Report of the third CIMMYT-CIO collaborative planning meeting

Abstract

Francois Vicariot, Director for External relations of CIRAD welcomed the CIMMYT delegation. CIO and CIMMYT have now a solid understanding of their scientific objectives, comparative advantages and modes of operation. The second Collaborative Planning meeting in El Batan, in february 1992, marked a cornerstone in this CIO/CIMMYT collaboration by establishing three different types of Programs to facilitate preliminary discussions among scientists and the management of the two Institutions for the elaboration and implementation of collaborative projects. The French Research Institutions are operating under operational constraints similar to that of the CGIAR Centers like CIMMYT. CIO wishes to bring its contribution to the production of more adapted, environmentally-safe and sustainable technologies for agricultural development and is convinced that collaborative research activities with partners like CGIAR Centers are a valuable asset for reaching the "critical masses" of scientists, that can make possible breakthroughs in basic, applied and adaptative research. Roger Rowe stressed CIMMYT desire to increase its collaboration with the French Institutions. CIMMYT is facing today a drastic reduction of funding and staff. Therefore it has to examine all projects very carefully, including those in partnership with CIO. An important orientation is the creation of a Natural Resources Management Research Group(NRMR) which cuts across Programs (Maize, Wheat, Economics), building on CIMMYT past work, linking crop improvement to maintain productivity and the preservation of environment.