The Meeting of G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay in October 2012. [1] High and volatile agricultural commodity prices have negatively impacted global food security by making food unaffordable for many. [2] Food production must increase 70% by 2050 to feed a growing population of over 9 billion people, but constraints like less available land and water and climate change pose challenges. [3] The MACS meeting reviewed global agricultural research initiatives and identified areas for improved coordination to strengthen food security through open data sharing and technology transfer.

1. MEETING OF G20 AGRICULTURAL
CHIEF SCIENTISTS (MACS)
Punta del Este, Uruguay., October 29, 2012

2. FOOD SECURITY: BACKGROUND
 High and persistent agricultural commodities
prices and greater volatility.
 Low income consumers are the most vulnerable. Corn and Wheat Prices
450
Dollars per tonn
350
Main drivers: 250
150
 World economic growth. 50
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 Expansion of bio-fuel production.
Yellow Corn Chicago Wheat Kansas
 Adverse weather events (climate change). Volatilily Index
1.2000
1.0000
 Market trade barriers y and panic buying. 0.8000
0.6000
 Restructuring of investment portfolios towards
0.4000
0.2000
agricultural commodities futures, among others. 0.0000
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Source: SAGARPA based on information from USDA.
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3. FOOD SECURITY: CURRENT SITUATION
 870 million people are chronically undernourished (FAO, 2012).
 Food production will have to increase at least 70% to feed a
population which will reach 9.3 billion persons in 2050
(FAO, 2009).
 Main constrains:
 Less relative availability of land and water.
 Greater climatic variability.
 Degradation of natural resources (soil, water, bio-
diversity).
Food security is a global challenge that needs
coordination and planning in the short and long
term.
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4. MEETING OF G20 AGRICULTURA CHIEF SCIENTISTS (MACS)
BACKGROUND
 G20 Action Plan on Food Prices and Volatility and Agriculture (2011)
 "We agree to strengthen agricultural research and innovation and
support results-based agricultural research for development…”
 G20 Leaders Declaration (Los Cabos, 2011)
 “We support the Agriculture Vice-Ministers' Report”, including “key
recommendations on sustainably increasing agricultural productivity”.
 Agriculture Vice-Ministers’ Report (2012)
 We “[support] Meetings of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) or high
level agricultural research officials from G20 member countries, other
interested countries, and International Research Organizations, with the
goal of identifying global research priorities and targets, facilitating
collaboration between policy makers and public and private sector
organizations in key areas likely to drive sustainable productivity
gains, and tracking progress on established goals over time”.
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5. FIRST MACS, Mexico, 24-27 September 2012
 Participants:
 G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists.
 The Consortium on International Agricultural Research Centers
(CGIAR) and the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR).
 International Organizations (FAO, OECD and the WB, among
others).
 Objectives:
 to inform stakeholders of existing global resources, programs and
collaborative efforts for agricultural research.
 to identify, strengthen and complement research priority areas.
 to identify avenues to better coordinate resources and existing
initiatives.
 to facilitate new partnerships.
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6. REVISION OF EXISTING INITIATIVES:
 Global Research Initiatives reviewed:
 International Research Initiative for Wheat Improvement (IRIWI now
named Wheat Initiative).
 The Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP).
 The CGIAR research programs on Maize & Livestock and Fish.
 The Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.
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7. GLOBAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION PLATFORMS (GRCPS)
1. Access to scholarly publications and other technical documentation.
2. Access to germplasm collections and related information.
3. Access to genetic and genomic data, and establishment of public
databases for agricultural research and development projects.
4. Improving agricultural innovation (extension service and technology
transfer) and agricultural statistics systems (information
communication technology and market data).
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8. MACS TERMS OF REFERENCE
 Still in the process of deliberation, main elements:
 Voluntary.
 Regular meetings.
 Global Research Collaboration Platforms (GRCPs).
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9. MEETING OF G20 AGRICULTURAL
CHIEF SCIENTISTS
October 2012