The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) invites all interested parties to develop pre-proposals on one or more of the following ideas for Challenge Programs (CPs):

(a) climate change, agriculture, and food security

(b) high-value crops (fruits and vegtetables)

(c) combating desertification (dryland degradation)

The CGIAR CPs are a means to enhance the effectiveness and impact of research on issues of great global and/or regional significance through partnerships involving a wide range of institutions.

Pre-proposals may be developed and submitted by any organization capable of managing a major international agricultural research program. These must be submitted via email to no later than September 10, 2007.

More information here: http:// http://www.cgiar.org/impact/challenge/cp_cycle2.html