The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) focuses on strengthening social and sustainability sciences in higher education and agricultural research to support green, climate-resilient agri-food systems in the region. Key challenges include the gap between academia and policymakers, the need for extensive documentation of best practices, and improving collaboration among stakeholders. APAARI aims to enhance agricultural education and innovation through partnerships and effective communication while addressing bureaucratic and political barriers.

1. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Policy Dialogue
Strengthening Social and Sustainability Sciences in Higher Education,
Research and Extension for Green, Climate Resilient Agri-Food Systems in ASEAN
to Meet SDGs
Dr. Ravi Khetarpal
Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions
Bangkok

2. APAARI
• Established in 1990
• Initiative of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and most of the
National Agricultural Research Institutions (NARSs) and National Agricultural Research
Organizations of the Asia-Pacific Region

3. APAARI Members
Australia
Iran
USA
Mexico India
Bangl.
Philippines
Chinese Taipei
Sri Lanka
Nepal Bhutan
Thailand
Fiji
PNG
Japan
Viet
nam
Malaysia
Indonesia
Rep. of Korea
Syria
Italy
Dubai
Kenya
Peru
Jordan
Ghana
New
Caledonia
Samoa
71 members from 33 countries
United
Kingdom
Laos

4. APAARI Vision 2030
Strengthened Agri-food research and innovations for sustainable agricultural development in Asia
and the Pacific

5. APAARI’s Strength
• Knowledge brokering
• Forward thinking/foresight
• Building & sustaining partnerships/ links
• Effective communication for multi-stakeholders including education system
• Enabling extended agri-business and agri-services value chains
• Bringing APR perspective on investment in AR4D
• Professionalism with a human face, commitment and consistency of action,
and transparency and openness in action

6. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Challenges to documenting and improving agriculture
education, research and training in higher education
institutions (HEIs) and research organizations
Challenges

7. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Key policy issues that must be addressed to better
support higher education reform and the
strengthening of social and sustainability sciences
in particular
Policy Issues

8. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Best practices in higher education innovation, reform
and partnerships with farmers already exist, can be
improved, adapted to in local circumstances and
scaled up
Best Practices

9. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Multi-stakeholder working to improve HEIs and
strengthen capacities for agriculture and food
systems education and research
Multi-stakeholder Working

10. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Challenges
Diverse economies
Bureaucracy
Political will
HEIs are often too specialized

11. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Policy issues
Wide gap between academia and policy makers
Development policies can not be standalone
Policy implementation with resource crunch
Policy of marrying education with functional skills often missing

12. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Best practices
Need an extensive documentation
Need for Knowledge Hubs linking education with agri food innovation
Earth University model available but uptake limited

13. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Best practices
Need an extensive documentation
Need for Knowledge Hubs linking education with agri food innovation
Earth University model available but uptake limited

14. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Multi-stakeholder Working
Easier said than done
All stakeholders may not converge for collective action
Need for a functional stakeholder mapping
Bottom-up approach can make noise and impact

15. Asia-Pacific Association of
Agricultural Research Institutions
Concluding Thoughts
Policy makers, implementers and enablers may or may not see eye to
with each other
Let HEIs and Research and Development organizations feel the need for
each other
Let us say – We can do it!
APAARI is committed in this mission

16. To Sum up
Social and sustainable science need to marry natural science
HEIs need revamping It is difficult to be simple
Knowledge landscape