This issue of the Newsletter is focused almost exclusively on the GFAR 2006 Conference that was held in New Delhi, November 8^th to 11^th 2006. You will find what we refer to as a short report of the Conference in this issue. The report comprises a succint summary of what transpired during the Conference and some outputs from each of the various sessions of the Conference programme, with links to sites or documents where additional details could be obtained if desired. News from the Secretariat takes up the other part of this special issue. In this section readers are reminded that December 2006 marks the end of the three-year business plan cycle period which started in 2004. A short report on GFAR Statutory Meetings in December 2006 is provided as well as links to the progress reports prepared by the Secretariat during each year of the business plan period.

This issue of the newsletter will be the last one in which I will write this editorial as the Executive Secretary of GFAR. In "my maiden issue" in 2004 I indicated that my predecessor had taken GFAR to the cruising altitude and that my task was to maintain the GFAR craft at that altitude without loss of height or speed. I believe that when all is considered that task was accomplished, and the craft was not only maintained at the cruising altitude but also accelerated and driven with some additional speed towards its destination and goal of contributing to sustainable development.

The four years that I served at GFAR have passed rather quickly and I have met with and interacted with many representatives of GFAR stakeholders, a number of whom have become good and personal friends. I urge you all not to abandon the GFAR ship which is speedily moving towards its destination, and to remain dedicated to its unique modus operandi of forming cost effective partnerships to tackle the many daunting challenges facing the agricultural research for development sector. I strongly believe like many of you that providing opportunities for the poor to exit from poverty and food insecurity is one of those undertakings beyond the scope of any single institution, hence the appropriateness of GFAR's focus on partnership.

Please keep the GFAR flag flying.