At this event, CGIAR’s 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD) took center stage, underscoring the role of advanced agri-science in addressing challenges in dryland regions impacted by climate change, conflicts, and outdated practices. Key stakeholders shared their contributions and discussed five major transformation opportunities: adapting agrifood systems to climate change, conserving biodiversity, sustainably managing land and water, ensuring access to healthy diets, and promoting inclusive development.
Dr. Stanford Blade, Acting Director General of ICRISAT, emphasized the importance of responsive scaling: “Scaling is about listening. At ICRISAT, we work with national partners to understand needs and provide innovations like climate-smart, improved millet for school meal programs—now delivering daily nutrition to thousands of children.” Dr. Michael Baum, acting Deputy Director General for Research at ICARDA, noted that “the Global Strategy for Resilient Dryland is truly a cross-partner/CGIAR center effort using innovative, people-led approaches to strengthen livelihoods for millions in drylands as climate change intensifies.”
Speakers highlighted advancements in dryland agriculture, particularly in water management, drought-resistant crops such as millets, chickpeas, and pigeon peas, soil improvement technologies, and conservation agriculture, all aimed at bolstering food security. Dr. Olufunke Cofie, Africa Director of Research Impact at IWMI, addressed the critical role of water management, stating, “Effectively managing water risks requires tools and capabilities to accurately assess available water and implement appropriate management solutions that meet the needs of communities and local and national governments before, during, and after droughts and floods.”
The event also emphasized biodiversity, with Dr. Mehraj Abbasov, Executive Director at the Genetic Resources Institute Azerbaijan, highlighting efforts to expand their genebank: “Our role in the GSRD focuses on biodiversity conservation by growing unique regional accessions in our genebank from 10k to over 70k in the next decade. This expansion will support the development of climate-smart crops vital to our people and agri-economy.”
Dr. Rachid Moussadek, a Systems Cropping Agronomist at INRA and ICARDA, discussed the agricultural challenges in Morocco posed by reduced rainfall and recurring droughts: “The agricultural output in Morocco faces hurdles due to diminished rainfall and recurring droughts, significantly impacting wheat production and food security. Efforts like the Generation Green strategy and the advocacy of conservation agriculture strive to stabilize yields and enhance overall production levels.”
Discussions also focused on scaling up these innovations and attracting additional funding, reinforcing the commitment to drive sustainable agricultural transformation in drylands.
Key takeaways:
- With one in three individuals residing in drylands, encompassing 45% of the Earth's landmass, it is imperative to instigate fundamental transformations in these areas to stabilize land, food, and water systems amidst climate change, thereby enhancing food security in regions severely impacted by global warming.
- The GSRD aims to establish a cohesive system and foster collaboration across partner networks to harness collective capacity, expertise, and investments in dryland research, transcending incremental advancements to facilitate structural metamorphosis for global dryland communities.
- Effective knowledge dissemination, sharing of expertise, and provision of technical support through capacity building are pivotal for the GSRD's success. Smallholder farmers must comprehend CGIAR's innovations thoroughly to effectively implement them in agricultural practices.
