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, and 15 centers under its umbrella (as of 2020) function as independent research institutions. As a frontier of international agricultural research, these centers contribute to solving global food and environmental problems in line with various themes such as crops, livestock, forest, fisheries and natural resource management. Japan has made many financial and human contributions to CGIAR from the time it was founded to the present. As of 2017, the CGIAR had a total of 240 Japanese staff members and more than 70 Japanese board members, who have achieved many research results and played an important role as a bridge between the CGIAR and Japan by stimulating joint research with Japanese research institutions and universities.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the CGIAR in 2021, we have compiled the scientific contributions and major achievements of Japanese researchers at the 15 CGIAR institutes into a special issue of the Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly (JARQ) and published it on the JIRCAS website.

The articles include an introduction (1), information on the history of the CGIAR and recent trends in One CGIAR (1), research reviews of major achievements by CGIAR institutions (14), and research reviews of joint research achievements by CGIAR institutions and JIRCAS  (1).

Preface to the Special Issue. Kazuki SAITO, Miyuki IIYAMA, Satoru MURANAKA　https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss1

Changing Agendas of CGIAR’s International Agricultural Research. Norihito KANAMORI, Miyuki IIYAMA  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss17

Potato Germplasm Enhancement with Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Applications and Related Achievements in the Early Years of the International Potato Center (CIP). Kazuo N. WATANABE, Rodomiro Otavio ORTIZ RIOS, Tri HANDAYANI  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss7

Three Decades of Safeguarding and Promoting Use of Agricultural Biodiversity: Changing Global Perspectives, Paradigm Shifts and Implications. Yasuyuki MORIMOTO, Patrick MAUNDU  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss3

Agriculture in the Semi-Arid Tropics with Sustainable Use of Scarce Resources: Contribution of Japanese Scientists through Collaboration with ICRISAT. Satoshi TOBITA  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss9

Diversified Approaches to Evaluate Wide Genetic Resources of Cowpea for Enhancing New Variety Development for West Africa and Its Social Implementation by Cowpea Research Program of IITA. Haruki ISHIKAWA, Ryo MATSUMOTO  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss11

Crop Development with Data-driven Approach towards Sustainable Agriculture: Lifting the Achievements and Opportunities of Collaborative Research between CIAT and Japan. Satoshi OGAWA, Michael Gomez SELVARAJ, Manabu ISHITANI  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss4

Integrated Research for Development Approach to Upgrade the Whole Rice Value-chain in Sub-Saharan Africa: Contribution of Africa Rice Center after NERICA (New Rice for Africa).  Koichi FUTAKUCHI, Kazuki SAITO  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss2

Japan and IRRI: Contributions to International Rice Research for Sustainable Development, Lessons Learned and Ways Forward.  Yoichiro KATO, Keiichi HAYASHI  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss13

Contribution of Japanese Scientists to Global Agricultural Science and Production in Wheat and Maize at CIMMYT. Masahiro KISHII  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss6

The CGIAR–JIRCAS Partnerships for Sustainable Food Systems: Rice Blast Differential Systems and Biological Nitrification Inhibition as Examples. Satoru MURANAKA, Yoshimichi FUKUTA, Guntur V. SUBBARAO, Tadashi YOSHIHASHI  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss18

Managing Scarce Water Resources in the Drylands of West Asia and North Africa: Review of Joint Research between ICARDA and Japanese Researchers. Masafumi TAMURA, Theib OWEIS, Vinay NANGIA, Stefan STROHMEIER  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss8

Agricultural, Economic, and Human Development: Joint Research Contributions of Japan and International Food Policy Research Institute.  Hiroyuki TAKESHIMA, Futoshi YAMAUCHI, Masahito ENOMOTO　  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss10

Improving the Livelihood of Livestock and Farmers and Public Health in Developing Countries through the Provision of Solutions for the Various Risks They Face.  Kohei MAKITA, Munenobu IKEGAMI, Tomoya MATSUMOTO https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss12

Climate Change and Social Forestry: An Overview of CIFOR Research on Enhancing Resilience in Boreal and Tropical Forest Landscape. Daisuke NAITO, Moira MOELIONO, Vladimir CHAKOV, Victoria KUPTSOVA, Kusin KITSO, Walter LINTANGAH, Ricky MARTIN, Nina YULIANTI  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss5

Fish in Sustainable Food Systems of the 21st Century: Role of WorldFish Research on Food and Nutrition Security, Gender Equity, and Natural Resource Conservation. Yumiko KURA, Nozomi KAWARAZUKA  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss16

Agroforestry System Research: Identification of Land Use Change Drivers and Scaling Up of Trees on Farms for Transforming Livelihoods and Landscapes. Miyuki IIYAMA, Cathy WATSON, Motoe MIYAMOTO  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/publication/jarq/20ss15　

Reference
JARQ : Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly vol. 55 Special Issue 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)