"Objectives: The RWC was convened in response to growing concerns about the sustainability of
rice-wheat systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. These systems are fundamental to food security,
incomes and employment to hundreds of millions of rural and urban poor in South Asia. The
objectives of the RWC are to help improve livelihoods and eliminate poverty through more
productive and sustainable agroecosystems based on the rice-wheat rotation, and to conserve

Government policy and institutions are of critical importance in efforts to assure food
security for all in a manner compatible with sustainable management of natural resources.
Similarly, technological change is an essential component of such efforts. To be successful,
action by governments must be based on a comprehensive understanding of the interaction
between technology, policy and institutions. Even the best of technology may fail to achieve
its social objectives if the policies are inappropriate or if appropriate institutions are missing.

"Los participantes del Foro Global de Investigación Agropecuaria, reunidos en Dresden,
Alemania, en mayo de 2000, en representación de los sistemas nacionales de
investigación agrícola; las organizaciones, universidades e institutos de investigación
avanzada; las organizaciones no gubernamentales; el sector privado; las organizaciones
de agricultores y las agencias de donantes, regionales y subregionales, así como los
centros de investigación agrícola internacionales, reconocen la importante contribución

"Les participants au Forum mondial de la recherche agricole qui se sont réunis à Dresde,
Allemagne, en mai 2000 et représentent les systèmes nationaux de recherche agricole, les
organisations régionales et sous-régionales, les universités, les institutions de recherche
avancée, les organisations non gouvernementales, le secteur privé, les organisations de
producteurs, les agences multilatérales et de donateurs, et les centres internationaux de
recherche agricole reconnaissent l'importante contribution des ressources phytogénétiques