International Agricultural Research

agricultural research, organised since 1971 in the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), is a key institutional element for achieving food security and development.In the last two decades, CGIAR experienced increasing shortcomings and unsatisfactory performances, due to a number of external and internal factors which will be discussed in this paper.In answer to the changes and challenges, a renewed CGIAR was adopted last year, with a new institutional model, a common vision, and strategic objectives for all centres, and a development of centralised, cross-centre mega-programs.The next years will indicate whether the reorganised institutional settings and the reorientation of research agendas will be successful.In this context, a number of controversial issues remain.