By Milliam Murigi
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has launched a new report that will help decision-makers navigate food system science with ease.
Dubbed
Insight to Impact: A Decision-Maker’s Guide to Navigating Food System Science,
the report was launched during CGIAR Science Week at the United Nations Campus in Nairobi.
It is tailored to decision-makers across sectors, including those in agriculture, climate, finance, and health and emphasizes interdisciplinary, country-relevant responses.
Speaking during the launch, CGIAR Executive Managing Director Ismahane Elouafi said that the report aims to turn decades of research into concrete policy action. The goal is to move beyond theory and deliver science in a format that decision-makers can act upon.
“Policy is influenceable, but what I hear from many decision-makers is that they are often missing the right data,” Elouafi said. “This report provides that clarity and pragmatism.”
According to her, decision-makers at global, national, and local levels recognize the urgency of taking decisive action. They understand that safeguarding the resilience, health, and livelihoods of vulnerable communities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, requires sound, science-backed policies. However, many have cited their struggles to access the right information in the right format. This is a challenge that slows the translation of research into action.
“CGIAR developed this report to meet these challenges head-on. While agricultural research, including CGIAR’s, cannot solve every problem, food system transformation must be part of the solution. This report provides science-based insights and practical recommendations to help decision-makers navigate the pressing challenges of agriculture, food security, and sustainable development while preparing for future risks,” she said.
Beyond presenting solutions, this report examines the barriers and enablers of translating science into action. By learning from past successes and failures, decision-makers can make more informed, evidence-driven choices.
Elouafi revealed that this report is shaped by extensive consultations with policymakers and stakeholders navigating food, land, and water systems. They shared the pressures they face such as budget constraints, competing policy priorities, and the complexity of balancing diverse stakeholder interests. They also described the difficulty of coordinating across ministries and sectors to access the right expertise and data for systemic, informed decisions.
“This report unpacks complexity and delivers practical, research-backed solutions. It is structured around critical decision-making questions drawn from deep consultation, paired with scientific evidence, proven tools, and policy recommendations from CGIAR’s extensive research portfolio,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, Dhesigen Naidoo, CGIAR’s Integrated Partnership Board said that the role of research organizations as a science-policy interface is indispensable, bridging the gap between scientific findings and actionable policies. They must not only generate knowledge but also take responsibility for interpreting complex data, translating it into practical policy recommendations, and ensuring its effective dissemination to decision-makers.
“If research findings are shared in a way that resonates with the priorities of decision-makers, they can drive transformative change, ensuring that scientific advancements directly contribute to sustainable development and global well-being,” said Naidoo.
“Successful translation of science for policy requires a dual approach: distilling complex research into summaries that highlight actionable outcomes, much like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports and their summaries for policymakers, and fostering continuous engagement between scientists, governments, and decision-makers.”
Besides, Naidoo says that making evidence-based knowledge accessible and relevant empowers policymakers to craft impactful policies addressing global food and nutrition security.
To support its science-to-policy efforts, CGIAR also launched its Insight to Impact Policy Champions Network, a group of partners and policy influencers who will work to ensure the scientific insights shape action on the ground.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).