Technical Advisory Committee Eighteenth Meeting, 14-21 February 1978: Draft Report

Draft report of the eighteenth meeting of TAC, held in Rome, 14-21 February 1978, TAC Chairman Ralph Cummings presiding. The draft report of the farming systems research (FSR) stripe review was discussed together with preparations for an FSR workshop to be held before the next TAC meeting. The first draft of the IITA quinquennial review report was presented and reviewed. TAC discussed the terms of reference and arrangements for planned quinquennial reviews of ICRISAT, WARDA, and IBPGR. TAC approved revised guidelines and terms of reference for quinquennial reviews (texts attached as Annexes IV and V). The question of associate status within the CGIAR had been referred to TAC for guidance by the Group. After discussion, TAC asked for a paper containing a more precise definition of the idea. It was also noted that conclusions on priorities should precede any decisions on association of activities with the CGIAR. TAC discussed the objectives of approaches to a review of CGIAR priorities, and charged its secretariat to make further preparations. It amended and approved criteria for activities to receive CGIAR support (Annex VI). TAC began its consideration of training, having been asked by the CGIAR to make recommendations for policy guidelines. IARC requirements for basic research had been raised by the 1977 Integrative Report. TAC agreed that basic research results could be important to IARC effectiveness and stressed close collaboration and contact with advanced research institutions. Additional matters discussed included progress reports on vegetable research, water management, and water buffalo. TAC also considered possible topics of future stripe reviews; and heard reports on the Bellagio Meeting of Heads of Research Institutes in Developing Countries, and the first meeting of the CGIAR Task Force on International Assistance to NARS