23–25 September 2013 · Bonn, Germany
Science Forum 2013 Nutrition and health outcomes: targets for agricultural research
23–25 September 2013Bonn, Germany
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Forum Organizers

The Science Forum 2013 was organized under the remit of Mobilizing Science by the Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC), together with CGIAR centers and partners.

The Science Forum 2013 brought together a wide range of participants to discuss how science and partnership can address persistent challenges in nutrition, agriculture and development. The homepage materials point to the scale of the problem: micronutrient deficiencies, stunting and chronic undernutrition affect large numbers of children and adults, while insecurity and overnutrition in other settings pose a formidable and widespread threat. Against that backdrop, the forum offered a space for scientists, practitioners and policymakers to clarify where evidence is strongest and where gaps remain, and to identify realistic contributions that can be scaled.

Under the banner of Mobilizing Science, the event was organized by the Independent Science and Partnership Council together with CGIAR centres and partners. The organizing model reflected a recurring theme in global nutrition research: that progress depends on collaboration across institutions, disciplines and countries, and that policies and strategies must be realigned with the evidence base. A career and participation fair, alongside organizers, logistics and resource pages, gave delegates practical ways to engage with the meeting beyond the formal sessions.

Program themes highlighted questions still central to the field, including how agriculture can contribute to improved nutrition outcomes, how micronutrient interventions reach the most vulnerable groups, and how research systems in developing countries can strengthen their own capacity. Sessions emphasized the need for clarity on impact and contribution, and for wider recognition of the role of partnerships in translating promising findings into programs that change lives. The emphasis was on evidence, delivery and durability rather than isolated announcements.

The forum took place in Bonn, Germany, and the associated materials describe an effort to accelerate progress in a period of remarkable scientific advances. Organizers and participants repeatedly framed the meeting as a moment for reflection on what has been achieved, what remains unresolved, and how the global focus on nutrition and hunger can be sharpened. The pages on this site, including summaries, photographs and resources, are intended as an archive for delegates and for readers interested in the continuing work of research partnerships in nutrition, health and agricultural development.

Independent Science and Partnership Council

The Science Forum series is a flagship event that was initiated by the Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC) in 2009, under its remit of Mobilizing Science. The forum served as a means to reach out to scientists and scientific communities external to CGIAR, and to help set the agenda for research supporting the CGIAR system’s objectives — including food security, human nutrition and health, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability.

Program development, logistics and participant communication for the 2013 forum were handled by the ISPC Secretariat.

Why the council convened the forum

Hunger, poverty and malnutrition remain widespread in the developing world. Around 870 million people were food insecure globally, some 2 billion people suffered from vitamin and micronutrient deficiencies, and more than 165 million children under five were stunted as a result of chronic undernutrition. The forum brought research evidence together across disciplines to identify priority targets for agricultural research.

CGIAR centers and partners

Alongside the ISPC, the forum involved collaboration with CGIAR centers and partners whose research on agriculture, food systems and nutrition underpinned the scientific program for the three days in Bonn.

ContributionDescription
Initiating bodyIndependent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC), through its Mobilizing Science remit
Research partnersCGIAR centers contributing evidence and speakers on agriculture, nutrition and health
SecretariatISPC Secretariat — program coordination, registration and participant communication
Forum formatPlenary sessions and ten breakout sessions over 23–25 September 2013

Background reading

For the objectives of the forum series, the background to the series and its partners, see About the Science Forum. The scientific agenda itself is set out in the program overview and the full schedule.