Saarc Agriculture Centre teams up with IFPRI for food, agriculture research

The Saarc Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka, and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in food and agriculture research, policy analysis, and capacity building across South Asia.

The agreement followed rigorous reviews and approvals across the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) and reflected a strong commitment to addressing the region's pressing challenges in agriculture and food systems, said Saarc Secretary General Md Golam Sarwar.

The partnership would enhance South-South and Triangular cooperation, allowing South Asia's innovations to contribute to the wider Global South, he said.

The MoU was signed yesterday in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly by Sarwar and IFPRI Director General Johan Swinnen in the presence of SAC Director Md Harunur Rashid and IFPRI South Asia Director Shahidur Rashid.

Swinnen said the MoU came at a critical time, as the region faces climate vulnerability, widespread undernutrition, and unaffordable diets for many households.

The partnership, he added, would help scale up policy and technology solutions.

The three-year MoU outlines cooperation in research, training, policy dialogue, and joint projects, with a joint advisory committee to guide implementation.