Agriculture High on the Agenda of the
World Summit on Sustainable Development

ICARDA News

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN THE DRY AREAS
P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105; E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg, 26 August to 4 September, brought together thousands of participants, including heads of states, senior government officials, national delegates, leaders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), businesses and other major groups to focus the world's attention and develop action plans to improve people's lives. The Summit agenda covered the challenges of conserving natural resources, and meeting the ever-increasing demand for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services, and economic security.
     The Summit program was intense, but the pre-Summit preparations were even more intense. Proactively, the CGIAR had established a Task Force to ensure the System's contributions to WSSD and to lobby for new partnerships (see www.cgiar.org). These efforts greatly contributed to bringing agriculture to the forefront of the Summit agenda.

ICARDA was privileged to have two opportunities to make statements at plenary sessions of WSSD. Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy (fourth from left, front table), ICARDA DG, made a statement on behalf of the CGIAR at the plenary on 30 August, and another statement at the plenary on 29 August devoted to regional implementation of the WSSD action plan (above). Among those present was the Agriculture Minister of Palestine, H.E. Dr Rafiq El-Natcheh (fifth from left, front table).
After attending a meeting in the Japan pavillion, Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, Dr Ian Johnson (center), CGIAR Chair, and Dr Francisco Reifschneider, CGIAR Director, pose for a picture for The Week.
Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson, Chair of the Global Water Partnership, and a Member of ICARDA’s Board of Trustees, co-chaired a session (above) on "Do We Need an International Organization for Water?" She also made a statement at the plenery on "Water and Sanitation." Sitting next to her is Dr Bill Cosgrove, Vice President of the World Water Council.
     UN Secretary General Kofi Annan proposed a WEHAB (Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture and Biodiversity) initiative as a contribution to the preparations for WSSD. Over 100 experts, including those from the CGIAR, contributed to the development of papers on these five themes. These papers provide a broad view of each area and the interlinkages among them, and identify key gaps and challenges for further action.
     Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, Director General, represented ICARDA as a CGIAR delegate at WSSD. Two members of ICARDA’s Board of Trustees, Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson, Chair of the Global Water Partnership, and Dr Teresa Fogelburg, Special Advisor to the Netherlands Government, Department of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment, were also present. The CGIAR delegation at WSSD consisted of over 50 representatives from the centers and the Secretariat.
     Prof. El-Beltagy actively participated in a series of both main and side events. In the main events, he delivered a statement in one of the plenary sessions on 30 August, on "Mobilizing Science for Growth and Sustainable Development: The Power of Partnership," on behalf of the CGIAR. In his statement he highlighted the role of agriculture in improving the quality of life of the poor, in protecting the natural resource base, and in promoting economic growth. "Sustainable agriculture is a central pillar of growth and sustainable development. For more than 30 years, the CGIAR has demonstrated how international research, anchored in public goods orientation, can be a key driving force behind sustainable agriculture, creating new knowledge that can help accelerate our efforts for achieving a sustainable and more prosperous world. We are pleased that the CGIAR is being cited as an example of international development cooperation at its best, and that similar consultative groups are being explored for other sectors," he said. He went on to say "the Johannesburg Summit offers a genuine opportunity to increase awareness of and commitment to solving some of the most pressing issues of our time. Wise management of our natural resources and protection of the global environment are essential to achieving sustainable development and thus alleviating poverty and hunger, and protecting the ecological base on which future food production depends. We commit ourselves to implementation and action."
In another main event, Prof. El-Beltagy served as a panelist in the plenary session on 29 August, along with high-ranking delegates including ministers and leaders of regional organizations. The session was devoted to the regional dimension of WSSD. Dr Gustave Speth, former Administrator of the United Nations Development Program, moderated the session. In his statement Prof. El-Beltagy drew attention of the Summit to the link between desertification, poverty, and food insecurity. He highlighted the looming threat from the loss of good land, and its negative impact on climate and food production. Sustainable development is not possible without combating desertification, he said. "A major proportion of ICARDA's efforts is focused on Central and West Asia and North Africa, regions in which conflicts related to resources could be seen," he said. Could knowledge and scientific innovation make a difference? he asked. "They could when combined with political will and policy actions for sustainable development," he asserted. "There is a need to pay greater attention to 'environmental poverty,' so greater support is needed for technology development," he said. He also emphasized the need for human resource development at both national and regional levels to implement the research programs efficiently.
At a side event on "Strategic Partnerships to Implement the UNCCD in Central Asia (UNCCD/ADB/CIDA/GTZ/ICARDA), which was co-chaired by Dr Per Ryden of the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, Prof. El-Beltagy spoke of ICARDA's
Dr Emmy Simmons (left) of USAID, Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, and Dr Ralph van Kauffman (right) of ILRI at the ICARDA booth during their tour of the exhibition in Ubuntu village.
The IFAD booth in Ubuntu village. Dr Shantanu Mathur (center) of IFAD briefed Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy and Dr Manuel Lantin (right) of the CGIAR on the achievements of the ICARDA-IFAD partnership in ICARDA's Nile Valley and Red Sea Regional Program.
Dr Mathur at the IFAD booth explains how simple innovations at the community level, financially supported by IFAD, are helping to improve the lives of the rural poor.
Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy makes a point to Dr Bill Cosgrove, Vice President of the World Water Council and Dr Barbara Schreiner, from the Ministry of Water and Forests, South Africa, on how water harvesting and increased water-use efficiency, which are at the heart of ICARDA's program, can contribute to meeting water shortages.
Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy and Dr S. Varma discuss ongoing ICARDA and CGIAR joint communication activities with Ms Fionna Douglas, Senior Information Officer, of the CGIAR Secretariat.
active role in Central Asia, as the lead center of the CGIAR consortium. ICARDA has been closely working with the NARS of Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC) since 1995, he said. The establishment of the CGIAR Collaborative Program for CAC in 1997 provided increased momentum to ICARDA's work, and the success achieved in a short time has been both impressive and appreciated by the CAC NARS. Referring to ICARDA's close partnership with the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, Prof. El-Beltagy informed the group that ICARDA recently hosted a regional meeting organized by the Global Mechanism as a follow-up to the Rabat Ministerial Declaration. The Rabat meeting developed a framework for a Regional Program on Dryland Agriculture in West Asia and North Africa, and assigned the lead responsibility to ICARDA. Representatives from ADB, the World Bank, and IFAD also made statements at the meeting and, along with Prof. El-Beltagy, announced their pledge to join the partnership. The chair informed the group that Switzerland had also joined this initiative as a partner.
Among several other events that Prof. El-Beltagy attended, the following deserve a mention:
• "Scaling Up by Scaling Down: Using Global Programs to Deliver Local Benefits"—a side event hosted by the World Bank and Global Mechanism to Combat Desertification.
• Sixth plenary meeting on "Water and Sanitation," chaired by Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson, Chairperson of the Global Water Partnership and Member, of ICARDA’s Board of Trustees.
• "Role of Biotechnology and Biodiversity in Sustainable Development," AFRICABIO Science Forum Workshop.
• NERICA (new rice)—Japan/UNDP/CGIAR/WARDA, at which Dr Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chair, Mme. Kawaguchi, Japanese Foreign Minister, and Mr Zephrine Diabre, Associate Administrator, UNDP, made statements.
• "Challenge Programs: New Partnerships for Development Impact," organized by the CGIAR to brief participants about the concept for broadening partnerships and enhancing impact.
• The IFAD/WFP/CGIAR launch of IFAD report on "Survival or a Better Life for the Rural Poor," which featured Dr Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman, as a panelist giving remarks on policy, institutions, and technology.
• A session on "Do we need an International Organization for Water?"—Chaired by Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson.
• Launching ceremony of the "Major Themes and Draft Program of the Third World Water Forum," which was co-chaired by H.E. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, Minister of Environment, Egypt.
• A series of water-related events at the Waterdome. H.E. Willem Alexander, the Dutch Prince of Orange; H.E. Takehiko Endo, Senior Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan; and Dr Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chair, participated in a special event on the Challenge Program on "Water and Food." The Netherlands government announced support of 25 million Euros to the Program once it is approved by the CGIAR. The Swiss government also expressed a serious interest in supporting this Program.
• "Plant Genetic Resources for Africa's Renewal," a side event hosted by FARA, NEPAD and CGIAR. Dr M.S. Swaminathan delivered the keynote address.
• Launch of "Ecology of Hope" initiative by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.

WSSD Venues
The WSSD was held at Sandton Convention Center. A companion event, "Global Forum of the World Summit on Sustainable Development," was held at the Johannesburg Expo Center (Nasrec) and was attended primarily by Civil Society delegates. In addition, there were two sites: the Ubuntu village and the Waterdome. While the Waterdome was entirely a venue for water-related exhibitions and meetings, the Ubuntu village greeted visitors with South African dance and offered a market of local handicrafts and other items, in addition to providing exhibition space and meeting rooms.

Exhibitions and Media Relations
The CGIAR put up three major exhibitions at Ubuntu, Nasrec, and the Waterdome. Dr S. Varma, Head of ICARDA’s Communication, Documentation and Information Services Unit, participated, along with colleagues from other centers, in organizing these exhibitions. A large number of publications, CDs, and other information materials were on display. The exhibition at the Waterdome included a display of the drought-tolerant barley lines from ICARDA, and posters on ICARDA's research on water, specially prepared for WSSD, in addition to the Center's publications on water. Eleven press releases on ICARDA's work were distributed to the media people and others at these booths and in corridors. The WSSD offered a unique opportunity to promote ICARDA's work to an unusually wide cross-section of audiences from all over the world, and develop new contacts, particularly with the media representatives. It was reported that there were about 5000 exhibition booths at the three sites, and over 60,000 delegates participated in the Summit.

What was achieved?
"You must not expect a conference like this to produce miracles but it must generate political commitment…Johannesburg is not the end, it is a beginning."—UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
For more information on the Summit, visit www.johannesburgsummit.org; www.un.org/events/wssd/ and other related sites.

At the Ubuntu village site, South African dancers greeted the delegates and visitors with their impressive dancing skills.
The CGIAR booth at Unbuntu. Seen in the picture are ICARDA publications (Annual Report and Caravan) on display.
At Community Kraal, a simulation of a village setting, in Ubuntu, community members demonstrated local innovations and answered questions from the participatns.
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For more information contact:S.Varma@cgiar.org

ICARDA's (www.icarda.org) mission is to improve the welfare of people and alleviate proverty through research andtraining in dry areas of the developing world by increasing production, productivity, and nutritional quality of food, while preserving and enhancing the natural resource base. ICARDA is a Future Harvest Center.