From Food Production to Food Security - Global Environmental ...

Box 5 Mapping stakeholder interests in a GEC/food security research.A major emphasis of GECAFS regional research planning has been the identification of a range ofstakeholder groups in each region and the clear mapping of their respective interests in relation to theoverall endeavour. Figure 4 maps the key interests of a number of different southern Africanstakeholder groups in relation to a fundamental GEC/food security question.The two key collaborative organizations in this example are (i) the International Council for ScienceRegional Office for Africa (ICSU-ROA), which helps link the science and development agencies withpolicy-makers; and (ii) the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network(FANRPAN), which helps link the development agencies, policy-makers and resource managers(principally farmers).Figure 4 Key interests of a number of different southern African stakeholder groups in relation to afundamental GEC/food security questionThird, given national agendas and institutional mandates, it can be hard to identify achampion for regional studies who is able to devote the necessary time to lobbying donorsand strategic partners. The importance of this aspect cannot be underestimated, as the need to‘persuade’ donors not only of the value in what they might see as ‘high risk’ studies, but alsoits new research concepts (i.e. the food system, vis-à-vis agriculture) as underpinning foodsecurity, takes a great deal of time and energy.Fourth, research results will only be realized after a few years. This is because mostresearchers in the food security domain are trained in agricultural issues, and there is a needfor a new cadre of researchers to become conversant with food security concepts and foodsystem analysis. Next, the food system(s) need describing and how, where and when they are102