Highlights

It is widely recognised that development of sustainable and productive agriculture is essential to address poverty alleviation and economic development in developing countries. Agricultural development addresses 6 of the 8 Millennium Development Goals. As a country Switzerland is an internationally significant contributor to development programmes in agriculture, mainly through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It is less well known that Switzerland hosts more than 100 research institutions which contribute in various ways to agricultural research with applications for development.

SFIAR

It is widely recognised that development of sustainable and productive agriculture is essential to address poverty alleviation and economic development in developing countries. Agricultural development addresses 6 of the 8 Millennium Development Goals. As a country Switzerland is an internationally significant contributor to development programmes in agriculture, mainly through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It is less well known that Switzerland hosts more than 100 research institutions which contribute in various ways to agricultural research with applications for development.

SFIAR

The Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research (SFIAR) is an informal multi-stakeholder group of Swiss institutions and private individuals interested in agricultural research for development (‘ARD’). Members come from research institutions, NGOs, the private sector, farmers' organisations and public agencies. The goals and objectives of SFIAR are:

• Sharing information between ARD stakeholders in Switzerland
• Promoting the visibility of Swiss ARD
• Playing an advocacy role at policy level d) Serving as a national partner in international initiatives
• Promoting collaboration between actors in Swiss ARD.

More information on the SFIAR is available on its website: http://www.sfiar.ch

The SFIAR Award

SFIAR has decided to launch the SFIAR Award to recognise recent achievements in Swiss agricultural research projects for development, which relate to at least one of the following characteristics:

• partnership, outreach to the farm level, output and impact
• product development (or steps thereof)
• tool or instrument.

The projects have to be carried out with at least one partner in a developing country.

Research results which address the agricultural development challenges of developing and emerging countries are eligible for consideration for the annual award which is CHF 5'000 for an individual and CHF 10'000 for a team. Eligible research can relate to crop production, animal husbandry, agro-forestry, agricultural biodiversity and agricultural ecosystems, fisheries and aquaculture, agribusiness, as well as animal and human health related issues, resulting in improved rural livelihoods and enhanced environmental sustainability. Projects addressing any aspect of sustainable management of the natural resources on which farming depends are also eligible. Research of a national and/or an international public good character, as well as private sector research can be awarded.