The experience of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation in times of crisis: examples from the regions.

At halfway to the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, progress globally has stalled or even reversed on many indicators. Countries face complex challenges, with economic uncertainty, climate crisis and conflict among other things happening on top of the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Diagnosing these complex challenges and developing effective policy solutions require efforts that cut across sectors and disciplines. This is where integrated policy approaches can really make a difference.

A number of crises – including the war in Ukraine and more recently the war in Gaza, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change – are significantly disrupting global food and agricultural systems, contributing to food price hikes, market uncertainties and potential threats to food security. The Asia–Pacific, Central Asia, and Near East and North Africa regions, on which this paper focusses, have been actively exploring strategies (eg diversifying food sources, promoting agroecology and developing biopesticides) to respond to these challenges through regional and global collaboration. The Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation plays a crucial role in coordinating multistakeholder initiatives and ‘Collective Actions’ that contribute to addressing these challenges through knowledge-sharing, capacitybuilding and policy advocacy, all aimed at promoting resilient, sustainable and equitable agriculture.

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