Fostering collaboration between CGIAR and French institutions toward agriculture and health
On 5–6 December 2024, CGIAR and French institutions gathered in Paris to forge a new path for collaboration in agriculture and health. Co-organised by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the workshop, titled ‘Advancing CGIAR – France Partnership in CGIAR Action Area: Resilient Agri-Food Systems’, convened experts and stakeholders committed to tackling global challenges in agricultural development, food security, climate change, and health.
Setting the stage for action
The workshop sought to deepen partnerships between CGIAR and French institutions, recognising their shared commitment to resilient agri-food systems. Discussions focused on the intersection of agriculture and health – an increasingly critical area as these systems are interconnected. The COVID-19 pandemic, believed to have originated from wildlife trade and wet markets, underscored the urgent need to strengthen linkages between agriculture and health.
More than 40 participants attended the event, both in person and online. They represented French institutions, including the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), and the Regional Centre for International Agricultural Cooperation (CRAI). CGIAR centres were also well-represented, including the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), WorldFish, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International Potato Center (CIP), and the CGIAR System Organisation. Additional partners, such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), PREZODE (Preventing Zoonotic Disease Emergence), and Hanoi National University, also participated.
This initiative builds on the Joint Action Plan developed by France and CGIAR in preparation for the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. As CGIAR shapes its next portfolio of research programmes for 2025–2030, the Resilient Agrifood Systems (RAFS) group – one of CGIAR’s three science action areas – has partnered with French institutions to explore opportunities for further collaboration.
Why agriculture and health matter
‘Thinking about agriculture and health together helps to build resilient food systems that deliver better nutrition while minimizing environmental impacts,’ says Appolinaire Djikeng, ILRI’s director general and managing director of CGIAR RAFS. This workshop examined how France and CGIAR could leverage their unique strengths to address pressing issues, emphasising the need to deepen knowledge of agri-health systems, analyse challenges and opportunities, and promote sustainable agro-socio-ecological-health systems through policy advocacy and recommendations.
Next steps
The two-day workshop fostered in-depth discussions and knowledge exchange, leading to several key outcomes:
- Strengthened partnerships: Both CGIAR and French institutions reaffirmed their commitment to joint efforts in building resilient agri-food systems.
- Clear priorities: Key focus areas were identified, including developing multi-stakeholder mechanisms, linking local perspectives to decision-making, conducting comparative analyses of existing agri-health approaches, and adopting living-lab participatory methods.
- Actionable roadmap: The workshop concluded with a roadmap to guide collaborative efforts, which includes:
- A white paper to be presented at key events in 2025, such as COP30.
- A compilation of existing resources and innovations in agriculture and health by CGIAR and French institutions.
- Future workshops to explore further collaborative opportunities.
