Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands tackles pressing issues such as water scarcity, land degradation, and desertification, offering crucial support to dryland communities amidst climate change."
- Mr Aly Abousabaa, Director General, ICARDA & Regional Director, Central and West Asia and North Africa, CGIAR
Global drylands
Drylands make up 46 percent of the world's land area and support nearly 44 percent of agricultural systems, including half of the world's livestock. These regions, home to some of the world's poorest and most climate-vulnerable communities, are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Rising temperatures, soil degradation, and unpredictable rainfall patterns exacerbate food insecurity, leading to conflict, migration, and poverty.
Hyper-arid
Arid
Semi-arid
Dry sub-humid
Humid
FACTS & FIGURESFacts & figures
45% of Earth's land surface is drylands
1 in 3 of the global population lives in drylands
70% of dryland livelihoods require natural resources
20-35% of drylands are degraded
700M people may be displaced by 2030 due to water scarcity
44% of global food systems are located in drylands
INNOVATIONInnovation for transforming agrifood systems in dryland areas
Recognizing the essential role of drylands in the global food system, CGIAR’s innovations will optimize farming and diversify dryland agrifood systems to adapt to climate change. By conserving biodiversity and managing soil, land, and water systems, we aim to build resilient communities and ecosystems. Beyond the field, we will develop groundbreaking solutions to ensure dryland populations access sustainable, nutritious diets. For lasting impact on hunger and malnutrition, evidence-based approaches will inform policy that supports inclusive, equitable development.
KEY STRATEGIC GOALSKey strategic goals
1.
Optimizing agrifood systems for climate adaptation
CGIAR aims to help dryland communities adapt to climate change by developing climate-smart solutions with local stakeholders. Through a participatory approach that combines research with Indigenous and local knowledge, we will ensure sustainable practices in livestock and aquaculture, develop resilient livestock and feed technologies, and innovate in rangeland and water management. Investments in green technology, climate services, and early warning systems will help communities adapt to climate change, reduce agrifood emissions, and prevent further desertification.
2.
Conserving and utilizing biodiversity for community and ecosystem resilience
CGIAR will collaborate with communities to restore and conserve dryland biodiversity, crucial for ecosystem health, by implementing ecological food production methods that benefit biodiversity. Through value chain investments, policies, and the promotion of diverse, resilient crop varieties, we will incentivize biodiversity conservation and build sustainable agrifood systems. This approach includes conserving Indigenous crops in genebanks and empowering communities to adopt agroecological, nature-positive practices.
3.
Managing soil, land, and water systems for sustainable production and climate mitigation
In drylands, where pressures on soil, land, and freshwater are severe, CGIAR will encourage sustainable management to enhance agrifood productivity. This includes promoting conservation agriculture with drought-tolerant crops, efficient water management, and soil health improvements to reduce land degradation. Additionally, CGIAR will introduce green energy solutions like solar agrivoltaics and desalination, invest in resource conflict mitigation, and support informed decision-making by analyzing tradeoffs in the water–energy–food–environment nexus.
4.
Ensuring access to sustainable, healthy diets to alleviate hunger and malnutrition
Ensuring access to diverse, affordable, and nutritious diets is key to addressing the burden of malnutrition across drylands. This requires integrating nutrition-sensitive cropping, livestock farming, aquaculture, and agroforestry systems. In addition, we will support policies and market incentives for producing healthy food products, education programs, and collaboration with humanitarian agencies to facilitate the adoption of healthy, diverse diets.
5.
Translating evidence-based approaches into policy for development
Transforming agrifood systems in dryland areas, especially for marginalized groups, while addressing structural inequalities requires systematically translating our research into socially inclusive policy and practices at local, national, and international levels. To achieve this objective, we will collaborate with partners, conduct local policy dialogue to mitigate resource conflicts, and generate evidence for informed decision-making and technology adoption.
“ICARDA's contribution to CGIAR's Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands showcases our commitment to innovative solutions for sustainable livelihoods of smallholders in the face of climate change.”
- Mr Neal Gutterson, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, ICARDATECHNOLOGYToday’s technology for tomorrow's future food systems
The CGIAR 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands commits to a thriving and resilient future for the millions of people who depend on drylands for their food and livelihoods. It is designed to integrate Indigenous and local knowledge with the latest advances in technology and approaches to ensure that our research and innovations meet local needs, are widely adopted, and remain accessible and affordable to everyone living in dryland areas.
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