Nutrition Research Capabilities - Transforming rural livelihoods and landscapes
In 2017, AIRCA formed a Research Tasks Force (RTF), to serve as a catalyst for shared intelligence between members and information exchange within AIRCA institutions, and to also to identify founding sources for joint projects. A first area of focus for the RTF is Research for Nutrition and their first product is a joint Capability Statement. The document outlines the main capabilities and facilities of each AIRCA member in relation to nutritional security as a basis for more detailed engagement with partners and funding agencies.
Currently one of AIRCA's priorities is to demonstrate how agricultural biodiversity can make a meaningful contribution to achieving the targets of SDG 2 and achieving nutritional security through agricultural diversification. The development of the Global Action Plan for Agricultural Diversification (GAPAD), spearheaded by CFF and supported by fellow AIRCA members, is one of the current activities.
The AIRCA Nutrition Research Capability Statement, developped by the AIRCA RTF, provides a very brief overview each AIRCA member's expertise in the areas of crop production, crop improvement, post-harvest management, human and animal nutrition, social economic assessment and others.