Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development - Research Module on Food Security


Achieving food security remains a global challenge. The SDC’s and the Swiss National Science Foundation’s (SNSF) joint r4d Program (Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development; www.r4d.ch) will promote research and innovation in agricultural and food systems to enhance food security in the context of global sustainable development. Researchers from Switzerland with their partners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America will jointly generate new insights and approaches that contribute to meet the global demand for food in an environmentally and socially sustainable way.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Agriculture & food security
Other
Agricultural research
Agricultural development
Agricultural policy
15.05.2013 - 30.09.2024
CHF  11’900’000
Background

One of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals includes the eradication of poverty and hunger and aims at halving the proportion of people suffering from hunger. Despite all efforts, food insecurity remains a serious concern in many parts of the world. The aim to meet the demand for food under a changing global context and in an environmentally and socially sustainable way implies new insight and innovative approaches with respect to food production, processes, distribution and access.

Objectives

Food security is enhanced through improved and innovative agriculture and conducive policy and regulatory frameworks

Target groups

 

  • Research community in Switzerland and developing countries.
  • Relevant stakeholders, which act to cause, facilitate or prevent change in the field of food security at global, regional, and national levels
  • Beneficiaries: societies in developing countries; poor, marginalized, vulnerable population groups.
  •  

    Medium-term outcomes

     

  • Research-based, socio-economic, political, and technological scientific contributions to meet the global demand for food in an environmentally and socially sustainable way are identified;
  • National and international stakeholders are involved in and informed about trade-offs and options for tackling food security at the global, regional and/or national level, and can make use of new approaches and tools;
  • Scientific competencies of researchers in dealing with sustainable agricultural production and innovation systems to improve global food security are enhanced.
  •  

    Results

    Results from previous phases:  

    The first two thematic r4d research modules (social conflicts and employment) as well as the first of three thematically open calls were successfully launched in 2012. The submitted proposals are currently being evaluated. The main evaluation criteria are scientific quality and development relevance.


    Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
    Credit area Development cooperation
    Project partners Contract partner
    Swiss Academic and Research Institution
    • Swiss National Science Foundation
    • Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)


    Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    11’900’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    11’890’000
    Project phases Phase 5 01.06.2014 - 30.09.2024   (Current phase) Phase 4 15.05.2013 - 30.09.2024   (Current phase) Phase 3 15.05.2013 - 30.09.2024   (Current phase) Phase 2 01.09.2012 - 30.09.2024   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.03.2012 - 30.09.2024   (Current phase)