Climate change, agriculture and food security: a global partnership to link research and action for low-income agricultural producers and consumers

To achieve food security for many in low-income and middle-income countries for whom this is already a challenge, especially with the additional complications of climate change, will require early investment to support smallholder farming systems and the associated food systems that supply poor consumers. We need both local and global policy-linked research to accelerate sharing of lessons on institutions, practices and technologies for adaptation and mitigation. This strategy paper briefly outlines how the Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) is working across research disciplines, organisational mandates, and spatial and temporal levels to assist immediate and longer-term policy actions.

► Food security under climate change requires early investment in smallholder farming & food systems.
► Local interventions need to be supported by national and global institutions.
► Useful research must cross disciplines, organisational mandates, spatial & temporal levels.
► CCAFS, a ten-year US$500 million global research alliance, seeks to integrate science & policy.