CABI’s mission working in partnership with its Member Countries to help tackle the biggest challenges facing humanity has been highlighted during the visits of its Executive Council Chair and Executive Council Member for Bangladesh.
The high-level talks also served as an opportunity to further explore how CABI can work even more closely with The Gambia and Bangladesh on sustainable development, food security and improved livelihoods.
Her Excellency Dr Fatou Bensouda, CABI Executive Council Chair, High Commissioner for The Gambia to the UK, and Ambassador to a number of other countries, and Mr Tanvir Mohammad Azim, CABI Executive Council Member for Bangladesh and Commercial Counsellor of the Bangladesh High Commission in London, separately visited CABI’s Corporate Office in Wallingford, UK.
Mr Tanvir Mohammad Azim was also joined by Mr Kazi Shameem, Counsellor (Maritime) of the Bangladesh High Commission in the UK.
Helping to improve people’s lives worldwide
The visitors heard how, working together with its 48 Member Countries, CABI is helping to improve people’s lives worldwide by providing information and applying expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment.
CABI’s work is framed by a Medium-Strategy (MTS), agreed with its Members, which focuses on tackling hunger, poverty, gender inequality, climate change and the loss of biodiversity, contributing to a number of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
HE Dr Fatou Bensouda, who was joined by Mr Abu Jawara, First Secretary, Gambia High Commission, received an overview of the MTS and progress in its implementation from Dr Daniel Elger, CABI CEO. She introduced Gambia’s policies and priorities for agricultural and rural development, trade and market access, and economic growth.
In attendance were Dr Andy Robinson, Managing Director, Publishing at CABI, Dr Qiaoqiao Zhang, CABI’s Memberships Director and Dr Victor Clottey, Regional Director, West Africa, who presented an overview of the partnerships between The Gambia (and other West African Member Countries) and CABI in agriculture and the environment.
Prevent/reduce the invasion of new crop pests in The Gambia
Mr Abu Jawara, Dr Qiaoqiao Zhang, HE Dr Fatou Bensouda, Dr Daniel Elger, and Dr Andy Robinson (Photo: Tom Swindley/CABI).
Following consultation with Gambia’s National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), CABI’s Horizon Scanning tools will be used to develop a quarantine pest list for The Gambia, and biological controls will be deployed to control papaya mealybugs and the fall armyworm.
Furthermore, protocols and other Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials will also be shared with The Gambia for training and sensitization of plant health stakeholders, including technicians, tutors at the Agricultural College, plant health inspectors at entry points, extension staff and farmers.
HE Dr Fatou Bensouda said, “CABI’s Medium-Term Strategy aligns well with The Gambia’s pillars for economic growth – including climate smart agriculture, food security, and rural development.
“We look forward to working with CABI more closely to strengthen our capacity in these areas, including through exploration of new opportunities for South-South co-operation.
“Together we can harness the power of evidence, digital tools, knowledge sharing and nature-based solutions to support more sustainable food production, better market access, and ultimately improved food security and livelihoods in the Gambia, and indeed other CABI Member Countries.”
Overview of CABI’s publishing products and knowledge tools
Dr Robinson gave an overview of CABI’s publishing products and knowledge tools from the CABI Digital Library, which provides access to a wide range of research and learning resources in agriculture, the environment, and applied life sciences.
He also introduced the Juno Evidence Alliance – a global platform working to ensure better evidence drives better decisions across agriculture and food systems.
CABI’s partnerships with Bangladesh
Mr Tanvir Mohammad Azim, Dr Daniel Elger, Mr Kazi Shameem, and Dr Qiaoqiao Zhang (Photo: Tom Swindley/CABI).
Discussions with Mr Tanvir Mohammad Azim included Dr Qiaoqiao Zhang, Dr Vinod Pandit, CABI Regional Director, South Asia, and Dr Saleh Ahmed, CABI Country Coordinator for Bangladesh.
CABI is helping Bangladesh to strengthen its plant health system through Pest Risk Analysis (PRAs) of pests such as Chili Black Thrips and Coconut Hispine Beetle. As part of a Horizon Scanning Initiative, data-driven risk mapping and predictive modelling have been applied to identify and prevent threats from around 270 pathogens and insects.
These initiatives are helping Bangladesh align its agricultural practices with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs).
The party heard how CABI Academy training courses have been provided to over 4000 extension workers, and that Bangladesh is enhancing its agricultural diploma education by incorporating learning and decision-making resources from CABI’s flagship food security programme, PlantwisePlus, in order to improve farmer advisory services nationwide.
CABI is also working with national partners on a facility for rearing of biocontrol agents like Trichogramma that can be deployed against pest species.
Mr Tanvir Mohammad Azim said, “We greatly appreciated learning more about CABI’s strategic goals and how we can work with CABI as a Member Country to realise these in practice.
“Our discussions highlighted the longstanding and successful partnership between Bangladesh and CABI, while opening new opportunities to strengthen our collaboration.
“By deepening our partnership, we are confident we can make a meaningful contribution to sustainable development, improved market access, and enhanced food security not only for residents in Bangladesh but further afield.”
Digital tools integrated into Agriculture Training Institute curriculum
Instructors at Bangladesh’s Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) will now have access to digital tools from the CABI Academy and PlantwisePlus, which are being integrated into the ATI curriculum.
PlantwisePlus is collaborating with partners to empower farmers to use more sustainable crop management processes. Key projects in Bangladesh include the use of a new biocontrol agent to fight fall armyworm and the further training of agricultural officers to help diagnose and remedy plant health problems.
Working closely and optimally with CABI Member Countries
At both visits, discussions on how CABI and its Member Countries can work together optimally were high on the agenda, echoing one of the focus areas for the four Member Country Consultation meetings being held this year.
Opportunities to work with a wider range of national stakeholders in relevant sectors, develop more regional initiatives and promote further south-south co-operations were explored, with a view to strengthening partnerships and enhancing capacities in Member Countries.
Directing and influencing the global development agenda
Membership of CABI gives national governments a leadership role in directing and influencing the global development agenda through the work of the organization and its international network of partners.
CABI’s Member Countries agree the organisation’s priorities through periodic Review Conferences. Regular oversight of CABI’s work is provided by the Executive Council of Member Countries, which includes representatives from each Country who meet annually to monitor CABI’s progress, approve its budget and consider matters such as admission of new Members. CABI’s Board of Directors is accountable to the Executive Council. The Executive Council elects a Chair each year, currently HE Dr Bensouda, who also sits on CABI’s Board of Directors.
Additional information
Main image: Her Excellency Dr Fatou Bensouda, CABI Executive Council Chair and High Commissioner for the Gambia (Photo: Tom Swindley/CABI).
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