Promoting agricultural innovation in the tropics

To feed a growing population and face the challenges of climate change, agricultural production must be intensified sustainably and innovation is the key to achieving this. In the tropics, this sustainable intensification of agriculture is particularly necessary, which is why FAO has invested in the Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP).

Initiated by the G20 and generously supported by the European Union, the main objective of TAP is to strengthen national capacities for agricultural innovation in the tropics, where most developing countries are concentrated and where the gaps in terms of capacity are considerable. By helping to fill these capacity gaps, TAP wants to pave the way for agricultural innovations that meet the demands of its primary users – smallholder farmers, small and medium-sized agribusinesses and consumers.

To achieve these goals, the TAP relies on the concept of Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS), acting as a multilateral dynamic facilitation mechanism that allows better coordination and greater impact of capacity building (CD) actions. in AIS.

The G20 establishes the TAP

TAP was launched at the first Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists (MACS) hosted by the G20 in September 2012, in Mexico, where FAO was asked to lead its development. The G8 leadership also approved the development of TAP.

TAP brings together more than 40 partners: national agricultural research, education and extension institutions, civil society actors, farmers' organizations, major regional and international forums, networks and organizations.

To consolidate the various existing approaches to agricultural innovation, the TAP Partners endorsed the TAP Action Plan, which in 2015 included the development of a Common Framework on CD for AIS. In January 2016, after a thorough and highly participatory development process, TAP Partners approved the Common Framework to be used by TAP partners and other stakeholders.

The concepts and principles of the TAP Common Framework are being evaluated in eight countries in Africa (Angola, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Rwanda), Asia (Bangladesh, Laos) and Central America (Guatemala, Honduras), in an initiative called CDAIS, or Capacity Building for Agricultural Innovation Systems.

The implementation of the TAP Action Plan and the ongoing work in 8 countries is possible thanks to the financial contributions of the European Union to the CDAIS project, the commitment of FAO staff, the German Government which has funded an Associate Executive and the TAP partners involved in the Steering Committee and working groups.