G7 can tackle five priorities with one investment: agricultural research

This week the representatives of the world’s most advanced economies grapple with complex challenges at the G7 summit in Canada. Smart investments need to be made to solve the five key issues addressed at the summit and the smartest investment is in agricultural research, writes Marco Ferroni.

Marco Ferroni is the chair of the CGIAR System management board and former executive director of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture. CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

The G7 summit tops European leaders’ agendas this week. They set off for Canada to grapple with five complex challenges: promoting economic growth and gender equality, fostering peace and decent jobs, all while tackling climate change. No small feat.

As representatives of the world’s most advanced economies, Angela Merkel, Theresa May and colleagues have the opportunity to show the rest of the world how to make smart investments to address all five of these issues in one fell swoop.

After more than 35 years of working in the sector, I am convinced one of the smartest investments is agricultural research.

An op-ed by Marco Ferroni, Chair of the CGIAR System Management Board and Former Executive Director of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture.