Global Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation

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Global Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation

• Research Capacity-Building in the Agricultural
  Sector The Case of Colombia

Fernando ChaparroKnowledge Management
CenterUniversity del Rosario
Washington, The World Bank-Interamerican
Development BankFebruary 13-15, 2007
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Some Basic Policy Issues

• 1. From emphasis on Research (and Research
  Capacity-Building) to an emphasis on Innovation
  (and Innovation Capacity-Building). What does
  this mean?
• 2. Shift in emphasis does NOT mean that Research
  is not important. But (a) it is not enough
  (b) the question is, WHAT DRIVES RESEARCH and
  who sets the Agenda.
• 3. Can developing countries rely on imported
  technology to solve their problems? In some
  cases yes. But in other cases I will contend no.
  Example Orphan crops, or solution of prod.
  pr.
• 4. How can we strike a balance between Research
  and Innovation, and how can we assure that the
  first one leads to the second one? Specially if
  Poverty and Sustainable Development are our
  objectives. What new Skills are needed?

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Phases in Research Capacity-Building
Building-up a Research Infrastructure
Increasing Scientific Productivity
Strengthening Capacity to Innovate (Impact)
Ind. Scientific Publications
Human Resources
Adoption,Improved Practices, Trad. Knowledge,
Increased Yields
Tech. Gray Litterature
Graduate Training Ph.D.
Patents other IPRs
INNOVATION
Research Groups Networks
Socio-Econ. Impact Productivity Employment
Income Well-being (Human Dev.)
Seeds, Varieties Tech. Packages
TRIs and Centers of Excellence
Know-How Personal Knowledge
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In shifting emphasis from Research to Innovation,
Some Fundamental Changes

• 1. Nature of Technology Research Centers is
  changing.
• 2. There is a very important process of
  Institutional Learning that is taking place,
  both within TRCs, as well as at the level of
  Innovation Systems (Regional).
• 3. The Science Environment has changed
  significantly.
• 4. The Globalization of Science is opening up new
  possibilities through Global Knowledge Networks,
  but this also poses a challenge to Developing
  Countries of how to participate in them, and be
  able to tap them.
• 5. New forms of Research and Innovation
  Partnerships are emerging (Regional Mechanisms
  are one).

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A new type of Technology Research Institute
(TRIs) is emerging

• A shift has taken place in Colombia from large,
  Public TRIs, to smaller TRIs based on a
  Public/Private partnership.
• Previously Public TRIs covered large production
  sectors (agriculture, industry, fisheries,
  mining), fully supported by the State (100
  core budget support).
• Gradually replaced by smaller, sub-sectorial
  TRIs, with some support from the State through
  Competitive Funding, but with a significant
  contribution from the national private sector.
  Some Para-fiscal funding mechanisms
  (commodities).
• Not only research, but emphasis on technological
  services and access to technology, through
  insertion in Expert Systems and Global Knowledge
  Networks (mix).
• Two examples ICPIC (yesterday) and CENIACUA.

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Two examples of Institutional Learning in TRIs in
the Agricultural sector

• 1. CENIACUA A new type of Technology Research
  Center based on a Public/Private partnership.
• 2. CORPOICA The evolution of a large public
  research institute based on a process of
  institutional learning of how to operate.
• In both cases an interesting process has taken
  place of
• Integration into Regional Innovation Systems
  (local).
• Insertion in Global Knowledge Networks.

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1.
C E N I A C U A
Laboratorio de CENIACUA Punta Canoas / Cartagena
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• In 1955 the Taura virus nearly destroyed shrimp
  culture in Colombia.
• Almost 50 of shrimp production was lost (76
  deathrate in ponds).

C E N I A C U A

• CENIACUA was established, and working with
  ACUANAL a Research Program was designed, placing
  emphasis on Genetic Improvement.

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A new variety of shrimp resistant to Taura was
developed, in alliance with Universities
Centers of Excellence

• Resistant to the Taura Virus
• 1996 survival rate increased 30 with respect
  to 1993-94, when Taura started.
• 2006 75 survival rate.

C E N I A C U A

• Resistant to WSSV
• Negative genetic correlation between survival to
  WSSV and growth.

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Impact of Research Program
C E N I A C U A
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Survival rate in ponds in the last 16 years
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2000-2005 Evolution of Shrimp Prices (US/Kg.)
(June 2000 February 2005)
In the last 4 years shrimp prices have decreased
by more than 50.
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2. CORPOICA
Four Key Elements in new Research Strategy,
developed through a Learning Process
1. Participatory Research, involving the
producer in the research and innovation
process. 2. The objective is to generate new
business, either large agrobusiness, or rural
SMEs for small producers. This shifts attention
from a technological to a business
objective. 3. Strategic Research, in order to
focus on key areas in which a strong expertise
has to be developed (New Technologies). 4. The
TRI alone cannot do the trick. It has to operate
as part of Regional Innovatoion Systems, and
become part of Global Knowledge Networks.
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Potatoe
Tecnology
Impacts
C O R P O I C A
New Varieties (i.e. Milenia 1)

• The use of certified seeds increased from 1 to
  8
• Substitution of 750 ha of Páramos dedicated to
  seed production through traditional means
• Increased yields from 17 ton/ha to 40 ton/ha
  (average)
• Reduction of 52 in production costs
• 15.000 has with CORPOICA seeds.
• Target 30.000 Has
• 1. 500 potatoe growers being reached.

Clean Seeds derived from Biotechnological
processes
Biological Pest Controls (Baculovirus) increase
sustainability
New agricultural and soil management practices,
improved water management
Organization of potatoe growers and training
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Production of Clean High Quality Seeds
Biotechnology leads to new Rural Enterprises
managed by local small producers
Use of Biotechnology (micropropagation) leads to
the production of clean material in plantain,
casava and ñame, these being orphan crops.
A technology was developed for the production of
super élite seeds in greenhouses (invernad.)
Scaling-up 1- Management Training 2- Market
Information ICT 3- Credit, leads to Rural
Enterprises.
Through Participatory Research (PR), a
technology was developed for multiplication of
high quality seeds.
Through PR, a technology was developed for the
production of micorrizas arbusculares (MA)
Through PR, technology developed for the
production of Biological Pest Controls
(bioinsumos).
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High Quality Clean Seeds
Biotechnology empowered small producers to create
Technology-Intensive Rural Enterprises for the
production of Clean Seeds.
65 local Innovation Groups ? Participatory
Research ? Technology Social Innovation
14 Technology-Intensive Rural Enterprises
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Two other Biotechnological Products
Biofertilizers and Biological Pest Controllers
Inoculants based on Rhizobium that can substitute
nitrogen fertilizers in legumes ? 20.000 has.
Biofertilizers
Biofertilizers based in Mycorhizae that can
substitute phosphorous fertilizers ? 6 regional
production plants established. Production
Capacity 60 tons/year/plant.
Product development, plant design and
construction, and establishment of strategic
alliance for scaling-up and production of
Baculovirus (biological control of Tuber
Moth of potatoes) ? 15 tons / month
Biological Pest Controls
Pre-commercial development of Beauveria
bassiana control of White Weevil in
potatoes Verticillium lecanii control of
White Flies in crops Trichoderma koningii
control of Fusarium Rhizoctonia in
horticultural crops Metarhizium anisopliae
for the control of Lepidopterons.
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Strategic Alliances between Small Producers and
Agrobusiness
Caribbean Foods
Daabon
TBFs
Grupo Empresarial Bavaria
Local Innovation Groups (ICTs)
TBFs
CONTEGRAL
Delichicks
TBFs
SUNISA
Integration into Agroindustrial Chains
COLAGO
McCAIN CONGELAGRO
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Integration into Regional Innovation Systems and
GK Networks

• 1. Part of the Learning Process has been to
  integrate into Regional Innovation Systems
• Technical Training of persons for industry.
• Access to credit
• Commercialization and Technology Market
  Intelligence.
• 2. Another important dimension of the Learning
  Process has been to learn how to tap and use
  Global Knowledge Networks or Expert Systems
• CGIAR (Consultative Gr. on International Agric.
  Research)
• GFAR (Global Forum on Agricultural Research)
• Commodity Chains and Associations, regionally or
  globally
• Scientific Networks of various types
• Others.

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• Thank you!!!

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Implications of these trends for Research
Capacity Building

• 1. A significant part of agricultural research is
  shifting from the traditional experimental
  stations to
• The laboratory.
• On-farm research and creation of Innovation
  Groups.
• 2. These leads to the increasing importance of
  strategic alliances with universities and Centers
  of Excellence, nationally and globally.
• 3. Emphasis on Innovation means that the
  expertise required is not limited to the
  scientific dimension (production technologies),
  but very much to the social, market and
  management expertise required to establish
  enterprises. A business-orientation is required.
  Capacity to develop Strategic Alliances.

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Implications of these trends for Research
Capacity Building (cont.)

• 4. Key role being played by the New Technologies
• Biotechnology
• Information and Communication Technology (ICTs)
• 5. Change in Organizational Culture in
  agricultural research centers is required.
• 6. Knowledge Management, and use of Expert
  Systems to access Knowledge globally, becomes
  crucial.
• 7. Funding Strategies for Research is changing.
  Getting away from Core Budget support to
  Competitive Funding Schemes. A Strategic View
  is required.
• 8. Impact is measured by Innovation, not Tech.
  Products.