The CGIAR is an international organization established in 1971 for the purpose of improving the productivity and technological development of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in developing countries. The 15 CGIAR research centers (as of 2020) function as independent research institutes, and have been contributing to solving global food and environmental problems as a frontier of international agricultural research, focusing on various themes such as crops, livestock, forests, fisheries, and natural resource management. Up to 2017, the CGIAR has a cumulative total of 240 Japanese staff members and more than 70 Japanese directors, and has achieved many research results through joint research with Japan.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the CGIAR in 2021, we have been compiling a special issue of the Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly (JARQ) on the scientific contributions of Japanese researchers and their major achievements in the 15 CGIAR research centers. The abstracts of all papers are now available on the JIRCAS website.

The Special Issue consists of a preface (1 article), information on the history of CGIAR and recent trends in One CGIAR (1 article), reviews of major results from CGIAR research centers (14 articles), and review of a joint research between CGIAR and JIRCAS (1 article). The special issue is scheduled to be published in December 2021.

Reference

https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/55/5

Contributors: SAITO Kazuki (Social Sciences Division・Africa Rice Center),  MURANAKA Satoru (Crop, Livestock and Environment Division), IIYAMA Miyuki (Director, Information Program)