NL CGIAR info session on the Scaling for Impact Program organized by the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP)

The Hague, Netherlands - March 4, 2025 

The CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program aimsto accelerate the widespread use of research-based innovations by supporting CGIAR, its partners and investors to design, finance, and implement scaling efforts to achieve lasting impact. On March 4, 2025, a hybrid meeting in The Hague co-hosted by the Netherlands Food Partnership(NFP) brought together stakeholders from government, academia, the private sector, and civil society. The discussion focused on strengthening collaboration to scale agricultural innovations in a way that is both local and sustainable.

Fostering Global Partnerships for Sustainable Food Systems

The event underscored the Netherlands Food Partnership's (NFP) dedication to supporting Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) in developing sustainable food systems that benefit the economy, society, and the environment. Through the NL-CGIAR Strategic Partnership, CGIAR innovation and scaling work is being strategically funded and co-developed with Dutch and global stakeholders, ensuring that innovations achieve real-world impact. Examples include efforts to guide CGIAR in achieving impact at scale with the private sectorand collaboration on the design of novel scaling tools such as Scaling Readinessand GenderUp.

Key Takeaways from the Event

Following a brief introduction of the CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program by CGIAR SeniorAdvisor onInnovationPortfolio Management Advisor Dr. Marc Schut, a lively discussion emerged.

Key insights included: 

• Scaling must be embedded in context-specific agrifood innovation ecosystems - Many projects focus too narrowly on research-driven scaling. This makes them unsustainable when external funding ends. Scaling initiatives must integrate community leadership, financial mechanisms, and government alignment altogether to make them effective. 

• A shift from structured to adaptive problem-solving - The assumption of pre-defined solutions needs to stop. Scaling strategies must be created to be open-ended and responsive to the (changing) needs of local farmers and food system actors, as well as the socio-political climate in which food systems are embedded.. 

• Cultural and social integration is critical - Local dietary habits, gender roles, and community engagement significantly influence the success of food security interventions. CGIAR is embracing 'responsible scaling' as a compass to guide its scaling efforts.

• Long-term investment is essential - Studies show that agricultural innovations require 10-15 years to achieve widespread adoption. This necessitates sustained financial and institutional support. CGIAR aimsto manage its portfolio along such long-term impact pathways, ensuring continuity for innovations that can change the game.

• Farmers as co-creators of innovation - Engaging farmersor other innovation usersdirectly in crop breeding and technology development dramatically improves adoption rates. Such user-centredapproaches are gaining traction in CGIAR and there is a growing team of experts that support innovation alignment with user needs and capabilities.

Actionable Next Steps

As a result of the discussions, the CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program identified several key action areas: 

• Strengthen collaboration on demand intelligence to ensure agricultural solutions align with real-world needs. Several Dutch partners mentioned methods and tools that can support CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program.

• Facilitate South-South knowledge-sharing to scale up effective food security solutionsby participating in each others'learning events, sharefairsand (virtual) field-tours, as well as join forces on designing and implementing scaling projects and interventions.. 

• Dutch organizations expressed interest to joining or being part of the Regional Scaling Hubs(such as the one recently established in Nairobi) Expand partnerships with the Nairobi Scaling Hub to to support and better collaborate on ongoing scaling efforts. 

• Organize joint innovation and scaling training for the recently appointed next cohort of 22 senior Senior expertsExperts who are senior researchers affiliated with Dutch research institutions will have the opportunity to contribute to CGIAR innovation and scaling work.. 

The event included   a wide range of stakeholders. Among them were representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wageningen University, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Oxfam Novib, the Global Center on Adaptation, and CGIAR research institutions. 

CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program

The CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program(S4I)is a flagship program designed to optimize scaling pathways, integrate local expertise, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable food system solutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The program recognizes that traditional research-driven projects often fail to achieve large-scale impact due to gaps in implementation, funding, and local engagement. The Scaling for Impact program is working to create an enabling environment by bringing multi-stakeholders together.  It will set up the perfect atmosphere where agricultural innovations can move from pilot phases to widespread adoption. 

At the core of Scaling for Impact Program's approach is demand signaling, ensuring that scaling strategies are aligned with the actual needs of farmers and food system actors. The program also focuses on capacity-building through partnerships with scaling hubs, fostering a culture of shared learning, and creating financial mechanisms to sustain innovations beyond project cycles. 

As CGIAR and its partners push the boundaries of research-driven impact, Scaling for Impact remains a critical approach in transforming agricultural systems. By building robust, collaborative ecosystems for scaling, the program ensures that sustainable food solutions reach millions of farmers and communities worldwide. This will secure food production for generations to come. More information on the entire CGIAR 2025-2030 Portfolio can be found here: https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-porfolio-2025-2030/.