Research for Sustainable Development in a Globalizing World Prof. Dr. Ir. Rudy Rabbinge Wageningen UR University Professor Sustainable Development & Food Security Contents 1. Development and the role of agriculture 2. Science & Technology and green revolutions 3. Mega-trends 4. Wageningen University & Research centre Its mission Its characteristics Its scope and approach Its organization Its position 1
Agriculture and economic development Almost all countries started their economic development with agricultural development R&D is kick-starting agricultural development Investing in agricultural R&D is investing in its own future Table 2. Returns to government investments in rural Uganda. Investment Benefit/cost ratio Reduction in numbers of poor per million shillings Agricultural research and extension 22.7 107.2 Education 2.7 12.8 Feeder roads 20.9 83.9 Murram roads n.s 40.0 Tarmac roads n.s. 41.4 Health 0.6 2.6 Agriculture and the industrial revolution At the end of the 19 th century, the (old) world faced for the first time large-scale agricultural competition Europe reacted in various ways Liberalization (England) Protection (Germany, France) Innovation (The Netherlands, Denmark) This still is reflected in national policies 2
Global food production 1960-2000 250 Production 230 Index value 210 190 170 150 130 110 Population Per capita production 90 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 Year Discontinuities in production trends (kg/ha) 4000 yield of paddy (Indonesia) 3000 2000 130 kg/ha per year 2,5 1000 year 1950 1960 1970 1980 Green revolutions 3
Achievements in Agriculture Food production per person increased by 30% over past 5 decades, despite doubling of population (kg/ha) 4000 Discontinuous productivity rise Major role for technology 3000 Fertilizers Variety improvement (rice, wheat, maize) Mechanization 2000 Irrigation Biocides Proper institutions in place 1000 yield of paddy (Indonesia) 130 kg/ha per year 2,5 1950 1960 1970 1980 year Food availability per caput Index 140 130 120 Asia S America 110 100 SS Africa 90 80 70 60 50 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Year Source: FAOstat 4
Role Science & Technology vital for 6 mega-trends Increased productivity per ha, per man-hour, per kg external input Character of agriculture is changing from skillfulness to industrialization Chain and chain management Multiple objectives for agriculture: food, environment, landscape, nature etc. From linear to participatory interactive knowledge model Food, nutrition, health Wageningen University & Research centre Created in 1997 in response to crisis Reformulated mission Changed character Mode of operation Organization Results 5
Mission To explore the potential of nature, to improve the quality of life Access to high quality food anywhere any time, to promote quality for life and improve livelihood, everywhere Characteristics Wageningen UR Third generation university 6
Trends in universities Medieval or First Generation University First Transition Period Humboldt or Second Generation University Second Transition Period Third Generation University J.G. Wissema Associates bv The Medieval (1G) University Abelard established dialectics and scholastic method First university in Bologna (1158), then Paris (1200), 20 by 1300 Faculties in theology, law, medicine and artes Organisation very much by Nations Rector, chancellor and General Assembly Loosely organised along individual teachers No research as we know it Objectives: enlightenment of the world and stimulation of obedience J.G. Wissema Associates bv 7
Characteristics of the Humboldt University Elite university (intellectually) Research is the main task and education is integrated with it Based on rationality, not authority Research is mono-disciplinary University becomes nationalistic; latin disappears as lingua franca; inter-university mobility ends Governance is by Senate (professors and doctors) and Supervisors, all part time jobs J.G. Wissema Associates bv Emerging: The 3G University and the know how carousel Private R&D institutions Scientific research and education Technostarters Know how carousel: the more elements, the more the others are reinforced. Synergy and scale create winners R&D departments of companies, Technoparks Financial infrastructure Professional support organisations J.G. Wissema Associates bv 8
Contours 3G University Cooperation: via know how carousel and other ways. The 3G University is a network university Addition of know how exploitation as third objective. Know how exploitation will be integrated with research and education Recovery of academic integrity End of direct government contribution Fundamental research from state grants/donations Applied research from industrial and state grants Education via market mechanism, students pay full fees and get support from state or other grants J.G. Wissema Associates bv Three partners in research and education Location Employees Wageningen University Wageningen DLO Wageningen, Lelystad, IJmuiden, Den Haag + 40 other locations Van Hall Larenstein University for prof. education Wageningen, Velp, Leeuwarden 2239 fte 2845 fte 416 fte Turn over 222 mll 322 mll 49 mll Students 4525 >1200 PhD 4342 Co-operation and synergy (vanaf 2004) Source: year report 2006 9
Scope and approach The entire chain Wageningen UR: Domain inspiration Health, Lifestyle, Livelihood Our domain: Healthy Food and Living Environment Food and Food Production Living Environment 10
The entire knowledge chain Research Fundamental research Strategic research Applied research Knowledge application University education i.c. Wageningen University Polytechnical i.c Van Hall-Larenstein Education Post experience training WI/WBS Innovation through cooperation Development skills and Technology Researchcenters and its partners Wageningen University and its partners Generating knowledge and education innvation Applying Research Applied research and VHL and its partners Society & sector 11
The entire chain Processing of waste Demand and needs Management Breeding stock Rural areas Sustainable environment Quality Production Product Consumption Logistics Integration Transformation The Wageningen approach: biological Planet Ecosystem Organism Cell technologies Products Gene/ Molecule 12
The Wageningen approach: biological and social Planet institutions Society Ecosystem Policy & limiting conditions Community Organism technologies Household Products Cell Individual Gene/ Molecule planet profit people Organisation Wageningen University & Research centre 13
Wageningen Education House 400 140 4,1% of dutch masters 2200 MSc 30% international > 1100 PhD 50% international 10% of Dutch PhD 90 Prof. masters 550 500 1.7% new dutch students 2300 BSc Wageningen University 67% MSc follow up VHL 90 4000 prof. Bachelor Van Hall Larenstein 50% green professional education 1200 The Graduate Schools of Wageningen UR Executive Board Van Hall Larenstein college Wageningen International Agro-technology & Food Sciences Group Animal Sciences Group WOT Units, RIKILT, CIDC- Environmental Sciences Social Sciences Group Plant Sciences Group Wageningen Lelystad Group Business School Programme leaders Wageningen Graduate Schools BSc and MSc studies Wageningen Graduate Schools are inter university schools 14
Position Wageningen UR Top science for Impact Wageningen UR Research Unique chain of knowledge From academic to applied Top 5: Plant & Animal Sci, Agricultral Sci & Ecology and environment (ESI) Top 100 universities (IHES) 15
Wageningen UR Research Unique chain of knowledge From university to applied Top 5 in our domains Top 100 universities Education Prof. bach. & masters, BSC, MSc & PhD Life long learning 10.000 students Wageningen UR Research Unique chain of knowledge From university to applied Top 5 in our domains Top 100 universities Education Prof. bach., BSC, MSc & PhD Life long learning 10.000 students 6000 faculty and staff Budget > 500 million Making science work (valorization) International orientation 16
International orientation Students and faculty from > 100 countries Strategy Wageningen UR Top Science for Impact Focus and mass Linking the entire research chain Innovating together Large initiatives and extensive themes To explore the potential of nature, to improve the quality of life 17
Thank you Wageningen UR 18