Technical Advisory Committee Fifty-Fifth Meeting, 24-30 June 1991: Report of the Meeting

Report of TAC 55 held in Rome, June 24-30, 1991, Alex McCalla presiding. TAC discussed and commented on strategic plans from five centers. At CIP's request, it offered suggestions on a draft plan, to be submitted in final form at TAC 56. TAC was generally satisfied with the revised INIBAP plan, noting that the center had a network form without in-house research facilities. Detailed comments were prepared on the IFPRI plan, for the center to consider in the implementation and further development of the strategy. TAC members commented on an ICRAF discussion paper, particularly the relation between forestry and agroforestry. Preliminary comments were also made on an ICLARM plan to be submitted in revised form at TAC 56.TAC reviewed budget requests from 16 centers, including three new ones which did not have completed medium term plans. It decided not to approve changes from existing MTPs for the thirteen older centers, because a new round of resource allocation linked to CGIAR priorities and strategies was in the offing. An exception was made for IBPGR which was undergoing major changes in becoming independent of FAO. TAC considered a draft report on research priorities in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The strategies component and the link with resource allocation would come at a later stage. The latter topic was the subject of a joint meeting with center directors. TAC also discussed a report from the CGIAR Secretariat on future capital requirements of the centers.TAC prepared a commentary on a preliminary version of the Winrock International study of livestock in Africa. It approved revised terms of reference and guidelines for external reviews of IARCs