The Brussels Development Briefing on the ‘Farmer-driven research to improve food and nutrition security’ was held on 14th of November, at the Jacques Delors Building (in Brussels).
More than 100 participants discussed successes and shared lessons from the farmer-led agricultural research, by emphasizing its impact on the livelihood of the people and its key role to improve food and nutrition security.
The event consisted of two different parts. The first provided an overview of the key concepts, challenges and opportunities for agricultural research and development (ARD) to respond to smallholders’ needs and own initiatives. It discussed what is needed to support participatory processes and enhance the capacities of farmers to innovate and develop appropriate systems of resource management to achieve food security, sustain their livelihoods and safeguard the environment using indigenous knowledge and creativity. It showed the positive trends and the needed drivers for sustained growth and inclusiveness. The second panel presented concrete examples of farmer-driven ARD successes from the field, highlighting the lessons learned and good practices of partnership between smallholders and other actors in ARD.
New! on the subject of ‘Farmer driven research’
Reader (extensive research on the topic)
Video recording of the Briefing
Introduction and Opening of the Briefing
Isolina Boto, Manager, CTA Brussels Office
Introductory remarks
M. Xavier Verboven, President, ACP Follow up Committee, European Economic and Social Committee [Video]; Bernard Rey, Deputy Head of Unit/Food security, DG DEVCO, European Commission [Video]; Marianne Meijboom, INSARD Coordinator [Video]; Michael Hailu, Director of CTA [Video]
Panel 1: Approaches and instruments for ARD to be more responsive to smallholders’ needs
Chair: H.E. Brave Ndisale, Ambassador of Malawi [Video]
Panelists:
– Promoting participatory innovation systems for smallholder development
Prof. Neils Röling, Emeritus Professor, Innovation & Communication, University of Wageningen [Video|Presentation|Summary]
– Knowledge transfer is a two-way street
Dyborn Chibonga, Chief Executive Officer, NASFAM, Malawi [Video|Presentation|Summary]
– Farmers’ organisations as interface – setting: a farmer-driven research agenda
Cees van Rij, Agriterra on behalf of AgriCord [Video|Presentation|Summary]
– Local innovation support funds: experiences and lessons
Ann Waters-Bayer, Prolinnova, ETC Foundation, Netherlands [Video|Presentation|Summary]
– Successful participatory research by farmers through innovative Farmer Field Schools in Rwanda
Jean-Pierre Busogoro, Belgian Development Agency (BTC), Rwanda [Video|Presentation]
– Panel 1 Debate [Video]
Panel 2: Lessons and successes in farmer-led agricultural research
Chair: Prof. Eric Tollens, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium [Video]
Panelists:
– Lessons from joint learning about innovation systems in African agriculture
Anne Floquet, Joint Learning about Innovation Systems in African Agriculture (JOLISAA), Benin [Video|Presentation|Summary]
– Promoting local innovation and participatory ARD: the role of women
Chris Macoloo, Associate Vice President for Africa, Africa, World Neighbours, Kenya [Video|Presentation|Summary]
– Participatory technology development in support of artisanal palm oil production in Ghana
Charity Osei-Amponsah, Researcher, CoS-SIS Programme, Ghana [Video|Presentation|Summary]
– Women and young farmers as innovators in community-driven agro-ecological ARD
Bern Guri, Executive Director, CIKOD, Ghana [Video|Presentation|Summary]
Panel 2 Debate [Video]
Concluding remarks [Video]
Brussels Development Briefings 
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