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Home » E - Library » Subject Websites » Agriculture

Agricultural Network Information Center (AgNIC)
"A voluntary alliance and partnership of nearly 60 member institutions and organizations working to offer quick and reliable access to quality agricultural information and sources." Each partner provides resources that are included in a database that can be searched by keywords or browsed by subject area.

Agricultural Research and Extension Network (AgREN) "Established ... to link policy-makers, practitioners and researchers in the agriculture sector of developing countries." Administered by the Overseas Development Institute's Rural Policy and Environment Group. Not currently active (Dec 2006).

Bioversity International
CGIAR research centre for the conservation and use of biodiversity.

Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
CGIAR research centre "committed to conserving forests and improving the livelihoods of people in the tropics.".

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
"The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations." It's "mission is to achieve sustainable food security and reduce poverty in developing countries through scientific research and research-related activities in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, livestock, policy, and the environment." Contains details of the research CGIAR is conducting (including impact studies): main areas (October 2006) are:

• Sustainable production (crops, livestock, fisheries, forests and natural resources)
• Enhancing national capacities (through joint research, policy support, training, and knowledge-sharing)
• Germplasm improvement (for priority crops, livestock, trees and fish)
• Germplasm collection (including holding in public trust the world's larggest seed collections in 11 genebanks)
• Policy (fostering research on policies that have a major impact on agriculture, food, health, spread of new technologies and the management and conservation of natural resources)

Also includes links to the 15 research centres that it supports, and details of publications, many downloadable, and events.

Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD)
"CIIFAD, with partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America, initiates and supports innovative programs that contribute to improved prospects for global food security, sustainable rural development and environmental conservation around the world." Site includes details of CIIFAD's Knowledge-Sharing and Learning activities, collaborative initiatives it is participating in, and thematic working groups associated with it.

EASYPol
"On-line resources for policy making." From FAO’s Policy Support Unit, which "develops, publishes and hosts freely downloadable resources to assist policy makers and analysts in the assessment and implementation of development policies. Policy findings, methodological guidelines and capacity development are presented through issue papers, analytical tools (software), case studies, and other conceptual and technical materials." See also EASYPol weblinks.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Details of FAO policies (e.g. on Fisheries, Sustainable development, etc); FAO programmes; links to statistical databases; publications and documents viewable online; links to partners' websites; and a Knowledge forum providing interactive services (Ask FAO; Best practices; Thematic knowledge networks).

FAO's EASYPol
"On-line resources for policy making." From FAO’s Policy Support Unit, which "develops, publishes and hosts freely downloadable resources to assist policy makers and analysts in the assessment and implementation of development policies. Policy findings, methodological guidelines and capacity development are presented through issue papers, analytical tools (software), case studies, and other conceptual and technical materials." See also EASYPol weblinks.

FAOSTAT
Food and Agriculture Organization Statistics. "An on-line multilingual database currently containing over 1 million time-series records from over 210 countries and territories covering statistics on agriculture, nutrition, fisheries, forestry, food aid, land use and population." From the FAO statistics portal. Members of IDS can ask at the Enquiry Desk for the userID and password for the FAOSTAT Subscribers Area, which provides extended on-line query and downloading facilities.

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
CGIAR research centre for sustainable agriculture for the dry areas.

International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
CGIAR research centre "that conducts socially and environmentally progressive research aimed at reducing hunger and poverty and preserving natural resources in developing countries.".

International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA)
"ICRA provides professional training in interdisciplinary team research in agriculture."

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Aims to find "sustainable solutions for ending hunger and poverty". Includes details of IFPRI's research, its 2020 Vision for Food, Agriculture, and the Environment initiative to develop ideas for meeting food needs, publications (some of which are downloadable) and access to datasets.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Details of IFAD's operations and activities. A Rural poverty portal and a Rural poverty knowledgebase enables searching by subject.

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
"IIED is one of the world’s most influential international development and environment policy research organisations." Detailed descriptions IIED's work; includes downloadable publications.

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
CGIAR research centre which "works to improve the well-being of people in developing countries by enhancing the contribution livestock make to smallholder farming".

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
CGIAR research centre "to conduct maize and wheat research to benefit developing countries".

International Potato Center (CIP)
CGIAR research centre which "seeks to reduce poverty and achieve food security on a sustained basis in developing countries through scientific research and related activities on potato, sweetpotato, other root and tuber crops, and on the improved management of natural resources in the Andes and other mountain areas.".

International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
CGIAR research centre which aims "to reduce poverty and hunger, improve the health of rice farmers and consumers, and ensure that rice production is environmentally sustainable".

Pesticide Action Network International (PAN)
"A network of over 600 participating nongovernmental organizations, institutions and individuals in over 90 countries working to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound alternatives."

World Agroforestry Centre
CGIAR research centre for agroforestry, aiming to integrate trees into working landscapes.

World Bank: Agriculture & Rural Development
Includes strategy documents and videos, sections on 20 plus individual topics (e.g. Agricultural trade, Gender and rural development, Natural Resource Management Institutions), links to regional information, details of projects, learning programmes, current and recent research, and to partners' websites. Also includes information on data, statistics and publications, many freely available online.