Public-private partnerships in agricultural research: an analysis of challenges facing industry and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research

"Public-private partnerships offer potentially important opportunities for pro-poor agricultural research in developing countries. Yet in the international agricultural research community-and with regard to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) itself-we see few examples of successful public-private partnerships, and fewer examples where such collaborations have contributed to food security, poverty reduction and economic growth. This study assesses the opportunities for, and challenges to, creating and sustaining public-private partnerships between the international agricultural research centers of the CGIAR and leading multinational, research-based agribusiness companies. The study hypothesizes that the willingness and ability of public agencies and private firms to enter into partnerships are constrained by fundamentally different incentive structures; by insufficient minimization of the costs and risks of collaboration; by an inability to overcome mutually negative perceptions; by limited use of creative organizational mechanisms that reduce competition over key assets and resources; and by insufficient access to information on successful partnership models. The study methodology is based on interviews and discussions with key stakeholders and a wide review of the literature on public-private partnership. Tentative findings suggest that while incentives and perceptions do differ between sectors, sufficient common space exists or can be created through incentive structuring to facilitate greater partnership. However, both public- and private-sector partners inadequately account for and minimize the costs and risks of partnership. Similarly, partners discount the need for brokers and third-party actors to manage research collaborations and reduce competition between sectors. Finally, partners are operating without sufficient information on existing partnership experiences, lessons, and models, potentially contributing to a persistent or widening gap between sectors.intellectual property, Agricultural biotechnology, Research and Development, Property rights, Multinational firms, Collaborative research, Public-private partnership,

Dialogues: the shaping of biotechnology in Southern Africa

"IFPRI and FANRPAN outlined and managed a highly participatory process involving high-level policymakers, senior representatives of a range of stakeholder agencies, and respected scientific leaders, who came together for an integrated series of roundtable discussions. The initiative is distinctive for having an explicitly process-based perspective in a framework involving many stakeholders.The first of three policy dialogues took place in April 2003 in Johannesburg, South Africa. A subsequent dialogue took place in Harare, September 20–21, 2004; a third is planned for 2005. In selecting topics for the first dialogue, IFPRI and FANRPAN identified five areas in which governments are required to make new and unfamiliar choices in order to regulate agricultural biotechnologies: intellectual property rights, biosafety, trade, food safety and consumer choice, and public research." from TextSouthern Africa, africa south of sahara, intellectual property, Agricultural biotechnology Government policy, Transgenic organisms, Genetically modified foods, Food supply Africa, Southern,

Sharing science, building bridges, and enhancing impact: Public-Private Partnerships in the CGIAR

"This study, which examines the role of public–private partnerships in international agricultural research, is intended to provide policymakers, research managers, and business decisionmakers with an understanding of how such partnerships operate and how they potentially contribute to food security and poverty reduction in developing countries. The study examines public–private partnerships in light of persistent market failure, institutional constraints, and systemic weaknesses, which impede the exchange of potentially pro-poor knowledge and technology. The study focuses on three key issues: whether public–private partnerships contribute to reducing the cost of research, whether they add value to research by facilitating innovation, and whether they enhance the impact of research on smallholders and other marginalized groups in developing-country agriculture. The study examines 75 projects undertaken by the research centers and programs of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in partnership with various types of private firms. Data and information were obtained through document analysis, semi-structured interviews with key informants, and an email survey of CGIAR centers. The resulting analysis provides a characterization of public–private partnerships in the CGIAR and describes the factors that contribute to their success. These finding are important to improving both public policy and organizational practices in the international agricultural research system." - from authors' abstract.Agricultural R&D, CGIAR, Innovation, Public-private partnerships,

The challenge of hunger: The 2008 Global Hunger Index

"With high food prices threatening the food security of millions of vulnerable households around the world, hunger and malnutrition are back in the headlines. The world is making only slow progress in reducing food insecurity, according to the Global Hunger Index (GHI). Some regions—in particular South and Southeast Asia, the Near East and North Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean—have made significant headway in combating hunger and malnutrition since 1990, but in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, the GHI remains high. Moreover, progress in Sub-Saharan Africa since 1990 has been marginal. The GHI is a tool developed by IFPRI for regularly tracking the state of global hunger and malnutrition. This year's index reflects data until 2006—the most recent available global data—and does not yet take account of the latest changes in the world food system, in which a number of factors are converging to raise prices for agricultural commodities to their highest levels in decades. Food prices appear likely to remain high in the near term, leading to food and nutrition insecurity for poor people around the globe. In this risky and changing environment, the GHI highlights key trends and the geographic areas of greatest vulnerability." from TextHunger, Undernutrition, Child mortality, Malnutrition in children, Food availability, Indicators, HIV/AIDS, Conflict, war, Developing countries, Transitional economies, Countries in transition, malnutrition, measurement, evaluation,

Futures Commodities Prices and Media Coverage

In this paper we examine the effects of media coverage of commodity prices increases and decreases on the price of the commodity and how media coverage in other commodities affects prices. We provide evidence of the relationship between media coverage and its intensity to the price level of agricultural commodities and oil futures. We find that price movements are correlated with the media coverage of up movements, or increase in prices. The direction of the correlation is robust and positive for media coverage of increases in prices, and negative for decreases in prices. These results point to increases in prices being exacerbated by media attention by 8%. In addition, we find interesting countervailing effects of this reinforcing price pressures due to media activity in the previous days. Finally, we find that even though volatility is higher for the set of days where there is media coverage, this hides important dynamics between media coverage and volatility. The volatility of market adjusted returns is negatively correlated with the media coverage, both up and down media coverage. Markets days with intense media coverage of commodity prices tends to have lower volatility

Futures Commodities Prices and Media Coverage

In this paper we examine the effects of media coverage of commodity prices increases and decreases on the price of the commodity and how media coverage in other commodities affects prices. We provide evidence of the\ud relationship between media coverage and its intensity to the price level of agricultural commodities and oil futures. We find that price movements are correlated with the media coverage of up movements, or increase in prices. The direction of the correlation is robust and positive for media coverage of increases in prices, and negative for decreases in prices. These results point to increases in prices being exacerbated by media attention by 8%. In addition, we find interesting countervailing effects of this reinforcing price pressures due to media activity in the previous days. Finally, we find that even though volatility is higher for the set of days where there is media coverage, this hides important dynamics between media coverage and volatility. The volatility of market adjusted returns is negatively correlated with the media coverage, both up and down media coverage. Markets days with intense media coverage of commodity prices tends to have lower volatility

High food prices: The what, who, and how of proposed policy actions

"The complex causes of the current food and agriculture crisis require a comprehensive response. In view of the urgency of assisting people and countries in need, the first set of policy actions— an emergency package—consists of steps that can yield immediate impact: 1. expand emergency responses and humanitarian assistance to food-insecure people and people threatening government legitimacy, 2. eliminate agricultural export bans and export restrictions, 3. undertake fast-impact food production programs in key areas, and 4. change biofuel policies. A second set of actions—a resilience package—consists of the following steps: 5. calm markets with the use of market-oriented regulation of speculation, shared public grain stocks, strengthened food-import financing, and reliable food aid; 6. invest in social protection; 7. scale up investments for sustained agricultural growth; and 8. complete the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. Investment in these actions calls for additional resources. Policymakers should consider mobilizing resources from four sources: the winners from the commodity boom among countries; the community of traditional and new donor countries; direct or indirect progressive taxation and reallocation of public expenditures in the affected countries themselves; and mobilization of private sector finance, including through improved outreach of banking to agriculture. Because of countries' diverse situations, the design of programs must be country driven and country owned. Accountability for sound implementation must also rest with countries. At the same time, a new international architecture for the governance of agriculture, food, and nutrition is needed to effectively implement the initiatives described, and especially their international public goods components. Global and national action is needed, through existing mechanisms, well-coordinated special initiatives, and possibly a special fund." from TextFood prices, Food supply, Food demand, Social protection, Agricultural research, Agricultural policy, Agricultural subsidies,

Los altos precios de los alimentos: El ‘qué', ‘quién' y ‘cómo' de las acciones de política propuestas

"La complejidad de las causas de la actual crisis alimentaria y agrícola requiere de una respuesta integral. En vista de que es urgente prestar asistencia a las poblaciones y los países necesitados, la primera serie de acciones de política —un paquete de emergencia— consiste en varios pasos para generar un impacto inmediato: 1. Incrementar las acciones de emergencia y la ayuda humanitaria para incluir a las poblaciones que experimentan inseguridad alimentaria y a las que amenazan la legitimidad gubernamental; 2. Eliminar la prohibición y las restricciones a las exportaciones agrícolas; 3. Emprender programas que permitan rápidamente expandir la oferta alimentaria en áreas clave; y, 4. Modificar las políticas de los biocombustibles. Una segunda serie de acciones de política —un paquete de resiliencia socioeconómica— consiste en los siguientes pasos: 5. Proveer tranquilidad en los mercados mediante una regulación de los movimientos especulativos a través de instrumentos de mercado, reservas públicas y compartidas de granos, un mayor financiamiento para la importación de alimentos, y una ayuda alimentaria confiable; 6. Invertir en protección social; 7. Incrementar paulatinamente las inversiones para un crecimiento agrícola sostenido; y, 8. Concluir las negociaciones de la Ronda de Doha de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC). La inversión en estas acciones requiere de recursos adicionales. Las instancias decisorias deberán considerar la movilización de recursos provenientes de cuatro fuentes: los países que se han beneficiado del auge de los commodities agrícolas; la comunidad de países donantes, tanto tradicionales como nuevos; impuestos proporcionales, directos o indirectos, y la reasignación del gasto público en los propios países afectados; y la movilización de los recursos financieros del sector privado, lo que incluye una ampliación en la cobertura de los servicios financieros para la agricultura. Debido a las diversas situaciones que enfrentan, los mismos países deben dirigir y apropiarse del diseño de los programas. La rendición de cuentas en cuanto a una implementación acertada también deberá recaer en los países. Al mismo tiempo, se necesita una nueva estructura internacional de gobernabilidad para la agricultura, la alimentación y la nutrición, a fin de implementar de forma eficaz las iniciativas descritas, especialmente los componentes relativos a los bienes públicos internacionales. También es necesaria la acción, tanto en el ámbito mundial como nacional, a través de los mecanismos existentes, iniciativas especiales muy bien coordinadas y posiblemente un fondo especial." from TextFood prices, Food supply, Food demand, Social protection, Agricultural research, Agricultural policy, Agricultural subsidies,

Hohe Nahrungsmittelpreise: Konzept f �r die Wege aus der Krise

"Die vielschichtigen Ursachen der gegenw�rtigen Krise im Bereich der Nahrungsmittelproduktion und Landwirtschaft erfordern eine umfassende globale Antwort. Angesichts der dringend benötigen Hilfe besteht der erste Ma�nahmenkatalog – ein Notfallpaket – aus Programmen, die sofort wirken: 1. Ausweiten der Soforthilfe und der humanit�ren Unterst�tzung f�r Menschen, deren Versorgung nicht gesichert ist, sowie dort, wo die Legitimit�t der Regierung bedroht ist 2. Abschaffung der landwirtschaftlichen Exportverbote und Exportbeschr�nkungen 3. Durchf�hrung von Programmen, die Nahrungsmittelproduktion in wichtigen Regionen steigern und schnell wirksam sind 4. �nderung der Agrar-Treibstoffpolitik Der zweite Ma�nahmenkatalog – ein Nachhaltigkeitspaket – besteht aus folgenden Komponenten: 5. Beruhigung der M�rkte durch marktorientierte Regulierung der Spekulation, Koordination öffentlicher Getreidevorr�te, Finanzierung von Nahrungsmittelimporten und verl�ssliche Nahrungsmittelhilfe in armen L�ndern 6. investieren in Ma�nahmen zur sozialen Absicherung 7. Ausweitung des Investitionsvolumens f�r nachhaltiges landwirtschaftliches Wachstum und 8. erfolgreicher Abschluss der Verhandlungen im Rahmen der Doha Runde der Welthandelsorganisation (WTO) Diese Ma�nahmen erfordern zus�tzliche finanzielle Ressourcen. Die Politik sollte daf�r vier Quellen ins Auge fassen: (1) die L�nder, die als Gewinner aus dem Rohstoffboom hervorgegangen sind, (2) die Gemeinschaft der alten und neuen Geberl�nder, (3) direkte oder indirekte progressive Besteuerung und Umschichtung der öffentlichen Ausgaben in den betroffenen L�ndern selbst, (4) Mobilisierung von Finanzmitteln des privaten Sektors, u.a. durch ein verst�rktes Engagement des Bankwesens in der Landwirtschaft. Aufgrund der unterschiedlichen Lage, in der sich die L�nder befinden, muss die Planung der Programme vom jeweiligen Land gef�hrt werden. Die L�nder sind auch verantwortlich f�r eine solide Implementierung ihrer Programme. Gleichzeitig wird eine straffere internationale Architektur f�r die Politik in den Bereichen Landwirtschaft, Nahrungsmittel und Ern�hrung gefordert, um die oben beschriebenen Initiativen wirksam zu implementieren; besonders die Komponenten, die öffentliche G�ter betreffen. Die Umsetzung der Ma�nahmen auf globaler und nationaler Ebene sollte mit existierenden Mechanismen und gut aufeinander abgestimmten speziellen Initiativen erfolgen. Ein �Sonderfonds zur Weltern�hrung“ w�rde die f�r eine effektive Koordination notwendigen Anreize schaffen." from TextFood prices, Food supply, Food demand, Social protection, Agricultural research, Agricultural policy, Agricultural subsidies,