The work of the UK-CGIAR Centre has been praised in written evidence submitted by CGIAR as part of the UK parliamentary inquiry into the future of UK aid and development assistance. The inquiry is examining how the UK can continue to deliver high impact international aid and development assistance in the face of a 40% budget cut as the Government seeks to fund increased defence spending in the name of national security.
Beyond its position as a key investor in global agricultural R&D, the UK remains a leader in research
excellence and establishing innovative partnerships. CGIAR systematically champions the
collaboration of researchers from the Global South and the Global North to tackle food security,
climate change and biodiversity loss.
In this context, the UK and CGIAR launched a joint research centre in 2024, bringing together
scientists from the UK and CGIAR to form impact-focused research collaborations. The UK-CGIAR
Centre has already brought together, through seven funded projects, nine UK research institutes and
universities, seven CGIAR research centres and sixteen research bodies from the Global South.
The centre underlines the crucial role the UK and its research community can play in convening global
research partnerships. The combination of British technological expertise and CGIAR’s deep
understanding of local needs of research partners is a powerful tool in strengthening global good
systems in the Global South and the UK.
We encourage the UK Government to deepen its commitment to innovative partnerships such as the
UK-CGIAR Centre, going beyond aid in the pursuit of solutions to joint global challenges.
Read the full submission here.
Image credit: Barry Goble.