<p>In August 2015, stakeholders of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) will come together as a Constituent Assembly to consider the strategic direction and future governance of the Forum. To help guide and inform discussion, background papers have been prepared on each of the four topics to be addressed at the meeting. This paper explains renewing the role and purpose of GFAR, our evolution as a multi-stakeholder Forum focussed on agricultural innovation encompassing the environment, economy and society in every part of the value web. This leads to consideration of how we can all work more effectively together to deliver development outcomes for the rural poor. &nbsp;</p>