The Feed the Future Innovation Labs for Collaborative Research (formerly CRSP) held their Council meeting “Examining Opportunities for Linkages in Collaborative Research, Technology Dissemination, and Human and Institutional Capacity Development” in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro, Tanzania between Monday, March 4 and Friday, March 8. This meeting provided an opportunity for USAID staff members from the Bureau for Food Security in Washington as well as mission staff from USAID/Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Mozambique to join their agricultural research and development partners to discuss existing programs and future directions for advancing efforts along the research to development continuum. In addition to representatives from the Innovation Labs, other participants included current and potential partners such as national and regional agricultural research organizations, CGIAR researchers, Africa RISING collaborators, NGOs, and the private sector. Strategies and opportunities for collaborating with U.S. university-led Innovation Labs to implement and disseminate agricultural technologies and strengthen human and institutional capacity while directly addressing Feed the Future research priorities was the central theme of the meetings.

Presentations were given by the Innovation Labs and their partners on their activities in the East Africa region as well as by the other groups of participants.  Links to these presentations are provided below and are listed in the order they were given. Additional meeting materials are also available.

Monday, March 4

Introductory Presentations

USAID Agricultural Programs: Feed the Future Food Security Innovation Center and USAID’s Agricultural Research Strategy
– Saharah Moon Chapotin, USAID Bureau for Food Security

Core Traits and Comparative Strengths of the Feed the Future Innovation Labs for Collaborative Research
– Irvin Widders (Pulse), Michigan State University

USAID Mission to Tanzania: FTF Strategy and Partnerships
– Mary Hobbs, USAID/Tanzania

 USAID Activities in East And Southern Africa

Feed the Future Food Security Innovation Center: Linking Research to Accelerate Outcomes for the Field
– Vern Long, USAID Bureau of Food Security

Feed the Future Uganda Research and Innovation Laboratories (CRSPs)
– Simon Byabagambi, USAID/Uganda

Examining Opportunities for Linkages in Collaborative Research, Technology, and Human and Institutional Capacity Building, West Africa Presentation
– Candace Buzzard, USAID/West Africa

Ethiopia FTF Strategy Overview
– Semachew Kassahun, USAID/Ethiopia

Mozambique FTF Strategy Overview
– Paula Pimentel, USAID/Mozambique

Tuesday, March 5

Overview of Monday’s Discussion

Key Messages from Monday’s Meeting in Dar es Salaam
– Elizabeth Mitcham (Horticulture), University of California – Davis

Emerging Issues in the Agricultural Sector Implications to Successful Implementation of Feed the Future
– David Nyange, USAID/Tanzania

USAID Partners

Innovative Agricultural Research Initiative (iAGRI)
– David Kraybill,  Innovative Agricultural Research Initiative (iAGRI), Ohio State University and Sokoine University

Tuboreshe Chakula: The FTF Processing and Consumption Project
– Neema Mrema, Agro-Processing Project

Tanzania Agriculture Productivity Program (TAPP) Overview
– Stephen Mruma, TAPP (horticulture)

Irrigation & Rural Roads Infrastructure Project (IRRIP2) Project Overview
– Chris Hall, Irrigation Component Leader

NAFAKA Staples Value Chain Activity
– Harriet Odembi, NAFAKA Project

The Feed the Future Collaborative Research Innovation Labs: Research, Capacity Building and Outreach in Tanzania and the Region

Collaborative Research on Grain Legumes
– Irvin Widders (Pulse), Michigan State University

Collaborative Research on AquaFish
– Sebastian Chenyambuga (AquaFish), Sokoine University of Agriculture

Collaborative Research on Horticulture
– Elizabeth Mitcham, (Horticulture), University of California – Davis

Collaborative Research on Sorghum, Millet and Other Grains (INTSORMIL)
– Curtis Weller, (INTSORMIL), University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Collaborative Research on Peanuts
– Steve Brown (Peanut), University of Georgia

Collaborative Research on Assets and Market Access (BASIS AMA)
– Tara Steinmetz (BASIS AMA), University of California – Davis

Collaborative Research on Nutrition
– Shibani Ghosh (Global Nutrition), Tufts University

Collaborative Research on Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (SANREM)
– Keith Moore (SANREM), Virginia Tech

Collaborative Research on Integrated Pest Management
– R. Muniappan (IPM), Virginia Tech

Collaborative Research on Adapting Livestock Systems to Climate Change
– Richard Bowen (Livestock-Climate Change), Colorado State University

USAID Regional Partners

AVRDC in Vegetable Crops Research and Development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)World Veg in Africa
– Fekadu Fufa Dinssa, AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Regional Center for Africa

ASARECA Priorities and Operational Mechanisms
– Jean Ndikumana, ASARECA (East and Central Africa)

Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa
– Timothy Simalenga, CCARDESA (Southern Africa)

ICRAF Research Program in Tanzania
– Anthony A. Kimaro, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Tanzania

AGRA Transforming African Agriculture
– Fred Muhhuku, AGRA

CIAT in Africa: Research areas and opportunities of collaborating research
– Jean Claude Rubyogo, CIAT-Africa

ICRISAT in East and Southern Africa
– Patrick Okori, ICRISAT Malawi

Wednesday, March 6

Strategies for Scaling Up Technologies

Scaling Technologies
– John Bowman, USAID Bureau for Food Security

Open Space discussion on “Scaling up Technologies”
– Facilitator: Deborah Rubin, co-Director, Cultural Practice LLC

The Feed the Future Collaborative Research Innovation Lab Approach to Building Human Resources and Institutional Capacity

Collaborative Research on Horticulture: Building Capacity in Postharvest Technologies for Fruits and Vegetables 
– N. Nenguwo, AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Arusha, Tanzania
– Pendo Bigambo, National food Security Department, Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives, Government of Tanzania

Collaborative Research on Grain Legumes: Experiences Working With the Pulse CRSP
– Theobald C.E. Mosha, Sokoine University of Agriculture

Collaborative Research on Integrated Pest Management : Institutional Capacity Building in Ethiopia
– Kassahun Zewdie (IPM)

Collaborative Research on Horticulture : Survey of African Indigenous Vegetable (AIV) Production and Marketing Tanzania
– Don Lotter, St. John’s University of Tanzania

Collaborative Research on Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management: Development and Transfer of Conservation Agriculture Production Systems (CAPS) for Smallholder Farms in Eastern Uganda and Western Kenya
– Dominic Ngosia (SANREM), Kenya

Collaborative Research on Peanuts: The Peanut CRSP Breeding Program in Uganda 10 Years of Progress
– David Okello Kalule, National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute, Uganda

Collaborative Research on Adapting Livestock Systems to Climate Change: Strengthening Tanzanian Livestock Health & Human Nutrition
– Christopher Gustafson, University of California – Davis

Thursday, March 7

Linking Agriculture and Nutrition

Nutrition of Women and Children in Tanzania
– Theobald C.E. Mosha, Sokoine University of Agriculture

Linking Nutrition-Health-Agriculture Centers of Excellence
– Shibani Ghosh (Nutrition), Tufts University

Climate Change and Natural Resource Management

Health for Animals and Livelihood Improvement (HALI) Project
– Liz Van Wormer, University of California – Davis

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Meeting Agendas

Agenda, Monday

Agenda, Tuesday

Agenda, Wednesday

Agenda, Thursday

Additional Resources

Council Meeting Participants

Field Visit to Chamwino Village (INTSORMIL)

West Africa Centers of Excellence and Contact Details

 

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