Vision for Adapted Soils and Crops (VACS)

11 - 12 December 2024. Berlin, Germany. 21st meeting of the CGIAR System Council

• 09/12 EIARD meeting
• 10/12 Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS)

10/12 Vision for Adapted Soils and Crops (VACS)

This side event brought together the CGIAR/CIMMYT – FAO Partnership to Advance the Global Vision for Adapted Soils and Crops (VACS) as well as all four VACS implementers to present insights to CGIAR System Council donors on the value proposition of VACS and the importance of sustained investment in implementation.  

The session demonstrated how VACS contributes to global food security, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture through coordinated action across major agricultural organizations. 

The event was a combination of high-level strategic perspectives with implementer experiences in a structured dialogue for CGIAR donors: 

• Co-Chairs Opening Remarks: Robert Bertram (USAID) and Daniela Vega (CGIAR/CIMMYT VACS Partnership Executive Secretary a.i.) Strategic importance of VACS, investment case for donors and role of donors in scaling impact 
• Introductory Remarks: Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR Executive Managing Director 
• VACS Partnership Overview – How it all fits together: Daniela Vega: VACS mission, objectives, and current implementation status 

Implementers Value Proposition: Implementation insights, achievements, and strategic priorities

• FAO: Maximo Torero (Chief Economist, FAO) 
• Crop Trust: Stefan Schmitz (Executive Director, Crop Trust) 
• IFAD: Ron Hartman (Director for Global Engagement, IFAD) 
• CGIAR: Prassana Boddupalli (Maize Program Director, CIMMYT) 

Closing Remarks - Cary Fowler, World Food Prize Laureate 2024 and Special Envoy for Global Food 

Security of the US State Department 

Question raised by GFAiR: @Chowdhury, Jahan-Zeb (IFAD) As this is an African program, why are the Secretariat or Trust Fund of VACS not entrusted to the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA/Ghana), or another African research organisation with continental outreach? Are ownership, capacity building, alignment with country needs and a demand led approach by National Agricultural Research Institutes not key for VACS implementation?

Answer by IFAD: Very good question. VACS is not solely focused on research; its scope extends beyond that to include market development, capacity building, and fostering resilience in agricultural systems. The VACS Trust Fund at IFAD also offers a significant leveraging advantage, drawing on over $1 billion in supplementary funds mobilized by IFAD annually, along with $3.5 billion of its core resources. This ability to pool and allocate  resources enhances the reach and impact of the program. Creating  market demand for VACS crops is critical, and IFAD brings valuable experience in this area, ensuring that these crops can become viable and sustainable options for farmers. Importantly, the demand for VACS initiatives must originate from national governments, aligning with their priorities and needs. This approach does not detract from the essential role of African ownership, capacity building, and alignment with country-specific goals. IFAD’s role is not to replace African institutions but to complement and empower them. Happy to discuss further offline.

Question raised by GFAiR: @BODDUPALLI, Prasanna (CIMMYT-Kenya) What will be the collaboration of VACS with ICRISAT's Smart Food Africa Initiative? (re-launched 30/10/24 https://paepard.blogspot.com/2024/10/15th-africa-day-for-food-and-nutrition.html)

We are exploring the possibility of linking the Smart Foods Initiative with the demand side work on opportunity crops and the products from these. In essence, this is important for creating sustainable demand for the opportunity crops in targeted countries in Africa.. something we can take as a learning from the work happening on this front in countries like India.