CGIAR International Centers Week, Washington, DC, October 28: November 1, 1985: Main Conclusions Reached and Decisions Taken

Summary report of the annual meeting of the CGIAR, October 28 to November 1, 1985 in Washington, DC, S. Shahid Husain presiding. The report contains a few main points of the discussion at a two-day seminar on the impact study, and in Annex II a list of presenters. It was decided to publish the impact study report (see Science and Food, 1988). Center presentations were omitted. The CGIAR Secretariat Science Adviser, Donald Plucknett, presented an overview (Annex IV). Former World Bank President Robert McNamara delivered the first Sir John Crawford Memorial Lecture.The TAC Chairman reported on TAC 37 and 38. In discussing a CDC paper on nutritional concerns in international agricultural research, he encouraged centers to monitor the work of other international organizations in this field. The Chairman of the CBC discussed the roles and membership of boards. The Chairman of the CDC reported on several issues. The Group heard a financial report covering the stabilization mechanism, the special activities account, the finance and budget study, and fund raising. It approved center programs for 1986.The Group spent a full day discussing the TAC paper on strategies and priorities. The CGIAR Chairman appointed a task force on strategic planning to meld the impact study and the priorities paper.After considering the report of its committee on the IBPGR, with active FAO participation, the Group decided that the IBPGR could not function effectively without changes in its status. It strongly urged that such changes be made within the framework of the FAO. Discussion of WARDA focussed on the failure of member states to pay their contributions. The Group supported research on rice production in West Africa, approved the WARDA budget for 1986 for immediate disbursements only, and decided to review WARDA actions at the next meeting.Other annexes are the list of participants, and the Chairman's opening addres