View source for Association of International Research and Development Centers for Agriculture

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| image         = File:Color_Logo_of_AIRCA.png
| alt           = AIRCA logo
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| formation     = 2012
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| type          = International umbrella body
| status        = <!--Organization's legal status and/or description (company, charity, foundation, …)-->
| purpose       = International coordination of agricultural research and development
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| leader_title  = Chairperson
| leader_name   = Dr. Albin Hubscher, President and CEO, IFDC
| leader_title2 = Executive Secretary
| leader_name2  = Peace Tusasirwe
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| name          = Association of International Research and Development Centers for Agriculture
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| abbreviation  = AIRCA
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| region_served = Worldwide
| membership    = Six member organizations
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| website       = {{url|www.airca.org}}
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The '''Association of International Research and Development Centers for Agriculture (AIRCA)''' is an international, non-profit alliance focused on increasing [[food security]] by supporting [[smallholding|smallholder]] agriculture and rural enterprise within healthy, sustainable and climate-smart landscapes.<ref>{{cite book|date=October 2013|title=WHITE PAPER Transforming rural livelihoods and landscapes: sustainable improvements to incomes, food security and the environment|url=http://www.airca.org/docs/AIRCA_White_Paper_Landscapes.pdf|publisher=Association of International Research and Development Centers for Agriculture|isbn=978-92-95098-31-2|author1=Nicholls T.|author2=Elouafi, I.|author3=Borgemeister, C.|author4=Campos-Arce, J.J.|author5=Hermann, M.|author6=Hoogendoorn, J.|author7=Keatinge, J.D.H.|author8=Kelemu, S.|author9=Molden, D.J.|author10=Roy, A.|display-authors=3}}</ref>
== Overview and focus ==
AIRCA unites six international&nbsp;[[agricultural research]]&nbsp;and development centers which focus on a diverse mix of commodities, crops and issues including tropical agriculture, vegetable production, bamboo and rattan, insect pests, fertilizer use, underutilized crops, biosaline agriculture and sustainable development in mountains.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.greenink.co.uk/sites/default/documents/newsletters/new_leaf_february_14_full.html#article6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728133806/http://www.greenink.co.uk/sites/default/documents/newsletters/new_leaf_february_14_full.html#article6|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-07-28|title=New Leaf - Birth of a research association|date=February 2014|publisher=Green Ink|accessdate=2016-04-19}}</ref>
The members of AIRCA address sustainable agriculture and the environment at the [[Landscape ecology|landscape]] level. The centers create solutions that take into account the diversity of interactions among people and the environment, agricultural and non-agricultural systems, the crossing of national boundaries and other factors that represent the entire context of agriculture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gfar.net/news/healthy-soil-foundation-healthy-people-and-landscapes|title=Healthy soil: the foundation for healthy people and landscapes|website=GFAR - The Global Forum on Agricultural Research|access-date=2016-04-19}}</ref>
AIRCA members serve more than 60 countries comprising over 70% of the world’s population from across the Americas,&nbsp;Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.landscapes.org/a-new-alliance-with-a-focus-on-sustainable-landscapes/|title=A new alliance with a focus on sustainable landscapes - Global Landscapes Forum|website=Global Landscapes Forum|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-19}}</ref> The broad alliance has collective access to a wide variety of crops and ecosystems.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scidev.net/global/biodiversity/news/global-alliance-to-strengthen-research-farmer-links.html|title=Global alliance to strengthen research–farmer links|last=|website=SciDev.Net|access-date=2016-04-19}}</ref>
The combined resources of AIRCA can be used to achieve 10 of the 17 [[Sustainable Development Goals]] (SDGs) established by the United Nations in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/|title=Sustainable development goals - United Nations|website=United Nations Sustainable Development|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airca.org/index.php/airca-resources/airca-s-response-to-the-sdgs|title=How AIRCA can help to achieve SDGs|website=AIRCA|access-date=2016-04-19}}</ref>
== Relationship to CGIAR and FAO ==
AIRCA member organizations work with crops of high economic, social, nutritional and ecological value. This complements and contrasts with the work of the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO) and the [[CGIAR]] who work primarily in staple crops.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload/305922/Session%20Brief%20P2-2%20AIRCA-DO.pdf|title=Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development - Breakout sessions P2.2 Land, Water, Forests and Landscapes - Speaker Brief|last2=Nichols|first2=Trevor|date=|publisher=[[Food and Agriculture Organization]]|first1=Sarah|last1=Simons|accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
AIRCA does have some overlap with the CGIAR, however the CGIAR generally focuses more on agricultural research while AIRCA has more of a concentration on the implementation of agricultural research and [[development communication]].<ref name="ramakrishna1" /> AIRCA has a strong orientation toward problem solving at a system level, rather than a focus on a single commodity.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gfar.net/newsletters/fri-30032012-0244|title=New association to foster work of international agricultural research centers|website=GFAR - The Global Forum on Agricultural Research|access-date=2016-04-19}}</ref>
== History ==
AIRCA was launched on 2 March 2012 at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy.<ref name=":1" />
It was publicly presented in Punta del Este, Uruguay, on 30 October 2012 during the second [[Global Forum on Agricultural Research|Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development]].<ref name="ramakrishna1">{{cite news|first=Akkinapally |last=Ramakrishna |url=http://www.nari.org.pg/node/228 |title=Strengthening research–farmer links in developing countries |publisher=Nari.org.pg |date=2012-11-27 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
== Members ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+{{As of|March 2016}} the members of AIRCA are:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airca.org/index.php/airca-members |title=AIRCA Centers |publisher=Airca.org |accessdate=2016-03-10}}</ref>
!Member Name and Overview
!Acronym
!Headquarters Location
|-
|'''[[World Vegetable Center]]'''
''Previously "Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center".'' Alleviation of poverty and malnutrition in the developing world through the increased production and consumption of safe vegetables.
|AVRDC
|[[Shanhua District|Shanhua, Taiwan]]
|-
|'''[[CAB International]]'''
''Previously "Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux".'' Improves people’s lives by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment.
|CABI
|[[Wallingford, Oxfordshire|Wallingford]], England, United Kingdom
|-
|'''[[International Center for Biosaline Agriculture]]'''
Enables water short countries to improve their agricultural productivity, social equity and environmental sustainability through the effective use of marginal quality water.
|ICBA
|[[Dubai|Dubai, United Arab Emirates]]
|-
|'''[[International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development]]'''
Enables and facilitates the equitable and sustainable well-being of the people of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas by supporting sustainable mountain development through active regional cooperation.
|ICIMOD
|[[Kathmandu|Kathmandu, Nepal]]
|-
|'''[[International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology]]'''
Helps alleviate poverty, ensure food security and improve the overall health status of peoples of the tropics by developing and extending management tools and strategies for harmful and useful arthropods, while preserving the natural resource base through research and capacity building.
|ICIPE
|[[Nairobi|Nairobi, Kenya]]
|-
|'''[[International Fertilizer Development Center]]'''
Enables smallholder farmers in developing countries to increase agricultural productivity, generate economic growth and practice environmental stewardship by enhancing their ability to manage mineral and organic fertilizers responsibly and participate profitably in input and output markets.
|IFDC
|[[Muscle Shoals, Alabama|Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States]]
|}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
*{{official website|http://www.airca.org}}
*{{Facebook|AIRCAalliance}}
*{{Twitter}}
{{AIRCA |state=expanded}}
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[[Category:Agricultural research institutes]]
[[Category:International scientific organizations]]
[[Category:International development agencies]]
[[Category:International research institutes]]