Press Release No. IFAD/34/01

Rome, 12 November 2001 – The potential of international agricultural research to address poverty eradication effectively in developing countries was enhanced by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, becoming a co-sponsor of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

The CGIAR is a system of 16 public international agricultural research centers that enable over 8,500 scientists and staff to harness for the rural poor the best of science to increase food supplies and protect the environment. As a co-sponsoring institution, IFAD will join the World Bank, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in the direct governance of the CGIAR and work toward furthering its operations.

“Investments in pro-poor research for development are critical to the reduction of poverty and hunger,” says Lennart Båge, the President of IFAD. “The vast majority of the poor live in rural areas and make a living through agriculture. IFAD has long supported the CGIAR research which has had significant impact on incomes and nutrition security among these poor farmers, and the Fund is pleased to elevate its partnership with the CGIAR by becoming a co-sponsor.”

In order to feed the world and increase incomes among the rural poor, the future demands that more food is grown on less land. On any given plot of land, existing yields among poor farmers in developing countries equals one-third to one-half of existing yields in developed countries.

“Agricultural research provides the driving force for rural productivity increases in developing countries,” says Ian Johnson, World Bank Vice President and the CGIAR Chairman. “With IFAD coming on board as a co-sponsor, the CGIAR is considerably strengthened in the fight against hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and environmental degradation.”

Since 1979, IFAD has contributed more than $100 million to CGIAR research programs, emphasizing the development of new technology in partnership with poor communities in order to meet their technology requirements. In working with the CGIAR, IFAD continues to reiterate the need for further research in traditional, food staple crop varieties of the rural poor as well as crops and commodities which would assist them to improve their incomes and nutritional status.

The announcement of IFAD’s co-sponsorship was endorsed with acclaim at the CGIAR’s recent Annual General Meeting at World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC.

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IFAD is a specialised agency of the United Nations with the specific mandate of combating hunger and poverty in the most disadvantaged regions of the world. Since 1978 IFAD has financed 584 projects in 114 recipient countries and in the West Bank and Gaza for a total commitment of approximately USD 7.2 billion in loans and grants. Through these projects, about 250 million rural people have had a chance to move out of poverty. IFAD makes the greater part of its resources available to low-income countries on very favourable terms, with up to 40 years for repayment and including a grace period of up to ten years and a service charge of 0.75% per year.