Andrea Sonnino

1. GCARD 2
Session C2.1
Punta del Este, Uruguay, 28 October 2012
Institutional Knowledge and
Learning:
the Tropical Agriculture Platform
Andrea Sonnino
Research and Extension Branch
FAO – Rome, Italy
Andrea.sonnino@fao.org

2. Institutional Knowledge and
Learning:
the Tropical Agriculture Platform
• Introduction
• The Tropical
Agriculture Platform
concept
• The progress made

3. Tropical Agriculture
• Pervasive poverty and food
insecurity
• All but 3 least developed
countries
• 40% of human population,
only 25% of world food
production
• Agriculture = up to 30% of
GDP, up to 40% of labour
force
• Less than 10% of global
investments in Ag R&D in
LDC

4. Increased investments in
agricultural innovation
• The GCARD-I called for a
tripling of AR4D investments
• IFPRI estimates need for
investment increase from
US$ 5.1 to US$ 16.4 billion
per year by 2025
• To fill the capacity gaps
becomes an urgent and
essential prerequisite

5. Insufficient and unreliable investments in
R&D are only a part of the problem
• To fill the capacity gaps is an
urgent and essential
prerequisite
– full participation of farmers
– coherent research and
extension policies
– strengthened institutions
– skilled human capacities
• STRENGTHENED Agricultural
Innovation Systems

6. TAP genesis
• Concept approved by G20 Agriculture Ministers Declaration,
Paris, Jun 2011
• Discussed at G20 Conference on Ag. Research for
Development, Montpellier, Sep 2011
• Developed by Informal Stakeholder Consultation, Rome, Dec
2011
• Endorsed by G20 Agriculture & Development Working Groups,
Mar-May 2012, and by G20 Leaders’ Summit, Mexico, Jun
2012
• Recognized by the G-8 Summit, USA, May 2012
• Launch at G20 MACS, Mexico, Sep 201
• First operational meeting in Punta del Este, 28 Oct 2012

7. Institutional Knowledge and
Learning:
the Tropical Agriculture Platform
• Introduction
• The Tropical
Agriculture Platform
concept
• The progress made

8. The Problems at Stake
 Numerous interventions addressing gaps in capacity and
knowledge in agricultural innovation in tropical areas
have:
• Insufficient alignment with country/regional policies &
needs
• Insufficient coordination and synergy between them
• Small-scale activities with high transaction costs and
limited impact
• Inadequate analysis of interdisciplinary needs and the
demands of agricultural markets.

9. The TAP objective

10. The TAP Approach
 Multilateral, multi-sectoral
facilitation mechanism
 Convening stakeholders at
global and national level
 Enabling actors to contribute
through partnerships
 Creating more coherent actions
with greater impact
 Aligning with national, regional
and global policy frameworks
 FAO acting as a global facilitator
and convenor

11. The TAP Target Groups
Target Groups (directly
affected):
• policymakers and
institutions in agricultural
innovation (research,
extension, education etc),
• the private sector and
civil society active in
innovation systems
• relevant development
agencies, fora etc.

12. Initial TAP Outputs

13. Principal TAP Outputs

14. The TAP Outputs
Assessment of current
Capacities and Needs
Common framework
Strategic Action
and guidelines for
Plan capacity development
Enhanced knowledge
Effective Capacity
Enhanced Policy exchange in support
Development
Dialogue of capacity
Partnerships
development
14

15. The difference TAP will
make
• Partnerships and shared visions fostered to
promote:
– capacity development interventions more coherent and
aligned with national plans and demands
– national leadership and ownership acknowledged
• Capacity development solutions developed at
scale and with lower transaction costs
• Knowledge and experiences shared between
broad constituencies of stakeholders

16. Institutional Knowledge and
Learning:
the Tropical Agriculture Platform
• Introduction
• The Tropical
Agriculture Platform
concept
• The progress made

17. The initial steps
• Constituency formed
– 63 invited
– 29 partners
– More announced
– Others support
• Draft operational
framework and
workplan for
inception phase

18. TAP Partners as of
28 October 2012
Global Fora Regional Fora International Others
Organizations
GCHERA AARIRENA IFAD AGRA
GFRAS APAARI World Bank Agrinatura
GFAR CAACARI IICA ITPGRFA
YPARD FARA CTA

19. TAP Partners as of
28 October 2012
National Research Institutions International Research
Institutes
AGREENIUM IAARD INTA CABI ICIMOD
France Indonesia Argentina UK Nepal
ARC INIA JIRCAS CATIE ICIPE
South Africa Spain Japan Costa Rica Kenya
CAAS and INIFAP Wageningen ICBA
CATAS Mexico University UAE
China Holland

20. Next steps
• Inception phase
(component 1 +
institutional arrangements)
– From November 2012 to
March/April 2013
• Workshop in China
– March/April 2013
• Implementation
(components 2 to 4)
– From April/May 2013 on

21. Thank you for your
attention