Three full days are allocated for the scientific debate at SF16, with a mix of plenaries and breakout sessions. The role of the plenary sessions is to raise the big questions in testing concepts, pathways and assumptions, followed by breakout sessions delving into these topics. Many researchers keep avoiding this topic, as a large amount of them consider it a question beneath them. It can also be said that they prefer to focus on works that will benefit them, thinking it’s better to contact a writing service and order essay in case it’s something easier but more time-consuming. Based upon an in-depth examination of individual issues, the breakout sessions report back to the plenary providing opportunity for broad discussion. The Forum will aim for 50:50 talk:discussion with the intent being to stimulate provocative and productive dialogue. In previous SFs, such debate was enhanced by diversity in participation, including representatives from donor agencies, NGOs, and the private sector as well as researchers both from within and external to the CGIAR and we would anticipate a similar audience for SF16.

Download the SF16 Program-at-a-Glance


Learning from experience: What does the evidence tell us about which pathways have worked and how has the challenge changed? What are the pathways that link agricultural research and poverty reduction?


09:00 – 11:15 PLENARY SESSION: SETTING THE SCENE

Chair: Maggie Gill, ISPC Chair, Coordinator Scientific Programme Science Forum 2016

Welcome from ISPC and UNECA

Links to other meetings/initiatives

Stefan Dercon, DFID & University of Oxford: Agricultural Research for Rural Prosperity: Rethinking the Pathways || Abstract ||

Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI: Assets Keys to Prosperity || Abstract ||

Mark Howden, Director, Climate Change InstituteAustralian National University: Challenges Ahead As a Result of Climate Change || Abstract ||


11:15 – 11:45 TEA/COFFEE


11:45 – 13:00 PLENARY: PATHWAYS TO POVERTY REDUCTION

Panel discussion

Chair: Tom Tomich, Director, Agricultural Sustainability Institute & Professor, University of California Davis and ISPC

Panelists: Doug Gollin, University of Oxford and ISPC; Anil Gupta, Honey Bee Network; Saleem Ismail, Western Seed Co, Kenya; Fentahun Mengistu, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research; Jing Zhu, Nanjing Agricultural University


13:00 – 14:00 LUNCH


14:00 – 15:00 BREAKOUT SESSIONS

The aim of these four breakout sessions is to show how agricultural research on different commodities has/can contribute to poverty reduction.

1) Linkages between staple crops research and poverty outcomes || Abstract || Background paper ||

2) Nutrient-dense climate-resilient future crops || Abstract || Background paper ||

3) Animal agri-food systems research for poverty reduction || Abstract || Background paper ||

4) Contribution of research on agricultural policies, institutions, and markets to poverty reduction || Abstract || Background reading 1 || Background reading 2 || Background reading 3 || Background reading 4 ||


15:15 – 15:45 MOVE TO ILRI CAMPUS 


15:45 – 19:00  

Knowledge Share Fair and Reception co-hosted by the CGIAR centers on site + EIAR

Regional context: Exploring the main pathways from agricultural research to poverty reduction in 5 regions and then exploring in more depth drivers of change and partnerships for impact


09:00 – 09:30 PLENARY: REFLECTIONS FROM DAY 1

Report back from Day 1 breakout sessions

Chair: Rajul Pandya-Lorch, Head 2020 Vision Initiative and Chief of Staff, IFPRI

09:30 – 11:15 PLENARY: REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES

Chair: Rashid Hassan, Director, Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa, University of Pretoria, South Africa

•Eastern and Southern Africa: Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), Kenya || Abstract ||

•West and Central Africa: Baba Yusuf Abubakar, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Nigeria || Abstract ||

•Latin America: Ruben Echeverria, Director General, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia

•South Asia: S. Mahendra Dev, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), India || Abstract ||  Background paper ||

•Southeast Asia: Dang Kim Son, Former Director General, Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), Vietnam || Abstract || Background paper ||


11:15 – 11:45 TEA/COFFEE


11:45 – 13:00 BREAKOUT SESSIONS: DRIVERS OF CHANGE

5a) Africa || Background reading ||

6a) Asia || Abstract ||

7a) Climate change || Abstract || Background paper ||

8a) Understanding impact delivery from agricultural research || Abstract ||


13:00 – 14:00 LUNCH


14:00 – 15:00 BREAKOUT SESSIONS: PARTNERSHIPS FOR IMPACT

The previous four breakout groups will continue, but now with a focus on partnerships (types of partners and partnership approaches).

5b) Africa

6b) Asia || Abstract ||

7b) Climate change || Abstract || Background paper ||

8b) Understanding impact delivery from agricultural research || Abstract ||


15:00 – 15:30 TEA/COFFEE


15:30 – 16:00 PLENARY: REPORT BACK FROM DAY 2 BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Chair: Rajul Pandya-Lorch

16:00 – 17:45 PLENARY: CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FOR POVERTY REDUCTION

16:00 – 16:30 Gebisa Ejeta, Distinguished Professor of Plant Breeding & Genetics and International Agriculture, Purdue University: Capacity Development for Poverty Reduction || Abstract ||

16:30 – 17:45 Panel Discussion

Chair: Gebisa Ejeta

Panelists: Suresh Babu, IFPRI; Karen Duca, USAID; Carl Erik Schou Larsen, World Bank; Solange Uwituze, RUFORUM


18:00 – 19:30 EVENING RECEPTION HOSTED BY ISPC


Synthesis and way forward: Identify key topics/pathways within the overall context that merit further discussion


09:00 – 09:45 PLENARY: SYNTHESIS AND REFLECTIONS

Chair: Maggie Gill, ISPC Chair, Coordinator Scientific Programme Science Forum 2016

Brhane Gebrekidan, Fellow, Ethiopian Academy of Sciences: Key Topics, Pathways and Priority Research Areas (synthesis and key messages from Day 1 discussions)

Keijiro Otsuka, Professor, Kobe University, Japan: Key topics and Inclusive Partnership Approaches to Cater for Regional Differences and Generate Cross-regional Products (synthesis and key messages from Day 2 discussions)

09:45 – 11:15 PLENARY: RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES – PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY

Panel discussion

Chair: Doug Gollin, Professor, University of Oxford and ISPC

Panelists: Peter Carberry, Deputy Director General for Research, ICRISAT; Victor Manyong, Director, Eastern Africa Hub and Social Science, IITA; Howard-Yana Shapiro, Mars Incorporated; Jimmy Smith, Director General, ILRI;  Oscar Ortiz, Deputy Director General for Research and Development, CIP; Florence Wambugu, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International


11:15 – 11:45 TEA/COFFEE


11:45 – 12:45 PLENARY SESSION: POLICY PERSPECTIVES – PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY

Panel discussion

Chair: Segenet Kelemu, Director General, ICIPE and ISPC

Panelists: Berhanu Abegaz, Executive Director, African Academy of Sciences; Shantanu Mathur, IFAD; Sarah Simons, World Bank; Maya Takagi, FAO


12:45 – 13:00 

Final wrap-up – Tom Tomich

Closing remarks – Maggie Gill


13:00 – 14:00 LUNCH


14:00 – 16:00 CONTINUATION OF DAY 1 BREAKOUT SESSIONS + BREAKOUT SESSION ON GENDER || Abstract ||

Field visits: 

There will be opportunities for post-SF16 field visits on 15 April 2016. Participants will have the option of choosing one trip from the following five:

  1. East Shoa direction. Focus on livelihood opportunities with livestock, irrigation and trees.
  2. Debre Berhan direction. Focus on sustainable intensification, fruit, livestock, small-scale irrigation, dry season animal feeding, integrated watershed management.
  3. Holetta direction. Focus on root crops and potato value chains.
  4. Debre Zeit direction. Focus on livelihood and field and staple crops – post-harvest, farmer group collective production/value addition and marketing, seed and input systems, and Debre Zeit research station.
  5. Addis Ababa and region. Focus on public-private actors and partnerships, Ethiopia Biodiversity Institute, Menagesha Biotech Industry, AKF feed processing company.