The 2nd DURAS Project Leaders' Workshop was held last 28 February - 02 March 2007 at Agropolis International in Montpellier (France).

The event was attended by all the project coordinators and their European/French counterparts as well as two members of the DURAS Scientific Partnership Committee – Prof. Bernard Guerin (ACTIA - Association Centres Techniques au service enterprises Alimentaires) and Sonia Ramonteau (ACTA – Association de Coordination de Technique Agricole).

During this event, Dr. JeanFrancois Giovannetti (French Ministry of Foreign Affair and Chair, DURAS Steering Committee) announced the extension of the duration (without additional funding) of the 12 projects until 31 March 2008 instead of 30 November 2007. Also present during this event were Dr. Henri Carsalade (President, Agropolis International) and Dr. Abdelmajid Slama (Executive Secretary a.i., GFAR).
 

The workshop aimed at bringing together coordinators and participants in DURAS-supported projects to share information about the progress achieved one year after implementation; to collectively take stock of lessons learned; to discuss emerging project contribution to sustainable development and the indicators which can be used to measure it; and to discuss plans and strategies for next steps.

Key issues raised include the need to enhance communication and exchange across projects (e.g., use of videos, co-publication, etc.), need to effectively involve small and medium agro-enterprises particularly in research projects that involves the whole “filiere”; mainstreaming innovative approaches being adopted in each of the 12 initiatives particularly in the regular activities of organizations involved in the project; how can local knowledge be best used as a take off point in doing research, including how can these traditional knowledge feed into research; enabling farmers to be better involved in research; ensuring project results accessible; research ownership and Intellectual Property (IP) management; promoting synergy with other projects/initiatives and promoting research-development-education linkage.

Participants were also briefed of the outcome of the DURAS mid-term External Review. They have also provided some inputs for DURAS 2 such as a special Call for Proposal under Phase 2 involving only the 12 projects in an effort to promote and encourage integration of initiatives and valorize (emerging) complementary results (This can be a way of supporting future activities of some of the 12 projects).

Participants also strongly suggested to organize the 3rd DURAS workshop in one of the project sites. To be held in April 2008, this event will be open to other stakeholders working in agricultural research for development (ARD) and will serve as an opportunity to promote exchange of experiences and lessons learned on the dynamics of partnership, local innovation and ARD.