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CGIAR has launched its inaugural flagship report, Insight to Impact: A Decision-Maker’s Guide to Navigating Food System Science, at its Science Week event held at the UN Campus in Nairobi.
This even as the food systems are under strain from climate change, conflict, biodiversity loss, and hunger.
The new report hand-selects data and innovations from among decades of research presenting science as practical, ready-to-use guidance for decision-makers and investors working to build more resilient, sustainable food systems especially in low and middle-income countries.
It answers 20 urgent questions frequently posed by policymakers, offering 20 practical solutions, each backed by science and tested in real-world conditions that help farmers adapt to climate change, expand access to nutritious food and maintain sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking during the CGIAR Science Week at the United Nations Campus, Nairobi, the Executive Managing Director of CGIAR, Ismahane Elouafi underscored the need to provide policy makers with the right data and information so to engage deeply and turn insights into impact.
“Policy is influenceable, but what I hear from many decision-makers is that they are often missing the right data, the information needed for policy along with clarity and pragmatism,” said Elouafi in her opening remarks at the launch event. “This is very clear in the report, so the next steps will be to engage deeply with policymakers so we can really turn insights into impact.”
She highlighted that the report showcases innovative approaches that have demonstrated measurable success which include: EnviroCow that helps farmers in sub-Saharan Africa reduce feed costs and emissions while boosting earnings. This, while zinc-rich wheat in Pakistan now reaches over 100 million people annually, raising zinc intake by 21% and addressing widespread deficiencies among women and children.
Similarly, the Bespoke fertilizer advice in Ethiopia, where farmers increased crop yields by up to 29% and incomes by up to USD 270/ha by using landscape-specific guidance tailored to slope, soil health, and climate. The initiative now spans 23 districts and continues to scale.
Another case study was the Smart rice water management in Vietnam, which trained over 33,000 farmers in climate-smart techniques that reduce methane emissions and water use without lowering yields. The alternate wetting and drying technique has now been integrated into Vietnam’s national climate policy.
All these case studies include implementation resources such as expert contacts, how-to guide, impact studies, and tools to support scaling.
Global challenges, local solutions
CGIAR, has employed 10,000 staff working in 80+ countries, across 3,000 partnerships, and is positioned to support implementing innovations and using data and evidence to transform food, land, and water systems. This inaugural flagship report was spurred through support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
There were more than 70 decision-makers across government, regional bodies, and the private sector that contributed to the report, identifying seven key needs from a request for more pragmatic and clear science communication to stronger alignment with national strategies.
The report is tailored to decision-makers across sectors including those in agriculture, climate, finance, and health and emphasizes interdisciplinary, country relevant responses.
To support its science-to-policy efforts, CGIAR also launched its Insight to Impact Policy Champions Network, a group of partners and policy influencers who will work to ensure the scientific insights shape action on the ground.
Speaking at the same forum, Lusike Wasilwa of Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) called for more collaboration to reach smallholder farmers and ensure policy is informed by reliable data.
“The future of farming is here,” said Wasilwa, a partner and leader in the agricultural innovation space, adding that “We have to work and partner together to ensure we are reaching the smallholders and that we’re developing data to inform policy.”
From science to action
The launch event, hosted at the UN Campus in Nairobi, brought together leaders from across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the global scientific community. Speakers emphasized the importance of partnerships, long-term investment, and putting evidence into formats that meet the needs of those shaping food systems policy.
“We have ongoing challenges all around the world with the triple conundrum of poverty, inequality, and unemployment, so our ability to use the best science, technology, and innovation to inform decision-making at all levels is absolutely paramount,” said Dhesigen Naidoo of CGIAR’s Integrated Partnership Board.
Naidoo also called on those using or involved with the report to be the “ambassadorial community… the people that organize for it to take fire in a very real way. And we have to be sincere to the notion of co-creating the solutions.”
Looking ahead, CGIAR plans to tailor offshoot products to local needs. And future editions of the report series will tackle emerging challenges and prepare decisionmakers for specific global and regional processes, continuing to build bridges between science and decision-making.
Also read https://www.kbc.co.ke/kenya-pushes-for-science-week-alliance-to-transform-food-system/
https://www.kbc.co.ke/cgiar-science-week-ends-with-call-for-action-on-food-systems/
http://Insight to Impact: A Decision-Maker’s Guide to Navigating Food System Science
