Bangkok, November 21-22, 2024 – The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) successfully concluded its impactful two-day Growth Strategy Planning Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. The event, themed “APAARI – Towards IGO and Beyond,” convened agricultural leaders, researchers, and stakeholders to develop a forward-looking vision for the region’s agriculture.
Guided by APAARI’s newly ratified Constitution, the meeting covered eight key agenda items:
Agenda 1: Welcome and Purpose of the Meeting
Outcome: A clear recognition of APAARI’s pivotal role in shaping the future of agriculture in the region by achieving IGO status.
Agenda 2: Setting the Stage – Background on APAARI
Outcome: A comprehensive discussion on APAARI’s evolution, current initiatives, challenges, and future aspirations.
Agenda 3: Discussions on Comparative Advantages
Outcome: Discussion on a strategic refinement of APAARI’s direction, focusing on its unique value proposition and comparative advantages in partnerships. The discussions emphasized APAARI’s role as a catalyst for collaboration, the enhancement of its branding and visibility, and the creation of a clear identity that differentiates it from other organizations.
Agenda 4: Global Linkages & Way Forward
Outcome: The discussion emphasized on strengthening global partnerships, innovative linkages, and capacity-building efforts. A strategic plan to align research with actionable policies and foster long-term, sustainable collaborations was identified as essential for addressing regional agricultural challenges.
Agenda 5: Technical Areas
- Agenda 5A: Capacity Building
Outcome: The focus was on expanding regionally relevant training programs, integrating both technical and functional capacities to ensure long-term support. - Agenda 5B: Policy Strengthening
Outcome: The need to bridge research and policy was discussed, with an emphasis on integrating evidence-based research into actionable policies and regional cooperation to develop tailored policy frameworks. - Agenda 5C: Agricultural Innovation System
Outcome: APAARI’s key role in driving innovation through collaboration and process-based solutions was highlighted. The discussions emphasized that innovation must be driven by real-world problems and aligned with local contexts. - Agenda 5D: Knowledge Management and Digital Solutions
Outcome: The focus was on enhancing knowledge management systems to facilitate better collaboration across the region. Discussions emphasized the role of digital platforms, AI, and data-driven tools in improving knowledge dissemination and accessibility to support agricultural innovation. - Agenda 5E: Knowledge Broker
Outcome: APAARI’s role as a knowledge broker was reinforced, focusing on facilitating knowledge exchange and making it more usable, while also exploring AI’s potential in knowledge management.
Agenda 6: Scope in Asia-Pacific
Outcome: The importance of positioning APAARI as a key player in the Asia-Pacific region through signature innovations was emphasized. The discussions highlighted the need to build stronger partnerships, enhance visibility in global forums, and refine APAARI’s role as a broker, catalyst, or participant in collective action for long-term sustainability.
Agenda 7: Resource Mobilization
Outcome: A holistic approach to resource mobilization was discussed, focusing on building trust with donors, leveraging human resources, in-kind contributions, and strategic partnerships. Innovative fundraising avenues, were explored to ensure sustainable funding for APAARI.
Agenda 8: Human Resources
Outcome: The discussions centered on securing APAARI’s IGO status to improve the organization’s staffing, funding, and operational structure , ensuring long-term sustainability.
‘’APAARI looks forward to a future of collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth in the Asia-Pacific region, continuing to lead the way in strengthening agri-food research and innovation systems’’
Please read the full proceedings to know more.
Media Contact: d.senadheera@apaari.org
