Demand-Driven Agronomy Agenda

From a R&D agenda driven primarily by researcher’s interests to an agenda driven by demand from scaling partners

At EiA, we embark on a transformative journey, shifting from a research and development (R&D) agenda primarily driven by researchers’ interests to one fueled by the demands of our scaling partners. Traditionally, agronomy R&D has been researcher- centric, emphasizing solution development processes with less emphasis on validation and scaling. In response, EiA is committed to crafting an R&D portfolio that aligns with the expressed demands of credible scaling partners, fostering a co-creation process that encompasses development, validation, and scaling. Recognizing the limitations of projects driven solely by researcher interests, EiA places paramount importance on the realities of smallholder farming conditions. We acknowledge that successful delivery and uptake of agronomic solutions necessitate effective collaboration with farmers and their support networks. Contrary to the historical researcher-driven approach, EiA’s R&D strategy is designed to capture the needs of men and women farmers, reflecting delivery mechanisms they are familiar with and can trust. EiA’s approach involves addressing needs identified by demand or scaling partners, whether they interact directly with farmers (B2C) or support farmer-facing organizations (B2B). Through a meticulous enrollment process, we conduct due diligence, ensuring that partners have credible impact models with a focus on women and young farmers, a willingness to co-invest in effective advisory services, and demands that align with the knowledge generated by CGIAR scientists. Scalability assessments are science- based and iterative, ensuring solutions are ready for scaling. In instances where knowledge gaps emerge or critical tools and approaches are lacking, EiA takes a proactive stance. We formulate strategic R&D projects, leveraging state-of-the-art expertise from Advanced Research Institutes (ARIs). These projects deliver tools and research products that seamlessly integrate into the Use Case pipeline, ensuring a continuous and responsive flow of solutions to meet the evolving demands of our scaling partners. At EiA, our commitment to an R&D agenda driven by demand from scaling partners marks a paradigm shift, ensuring that our initiatives are not only impactful but also align with the genuine needs of the agricultural communities we serve.