ÌÇÐÄVlog

Issues

Working together to tackle numerous challenges

Like many parts of the world, the Indian Ocean region faces numerous constraints, which are made more acute by its island geography. These challenges significantly impact agriculture, a sector that is vital to the economy of the region and of the five Member States of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), particularly in terms of jobs and activities generated.
These constraints are varied, stemming from: global changes (climate change, biodiversity loss, increased health risks, and so on), which cause major production losses and, during health crises, limit inter-island trade; growing food demand driven by rapid population growth; differences in standards and regulations between countries in the region, which hinder trade; and persistent food insecurity and poverty in some territories.
The Indian Ocean faces major challenges that will be crucial in shaping the years ahead. Addressing them will mean supporting countries – where needed – to improve their food sovereignty and to organise food security at the regional level, by building an economy based on the complementarity of agricultural sectors and geographical proximity.
In terms of health, the current crisis is a stark reminder of the urgent need for a paradigm shift and underscores the importance of strengthening  existing networks such as One Health* and PRPV*, which have already played a key role in past and ongoing crises. The ecological transition calls for sustained efforts to protect and enhance our biodiversity and agrobiodiversity, within the framework of a responsible and sustainable tropical bioeconomy. Finally, agroecology must become a driver of sustainability.

Description

The goals of PRéRAD-OI are to:

•    Serve as a unique tool for regional agricultural cooperation in the Indian Ocean, supporting and promoting research, innovation and training, a trio that is essential to create rewarding partnerships;
•    Develop a structured, integrated and participatory approach to regional cooperation that encourages and facilitates research, innovation and training, in order to enhance the visibility and contribution of national and regional agricultural research to the development of the region and the reach of local expertise;
•    Contribute to regional strategies and programmes supported by the IOC by harnessing and promoting the knowledge, skills and tools developed; and to participate in their practical implementation through the provision of services, expertise and resources developed in the context of the platform.
Ultimately, the goal is to support the creation of a centre of excellence for agricultural research and innovation in the Indian Ocean overseas territories, particularly within the framework of smart specialisation strategies or other funding mechanisms aimed at launching umbrella projects.

Operational objectives to meet the goals set

Through the six thematic networks it supports and the projects they develop, PRéRAD-OI provides specific solutions that fully or partially address these challenges through research-based training and leading by example. It also conducts applied research to not only generate new knowledge, but also deliver both technological and non-technological innovations that the platform shares, thereby disseminating them throughout the economic sphere.

More specifically, PRéRAD-OI is committed to:

•    Facilitating the development and implementation of decision-support tools. An observatory of agriculture in the Indian Ocean is currently being designed, with its operational deployment planned as soon as possible. This observatory will support public policies in transforming the region’s diverse farming systems (which will be documented), particularly family farms. It will also conduct analyses and identify key leverage points for sizing and guiding inclusive investments to deliver greater impact in response to the challenges.
•    Supporting the six existing thematic networks and fostering the emergence and structuring of new networks on issues of strategic importance for the region. Since 2023, forward-looking missions have been conducted across the area on the valorisation of plant biomass for energy, with the goal of bringing together stakeholders around topics of shared interest.

•    Focusing on a tailored and distinctive communication approach, based on a unique visual identity, thereby facilitating the exchange and sharing of information and experience through dedicated digital media and social networks.

Through this approach, PRéRAD-OI is valuable:

•    To the platform’s partners themselves, who actively participate in the actions supported or facilitated by the platform and benefit significantly from the scaling up and enhancement of their expertise as well as their research and innovation capabilities within this framework, but also...
•    To all public and private stakeholders involved in the economic development of the territories concerned, in all their diversity: decision-makers, farmers, professional organisations, development agencies, researchers and teachers, as well as technical institutes that promote and disseminate knowledge.

Expected results

•    A network of key actors in the southwest Indian Ocean engaged in the expected transitions;
•    Better-informed partner institutions and the sharing of results and deliverables achieved over the period across a wide range of topics of shared interest to drive changes in practices;
•    Stronger capacities for stakeholders to face the challenges ahead;
•    New regional projects on key topics.