FOOD, AGRICULTURE & WATER
SHAPING THE
FUTURE OF
AGRICULTURE
AND FOOD
TOGETHER
MARK HOLDERNESS
GFAR Executive Secretary
86
We all know that humanity
faces huge challenges in achieving
sustainable development and that
we must act now. Our agri-food
systems, and our very societies,
are threatened by unsustainable
consumption habits and production
practices, by our failure to provide
a viable and sustainable living for
young people in rural communities
and by the looming spectre of
climate change and its impacts
on entire ecosystems.
We will not overcome these
challenges unless we break down
the institutionalized barriers and
systemic challenges that are stopping
agri-food research and innovation
from contributing to our sustainable
development.
GFAR is a unique open forum
and a movement for change, bringing
together partners from all around the
world, from farmers and consumers to
upstream research and across public,
private and civil sectors. Our goal is
effective, responsive and equitable
agri-food research and innovation,
changing lives for the better and
driven by the needs and demands
of societies themselves.
Working together across millions
of stakeholders and through their
representative bodies, GFAR addresses
6 key needs in transforming and
strengthening agricultural research
and innovation:
1. I nclusive foresight to define
future needs
2. Equitable partnership in
innovation systems
3. Better investment of human,
institutional and financial
resources
4. Developing human and
institutional capacities
5. Embedding agricultural and food
innovation in wider development
processes
6. Accountability and demonstrated
impacts