Drylands are crucial to the global population, supporting approximately one-third of the world’s people. They also sustain nearly half of the global livestock and 44% of food systems. However, 20-35% of these areas are facing degradation, threatening their capacity to support livelihoods and ecosystems.
Launch of the 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD)
To address these challenges, CGIAR, a leading global organization in agricultural research, has launched the 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD). This initiative aims to transform agriculture in some of the world’s most arid regions, particularly in Asia and Africa, and improve food security, biodiversity conservation, and resilient livelihoods for the 2.7 billion people living in these dryland areas.
Collaborative Effort by CGIAR Centres
The GSRD is driven by the combined expertise of CGIAR’s centres:
- International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
These organizations aim to provide a comprehensive roadmap to tackle the challenges faced by drylands, including water scarcity, land degradation, and desertification.
Key Features of the GSRD
The strategy builds on over five decades of research in dryland ecosystems, which are traditionally seen as fragile but hold immense potential for climate-smart agricultural innovation. Some of the core features of the GSRD include:
- Pioneering Solutions for Dryland Challenges:
- Technologies like solar-powered agrivoltaics
- Advanced agroforestry techniques
- Improved livestock feeding practices
- Breeding of climate-resilient crops (barley, lentils, chickpeas, cacti)
- Focus on Climate Change:
- Drylands are warming 20-40% faster than other regions, making them especially vulnerable to climate change. The GSRD addresses these challenges head-on, aiming for sustainable solutions that can be scaled globally.
Vision and Impact
Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR’s Executive Managing Director, emphasized the importance of these transformative solutions for dryland communities. The strategy is designed to provide long-lasting, context-specific solutions to secure the livelihoods of these communities.
Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim of ICRISAT, reframed drylands not as areas of scarcity but as hubs of untapped resilience potential. He stressed the role of drylands in creating models for global food system resilience in the face of climate change.
Aly Abousabaa, ICARDA’s Director General, referred to the strategy as an essential lifeline for dryland communities, underscoring the urgency of tackling climate change’s impact on these regions.
Key Areas of Focus in the GSRD
The strategy highlights five crucial areas for action:
- Adapting Agrifood Systems to Climate Change: Ensuring that agriculture in drylands can cope with the changing climate.
- Conserving Biodiversity: Protecting the diverse ecosystems within drylands.
- Sustainably Managing Soil and Water Resources: Implementing practices to conserve critical resources.
- Promoting Healthy Diets: Supporting nutritious food systems in dryland areas.
- Fostering Inclusive Development: Empowering dryland communities for greater resilience and sustainability.
Global Collaboration and Commitment
The GSRD is the product of extensive collaboration among national research organizations, governments, and private sector partners. Its launch marks CGIAR’s commitment to addressing one of agriculture’s most pressing challenges, with the backing of its 15 research centres.
The Future of Drylands and Global Agriculture
As drylands expand due to climate change, the solutions pioneered under the GSRD offer hope for transforming agriculture in these regions. These innovations not only aim to benefit dryland communities but also hold promise for enhancing global agricultural resilience in the face of environmental change.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What percentage of the world’s population lives in drylands?
- a) 10%
- b) 25%
- c) 33%
- d) 50%
- Which organization launched the 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD)?
- a) ICARDA
- b) ICRISAT
- c) CGIAR
- d) United Nations
- Which of the following is NOT one of the key areas of focus in the GSRD?
- a) Adapting agrifood systems to climate change
- b) Conserving biodiversity
- c) Developing new livestock species
- d) Fostering inclusive development
- How much faster are drylands warming compared to other regions?
- a) 10-20%
- b) 20-40%
- c) 50-60%
- d) 70-80%
- Which CGIAR center is primarily responsible for agricultural research in dry areas?
- a) ICRISAT
- b) ICARDA
- c) Both ICRISAT and ICARDA
- d) International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)