Food security - RRI in Agricultural research for development Pascal Kosuth Director of the Agropolis Foundation RRI Tools Final Conference - Brussels, 21-22 November 2016 PLENARY SESSION: Facing the societal challenges of our time

1. RRI Tools Final Conference, 21-22 November 2016, Brussels
Facing the societal challenges of our time:
Food security
RRI in Agricultural research for development
[Pascal KOSUTH / Agropolis Fondation (FR)]
kosuth@agropolis.fr

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RRI Tools Final Conference, 21-22 November 2016, Brussels
I’m director of Agropolis Fondation, a French Foundation for scientific
cooperation in the domain of agricultural research for development (ARD),
whose scientific network is based in Montpellier (1500 scientists).
My mission is twofold : (1) supporting the production of scientific
knowledge and higher education programmes, both in front science (from
molecular biology to public policies) and integrative science (answering
societal challenges); (2) mobilizing resources for that. The Foundation
resources come from public competitive grants and private partnerships
(~20% on focussed thematics).
My personal scientific background is in environmental & agricultural
sciences, satellite Earth Observation, complex systems. I have served in
international scientific committees (ESA, Int. rice research programme;…).
| [Facing the societal challenges of our time]

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RRI Tools Final Conference, 21-22 November 2016, Brussels
More than 70% of the world’s food comes from small
farmers and gardeners. As a counter initiative to the
World Food Prize, Seed Freedom / Navdanya has
launched The Real World Food Prize to honour these
Real Food Heroes. By doing so, We are recognising the
real foundation of food security, and making a
commitment to strengthen this foundation towards a
food system without corporate control, GMOs, toxic
chemicals and patented seeds.
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2016 World Food Prize : Laureates : Dr. M. Andrade, Dr. R.
Mwanga, Dr. J. Low, Dr. H. Bouis
The development and implementation of biofortification, breeding
critical vitamins and micronutrients into staple crops, thereby
dramatically reducing “hidden hunger” for millions.
2016 World Food Prize : Speech by Jim Collins, former
Executive Vice President of DuPont, CEO of the new
Dow/DuPont combined ag company
In a joint statement 81 Members of the World Future
Council and Recipients of the Right Livelihood Award
have condemned the selection of GMO scientists and
company executives (from Monsanto and Syngenta) as
winners of The World Food Prize 2013.
RRI : Acknowledge diversity of visions / actors in
agriculture and food systems.
Support the development of alternative models

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RRI Tools Final Conference, 21-22 November 2016, Brussels
| [Facing the societal challenges of our time]
ARD Research &
Higher education
Companies
Farmers
Governments
Policies

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RRI Tools Final Conference, 21-22 November 2016, Brussels
| [Facing the societal challenges of our time]
ARD Research &
Higher education
Companies
Farmers
Globalization
Economics
UN
Governments
Policies
Ag. Techn.
Centers

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RRI Tools Final Conference, 21-22 November 2016, Brussels
Why do Sorghum and Millet average yields
in Africa remain flat ?
How to stimulate the development of
sorghum and millet in Africa ?
[Facing the societal challenges of our time]
Public-Private
Platform
African Sorghum
& Millet
Agrobiodiv.
farmers
practice
Value chains
plant breeding
variety devpt
Seed systems
Policy and
regulation
RRI : need to embrace the complexity of
agriculture and food systems

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RRI Tools Final Conference, 21-22 November 2016, Brussels
Land reform in Senegal
How to feed key policy reforms with
staleholders points of view and
proposals ?
Serious games as participatory tools,
facilitating active interaction between
farmers, pastoralist, local authorities,
national authorities.
Social scientists and NGOs, training of
animators
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x28uyd9
[Facing the societal challenges of our time]
RRI : developping participatory
approaches with impact

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RRI Tools Final Conference, 21-22 November 2016, Brussels
Colleagues reactions
Role of Science : The role of science is to develop
new knowledge. RRI comes with applications for
societal issues
Giordani Bruno, Galileo, Copernicus & RRI ?
Research Agenda : Who decides for research
agendas : governments, funders, corporates, farmers
… ?
Participation : Involving stakeholders in formulation
of research question, knowledge, hypotesis
[Facing the societal challenges of our time]

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RRI Tools Final Conference, 21-22 November 2016, Brussels
Colleagues reactions
• Foreward thinking : Responsability of the scientific community –as
citizens- to analyse further impacts of research (mid to long term)
(ex. Green revolution and intensification)
• Societal unbalance : Corporates have the capacity to absorb research
results, translate them in innovation targeting short to mid term
benefit. Need for clear counter powers (governments, neutral
expertise…)
• Boundaries : is Agroecology a science, a set of agricultural practice, a
political movement,
[Facing the societal challenges of our time]

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RRI Tools Final Conference, 21-22 November 2016, Brussels
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