In this issue of GCP News, we present our latest resource – a series of crop- and region-specific socio-economic studies to complement and also inform crop improvement research. These evidence-based studies go beyond crop science and evaluate the social and economic characteristics of developing world farming systems by region and crops, in order to best meet farmer needs. Which interventions will have the greatest impact where? The studies are an essential planning and decision-making tool for all in agricultural research and development. 

For an overview of the four studies, we invite you to visit the Socio-economics homepage.

The articles below include direct links to both a website and – where available – a high-level brief on each of the studies.

1) Targeting and impact analysis of Generation Challenge Programme (GCP) technologies
Through the compilation of multiple datasets, this study determined areas in the developing world experiencing the highest levels of poverty, poorest crop yields, and greatest susceptibility to drought. From the study, 15 regions were identified as high-priority focal areas for future GCP research (see Study 2b below, Getting the focus right: Food crops and smallholder constraints).

• Website
• Brief

2) Getting the focus right:
a) Beyond drought-tolerant maize : study of additional priorities in maize
A pilot study was commissioned to determine production constraints specific to maize. More

b) Food crops and smallholder constraints
Building on both Study 1 and Study 2a above, this study determined the main production constraints across 14 of the 15 high-priority regions identified by Study 1. A list of potential solutions was also formulated.

• Website
• Brief

3) Ex-ante impact analysis of marker-assisted selection technologies supported by the Generation Challenge Programme
In order to better understand the economics of marker-assisted breeding (MAB), researchers of this study gathered information on crop yields, farmer adoption rates, market prices, cultivated land area, breeding times, input prices, costs of development, and more. These extensive data are a firm foundation for computing the net present value (NPV, ie, future benefits less future costs) of using MAB rather than phenotypic selection.

• Website
• Brief

4) From attractiveness to feasibility: A strategic assessment of the capacity to develop and adopt GCP technologies (in progress)
To complement the aforementioned socio-economic studies which have identified priority farming systems for GCP investments, this study takes a different perspective, examining the extent to which a given region can adapt and adopt such technological advances, to ensure that GCP efforts achieve maximum results. In this way, the study seeks to identify capacity issues and determine whether GCP technologies are both attractive and feasible for end-users. Commissioned in 2008, this study is still in progress. More

For previous issues of GCP News, see http://www.generationcp.org/enewsletter.php

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