On March 26, 2025, during the “Nutrition for Growth” (N4G) Summit, representatives of France and CGIAR signed the CGIAR/France Action Plan. This partnership is designed to accelerate progress in reducing poverty and gender inequality, addressing food insecurity and malnutrition, and preserving natural resources and biodiversity for sustainable agriculture.
The Action Plan was signed by key government officials from France, including the Minister Delegate for Francophonie and International Partnerships, the Minister for Higher Education and Research, and the Minister for Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. CGIAR’s Executive Managing Director also signed the agreement, highlighting the commitment to transforming global food systems through science, research, and policy initiatives.
The updated Action Plan builds upon an initial agreement established in 2021, expanding efforts to strengthen CGIAR’s ongoing research in agricultural and rural development across the Global South. The renewed partnership will enhance collaboration between France’s agricultural research institutions and CGIAR, supporting training and capacity-building initiatives to improve food security and climate resilience in vulnerable regions.
This initiative aims to reinforce CGIAR’s role within France’s international science diplomacy strategy while positioning the partnership prominently on the global stage. It aligns with major international forums, including France’s upcoming presidency of the G7 and the Africa-France summit in 2026. These events will serve as key opportunities to highlight the collaborative efforts in advancing sustainable agriculture, agroecology, and nutrition.
As the host country of CGIAR, France reaffirms its commitment to maintaining Montpellier as an international hub for agricultural research and development. The Action Plan underscores France’s role as a key funder of agricultural research focused on food security, climate adaptation, and poverty reduction. By fostering greater cooperation between French research institutions, CGIAR, and local organizations in the Global South, the plan seeks to drive scientific innovation and policy solutions to address the most pressing agricultural challenges.
The agreement also aligns with CGIAR’s broader 2030 Research and Innovation Strategy, which seeks to engage a diverse network of partners in reimagining global food systems. The strategy emphasizes reducing hunger and malnutrition, creating economic opportunities for women and youth, and promoting sustainable livelihoods for rural farmers. Through targeted research and policy engagement, CGIAR and France aim to make agricultural systems more resilient to climate change while ensuring food security for future generations.
By reinforcing these commitments, the CGIAR/France Action Plan represents a major step toward building more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems worldwide.
