In November 2004, six European research
organisations with a strong focus on agricultural research for development
decided to seal their collaboration by setting up a formal consortium
with legal status: ECART-EEIG:
CIRAD, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche
Agronomique pour le Développement (France)
IAO, Istituto Agronomico per l’Oltremare (Italy)
IICT, Instituto de Investigacão Cientifica Tropical (Portugal)
IRD, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (France)
NRI, Natural Resources Institute (Great Britain)
Wageningen UR, Wageningen University and Research Centre (the Netherlands)
ECART-EEIG offers European research skills and expertise in agricultural
research for development (ARD) in an accessible manner and encourages
effective co-ordination of research activities within Europe.
Three main objectives are assigned to ECART-EEIG:
1. To play a pro-active policy advocacy role for agricultural research
for development in Europe and worldwide;
2. To develop and strengthen strategic alliances and partnerships
with the different ARD stakeholders, both in the North and the South;
3. To organize, facilitate and implement joint participation in
European and international ARD programs and projects.
All ECART members have a history of extensive field involvement
in ARD issues in developing countries. Through this EEIG, around
4,000 professional research staff, covering the whole gamut of development
issues, can be easily and effectively mobilized. The added value
of the EEIG lies in the complementarity between the fields of excellence
of its individual members, which allows us to build first class
teams of experts to address the exact needs of the partners.
ECART-EEIG is established for an initial six-year period and is
hosted by CIRAD in Paris. Dr. Bram Huijsman from Wageningen UR (the
Netherlands) is President of ECART's Members Assembly. Vice-President
is Dr. Alice Perlini from IAO (Italy). Daily management and contact
person is with the ECART Director, Dr. Christian Hoste from CIRAD
(France).
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