Unleashing Science, Technology and Innovation for Food and Nutrition Security

15-17 October 2014. Arnhem, The Netherlands. International Forum Unleashing Science, Technology and Innovation for Food and Nutrition Security.With special focus on Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific.

A 2013 call for proposals was launched by CTA for the Top 20 Innovations benefitting smallholder farmers. This yielded 251 responses of which twenty (20) have been shortlisted. These innovations are having an impact on farming communities, especially small-scale farmers, fisher-folk, agro-processors and traders but they are most likely taking place under the radar of governments, the private sector and other stakeholders.

Dr Ayele and Prof Mugabe

A CTA-CoSIS Wageningen UR 2013 expert consultation on Innovation Systems: Toward Effective Strategies that Benefit Smallholder Farmers demonstrated that while innovation systems thinking has permeated the culture and actions of several key agricultural organizations in ACP countries and beyond much more work is needed in understanding the context of smallholder farming systems so that policy and institutional changes can be effected for their benefit; thereby ensuring that development is inclusive.

Participants are reviewing the Top 20 innovations

The international forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Food and Nutrition Security brought together leading scholars, senior scientists/researchers/academicians, policy-makers, development practitioners, innovators and private sector representatives including farmers to:

1. Assess the relevance and effectiveness of current agricultural research and innovation policies and programmes for addressing the food and nutrition security challenge;
2. Analyze and generate evidence on innovations occurring in ACP agriculture for shaping future STI policy formulation and implementation for achieving food and nutrition security;
3. Agree on how best to move forward in sharpening the STI focus, strengthening national innovation systems and increasing public and private investments to effectively address food and nutrition insecurity in the future;

Reference (added 16/03/2015):
Final Report. CTA International Forum
15-17 October 2014 Arnhem, The Netherlands
Unleashing Science, Technology and Innovation for Food and Nutrition Security
With special focus on Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific. Developing a road map.
Judith Ann Francis, CTA & Nafiisa Sobratee, Consultant
March 2015. 69 pages