Dryland Cereals and Legumes Agri-Food Systems: Full Proposal 2017-2022

The CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Dryland Cereals and Legumes Agri-Food Systems (DCL AgriFood System or DCL) will contribute significantly to realize the goals laid out in the Strategic Results Framework. Through a broad partnership with seven GIAR Centers and numerous national and international collaborators DCL is uniquely positioned to serve the poorest in the drylands to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals before 2030. The twelve crops within DCL is a nutritionally dense basket of commodities critical for climate-smart agriculture and innovative food systems that deliver more nutrition per drop. DCL is focused on demand-driving innovation along the agri-food value chain that integrates with livestock and agroforestry to provide new economic opportunities, while improving the natural resource base and resilience in the drylands. Our focus is on smallholder farm families in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia where poverty levels are among the highest in the world, and the impact of climate change most acute. These challenges are exacerbated by weak institutions and policy environment to support equitable development; it is where challenges are the greatest that the best science, strategic partnerships and innovation systems need to be leveraged to improve livelihoods of the poorest, and ensure we all live within the ecological boundaries of the planet.