The 3rd Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD3) formally opened on Tuesday evening, 5 April 2016, at the Birchwood Hotel and O.R. Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, South Africa. Addressing the overall theme of ‘No One Left Behind; Agri–food Innovation and Research for a Sustainable World,’ the Conference is part of a two-year consultative process to build collective actions to transform and strengthen agricultural research and innovation systems in line with the vision developed through GCARD1 and expressed as joint initiatives among GCARD2 stakeholders. GCARD3 is co-organized by CGIAR and the Global Forum of Agricultural Research (GFAR) and hosted by the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC), South Africa.
In the GCARD3 official opening, welcoming delegates, Shadrack Moephuli, President and CEO, ARC, noted the growing challenge of sustaining agricultural production and reducing poverty and hunger at a time of economic downturns and climatic variations. He called on the agricultural research for development (AR4D) community to tackle chronic hunger and malnutrition and contribute to sustainable agricultural production. Mortimer Mannya, Acting Director-General, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa, speaking on behalf of Minister Senzeni Zokwana, highlighted South Africa’s target of creating at least one million agricultural jobs and increasing the share of smallholder producers, noting the importance of evidence-based research and smart and innovative solutions.
Juan Lucas Restrepo, Chair, GFAR Steering Committee, noted that GFAR’s first partner assembly on Tuesday had brought together approximately 100 partners to update GFAR’s charter. He encouraged delegates to view GCARD as a process that addresses new issues and includes voices from the different regions, requiring ongoing discussion.
On Wednesday morning, following an opening plenary GCARD3 participants will convene in five parallel discussion sessions to develop key messages for inclusion in the GCARD3 Outcome Statement.
For the full story, including a summary of proceedings and speakers' remarks, please visit the dedicated page of IISD Reporting Services, providing daily web coverage from GCARD3, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth