WEBINAR: Building evidence for transforming agricultural innovation systems under climate change

26 May 2021. The first in a series of webinars to set a path for transformation in agricultural innovation systems, in the lead up to COP26.

This webinar provided an insight into the global baseline for investment, categorized by types of funder, implementer, and topic, and estimate how much of this funding currently aims to promote the multiple economic, environmental, and social objectives of sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI).

The webinar also highlighted the global estimates for funding over the past 10 years in research and innovation for agricultural systems in the Global South, as well as more detailed estimates for the patterns of innovation funding in specific contexts and environments, which will be discussed. The webinar:

• reviewed the recent flows of global public and private investment in agricultural innovation relevant to the Global South;
• showcased the various types of investments made; and
• estimated how much of this investment actually promotes sustainable agriculture intensification.

The subsequent panel discussion discussed future funding changes, including innovative instruments and approaches that deliver innovation at scale in a variety of different agriculture system contexts: large-scale farming, smallholder farming systems, and peri-urban systems. The panel also discussed where future priorities should lie to enable the transformation of global food systems.

• Vijay Rangarajan, Director General, Americas and Overseas Territories, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
• Ruben Echeverria, Chair, Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI)
• Vara Prasad, Director, SAI Innovation Lab
• Mauricio Lopes, Senior Researcher, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa Agroenergia)
• Uduak Edem Igbeka, Country Support Manager, Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN)
• Sara Mbago-Bhunu, Director, East and Southern Africa Division, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD)

Resource:

Estimating investment in innovation for sustainable agriculture intensification (expected May 2021)

This study will provide a global baseline for investment, categorize this by types of funder, implementer and topic, and estimate how much of this funding currently aims to promote the multiple economic, environmental and social objectives of sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI). Carried out by Dalberg Advisors (India) on behalf of CoSAI, it will produce global estimates for funding over the past 10 years in research and innovation for agricultural systems in the Global South, as well as more detailed estimates for the patterns of innovation funding in specific contexts and environments. The study aims to:

• Review the recent flows of global public and private investment in agricultural innovation relevant to the Global South.
• Develop a typology of the investments made.
• Estimate how much of this investment promotes SAI.

For CoSAI, ‘innovation’ includes not only science and technology but, importantly, innovation in policies, finance and social institutions. SAI is interpreted broadly to mean the transformative changes needed in agricultural systems to meet the SDGs and climate goals of the Paris Agreement, including social and human objectives as well as environmental sustainability.

The study will include a global study and several case studies: Brazil, India, Kenya. 

Funders IFAD, USAID

Related: 

Transforming agricultural innovation - webinar series
the UK—as part of its COP26 Presidency—engaged a new campaign ‘Transforming Agricultural Innovation for People, Nature and Climate’ to catalyse a step change in agricultural innovation. This component of the COP26 Nature Campaign is co-chaired by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).

·        Webinar 1 (May 26):15:00 - 16:00 CEST What does the world currently spend on agricultural innovation in the Global South, and how much of this promotes Sustainable Agriculture Intensification?

·        Webinar 2 (June 2): 15:00 - 16:00 CEST Opportunities, challenges and ‘trade-offs’ in scaling agro-ecological practices

·        Webinar 3 (June 9): 15:00 - 16:00 CEST Evidence on impact and cost-effectiveness of interventions to improve biodiversity outcomes through agriculture

·        Webinar 4 (June 16): 15:00 - 16:00 CEST Understanding and support for end-to-end innovation approaches ahead of COP26

·        Webinar 5 (June 23): 15:00 - 16:00 CEST Global investment gap in agricultural R&D