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The co-organizers of the GCARD3 Global Event, GFAR, CGIAR and ARC would like to express our sincere thanks to all those who so actively participated in this landmark event. 

GCARD3 was a truly global gathering, with over 500 participants from 83 countries and across 15 different recognized sectors, with many more joining us via social media. GCARD3 was a long way from earlier international agricultural research conferences. With a strong emphasis on the involvement of youth, women, farmers and grassroots actors from around the world, this was a truly international, diverse and highly energized event.

The emphasis of the GCARD3 Global Conference was very much on active participation, building on the personal commitment of all involved to work together to bring change. Collective action is vital; no single organization has the capacity to meet all needs in the complex webs of agri-food innovation around the world and we are all inter-dependent. Each of us holds a small part of the picture required, but without the other pieces we are incomplete. 

Through GCARD3, we have set a clear path forward, defined by our own commitments, our ambitions, and our hopes for the future. Together, we agreed to collective actions across the five themes of GCARD3, distilled into the GCARD3 Outcome Statement and presented during the closing plenary of the Conference. The actions to be taken will be set out in more detail in the annexes to the Outcome Statement.

Partners in the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) are committed to helping ensure that these processes succeed. GFAR is an open and inclusive forum, driven by the commitments of partners from all sectors to transform our agri-food systems and deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. The GFAR Partners’ Assembly, held just before the GCARD3 event, agreed a new Charter and governance that recognises all Partners in the Forum as equals and as innovators, empowered to play their roles, and working together to shape future agriculture and food systems. The agenda set out in GCARD3 will shape GFAR’s next Medium Term Plan. We welcome all like-minded partners into these efforts. If you would like to become a recognized GFAR Partner in any of the above collective actions, based on your own interests, simply express your interest by writing to gfar-secretariat@fao.org.

The GCARD3 dialogues do not stop with Johannesburg.  Over the coming months, we will continue to further develop these Collective Actions together. The GCARD3 dialogues will also continue to help shape the new research programmes of the CGIAR, discussed through the GCARD3 national consultations and Conference and now available in full for public feedback. These outcomes will also be taken forward to inform the agriculture-related UN Sustainable Development Goals and into policy processes such as those of the G20.

What GCARD3 has done, perhaps for the first time ever, is to truly link agricultural science and society. GCARD3 succeeded through the energy and commitment of all those who took part, a wonderful effort by all involved.

 

The Final Summary Report of GCARD3 prepared by IISD is available HERE.

For more information on the GCARD3 Global Event and its outcomes, click HERE

The GCARD3 Outcomes Statement presentation can be found HERE.

 

More Resources:

Media coverage of GCARD3

Blog posts written by GFAR-sponsored social media reporters

Photos taken on site at GCARD3 courtesy of IISD 

Visit the GCARD3 page for videos of the sessions [to be posted shortly] and further updates. 

 

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