International Development
Background and Context
The development of sustainable agriculture and food systems continues to be the critical challenge facing all global farmers and food producers. Climate change and the depletion of natural resources continue to impact on food and agriculture and highlight the responsibility of all countries to play their part in ensuring that in the future there will be sufficient safe and high quality food available and accessible to all.
Agriculture in the developing world faces substantial challenges. Rising and volatile food and input prices, coupled with increasing pressure on natural resources, have emerged as severe threats to the world’s poor and hungry while climate change and variability is exacerbating these threats.
It is recognised that the development of agriculture must be a prominent part of the future development agenda as growth in agriculture can reduce rural poverty while addressing environmental challenges and stimulate growth in other parts of the economy.
Science and technology solutions can support this development as agricultural research, extension and education all help to generate and implement new and improved policies and technologies that will sustainably improve productivity and resilience.
However, many of the developing world’s agricultural research, extension and education systems are struggling for funding and resources. There is a lack of coordination between the different entities and engagement with other institutes in the public and private sector is low. This results in a weaker and more fragmented Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) which limits the development of a sustainable agriculture and food system.
Teagasc Response
Over the last 10 years Teagasc has established a targeted programme supporting International Agricultural Development in cooperation with a number of other Irish and International Agencies. This commitment is set out in our Statement of Strategy.
Under this programme we support the policies and ambitions set out by the Department of Foreign Affairs / Irish Aid (A Better World) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Food Vision 2030).
We actively support the work of the Ireland Africa Rural Development Committee (IARDC), Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI), and the International Forum for International Development (IFIAD).
Our main area of interest is in facilitating the co-design and delivery of initiatives in collaboration with colleagues working in agriculture and food research, extension and education.
We are currently active in a number of technical areas, particularly dairy and potato, working with governments, and institutes in a number of countries in East Africa.
Further details: Current Projects, and Completed Projects.
In addition to details in our recent Statements of Strategy, the background to, rationale for and statement of policy and strategy was set out in a 2013 publication,
International Food Security – Teagasc Policy and Strategy for Research and Knowledge Transfer.
Recent project highlights and activities are also set out in our recent Annual Reports.