19 September 2015: In an open letter to world leaders, the international research centers of the CGIAR Consortium urge the co-advancement of agriculture and natural resource management through the provision of sufficient means for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The letter calls for actionable research on sustainable agriculture as a key contribution to several interrelated SDGs.

The letter, which is signed by the Directors General and Board Chairs of the CGIAR’s 15 international research centers, states that the CGIAR Consortium contributes to achieving SDG 1 (Poverty), SDG 2 (Food Security and Nutrition), SDG 6 (Water), SDG 7 (Sustainable Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Change) and SDG 15 (Land Use) by delivering research and capacity development in areas, such as sustainable agriculture practices, rural livelihood improvements, improved crop varieties, biodiversity conservation, climate-change adaptation and mitigation and the sustainable management of landscapes.

The letter further states that the CGIAR centers have aligned their strategies to deliver concrete impacts with regard to these SDGs, noting that sufficient means for implementation are crucial. The authors express concern about the “fluctuating recognition of coupled research and development endeavors in priorities and financial commitments,” and call on world leaders to make new commitments up to 2030 and beyond at the upcoming 70th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

The World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), a member of the CGIAR Consortium, notes that the open letter was sent to 193 heads of state, 193 UN permanent representatives, 30 ministers in developing countries where the CGIAR Consortium works, and 34 ministers of international development in countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). [ICRAF: CGIAR Open Letter to World Leaders] [CGIAR Webpage]