The first Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) 2010 will be held in Montpellier, France from 28-31 March 2010. GCARD is organized by GFAR in collaboration with the Consortium and Independent Science and Partnership Council (now being formed) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The Conference will replace the GFAR Triennial Conferences and the Annual General Meetings of the CGIAR.

The GCARD conference is informed by a comprehensive, systematic and inclusive global consultation process, which will identify key themes and issues from all the stakeholders who are actively engaged in the whole agricultural system. The public sector, national and international policy makers, agricultural Institutions, agricultural research systems managers, leaders of farmer organizations and cooperatives, Non-Government Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Universities, Private Sector Enterprises in Agri-business and farming and investors, donors and philanthropic organizations will have a keen interest in understanding the outputs of the conference.

Priorities of those engaged in agriculture are already being captured by regional reviews, an electronic survey, open electronic consultations and face-to-face meetings in each of the regions of Near East, Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America/Caribbean. The combination of these will deliver regional research priorities matched against development demands and articulated from user needs and demands outwards. These in turn will lead towards a strategic action plan to improve the orientation of agricultural research systems, structures and processes for maximum impact. In subsequent years, the GCARD will enable public accountability of progress and impact as research strives to meet these objectives.

Objectives of GCARD

To help ensure that:

• Agricultural research outputs are accessible and relevant to the poor in developing countries;
• Research is aligned with and driven by the development needs of the resource-poor;
• Knowledge generation through scientific research is embedded in development thinking and practice;
• Funding systems are better aligned between research and development;
• Constructive and effective innovation pathways are developed between diverse stakeholders for the more rapid uptake of new knowledge, tools and technologies;
• International agricultural research systems are more effectively integrated with regional and national partners (public, private and civil) and are responsive and accountable for development impact against national and sub-regional demands.

This process aims to promote effective and targeted investment at all levels of the agricultural system, to ensure that today’s agricultural research will meet the needs of the resource-poor end user. The GCARD process will help to refine regional and global agricultural research priorities, as identified by different stakeholder groups and representatives in each region in an inclusive way.