CGIAR centres and initiatives signing a 7-point ‘CGIAR Call to Action’ at the June 2012 Rio+20 UN sustainable development summit.

Mark Kinver at the BBC reports today on a global group calling for decision-makers at the June Rio+20 sustainable development summit to take a concerted approach to agricultural policy, based on science. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is part of the group of research institutions making this ‘call to action’.

‘The biggest environmental summit for a decade must make meaningful progress on global food security and sustainable agriculture, say researchers.

‘CGIAR, the world’s largest publicly funded research body, has published a seven-point “call to action” plan.

‘Ahead of the Rio gathering, scientists are calling for an improved commitment to deliver nutrition security and lessen the need to aid.

‘Agriculture is estimated to provide jobs for 40% of the world’s population. . . .

‘”One reason why it is necessary to push attention on to agriculture in Rio is because negotiations are going really slowly,” explained CGIAR spokesman Bruce Campbell.

‘”We thought it was really important to put the focus on agriculture in Rio, and the 15 research organisations have come together in order to form a consortium and speak with one voice for the first time.”

‘Dr Campbell added that the agencies were calling on the negotiators to reaffirm the role of science and technology. . . .

‘The Rio+20 Conference, formally known as the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), will take place in Brazil on 20-22 June 2012.

‘The summit marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which was also held in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa. . . .

‘Heads of states from more than 100 nations are expected to attend the summit.’

Read the whole article at BBC News: Nations need food security goals, 23 May 2012.

See CGIAR Calls to Action at Rio+20, 23 May 2012.

See CGIAR ar Rio+20 landing page on the CGIAR Consortium website.