Farm research network braces for less funds from U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A leading agricultural research network is bracing itself for a sharp cut in funding from its top donor, the United States, even as bioenergy, population growth, and climate change pose pivotal challenges for global food production.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has warned the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, which includes 15 research centers around the world, that it expects to cut the network’s core funding by 75 percent this year, the network’s director said on Wednesday.


“The United States has been playing such an important role that a retreat, a withdrawal in these areas will be devastating,” CGIAR director Ren Wang said.

U.S. support, including core and project funding, was around $56 million in 2007, about 12 percent of overall funding, CGIAR reported. In 2006, it was $60.7 million.

Reuters