"The World and Japan" Database (Project Leader: TANAKA Akihiko)
Database of Japanese Politics and International Relations
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS); Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), The University of Tokyo

[Title] G20 Millets and other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative

[Place] Varanasi
[Date] April 19, 2023
[Source] G20 Secretariat
[Notes]
[Full text]

Agriculture Working Group

G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS)

Varanasi, India

17–19 April 2023

Millets and other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative

(MAHARISHI)


Annexure: I


We, under the auspices of a G20 MACS Global Research Collaboration Priority (GRCP), support the launch of the "Millets And OtHer Ancient GRains International ReSearcH Initiative (MAHARISHI)" to facilitate research collaboration on climate resilient and nutritious grains including Millets and other underutilized grains. This will supplement the efforts undertaken under the International Year of Millets 2023 (IYoM 2023) program initiated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Achieving impact across multiple grains is difficult due to dispersed efforts. To address this problem, a framework must be developed that can be applied to the grains under this initiative.

We underscore that any G20 member may voluntarily contribute funds, scientific expertise, and/or other resources to the initiative. The MAHARISHI intends to cooperate with public and private organizations, making efforts to advance research on these grains. In alignment with the G20 MACS guiding principles, this GRCP will be limited to two years, and a written report will be provided during the 2025 G20 MACS.

The activities of this effort may continue after 2025, but at this point, the activity should no longer be discussed, presented, or reported at the G20 MACS, except for any future stocktaking report.

Drawing upon the learnings from the Wheat Initiative, the MAHARISHI intends to pursue the following cost-effective activities, while striving to avoid duplication of existing efforts:

- Establish mechanisms to connect researchers and institutions working on identified grain crops to enhance the dissemination of research findings, and identify research gaps and needs. This will also include supporting open access publication of research results.

- Establish web platforms to connect researchers, exchange data, share communication products and thematic briefs to encourage research and information sharing in an open and accessible manner.

- Organize knowledge transfer, on voluntary and mutually agreed terms, capacitybuilding activities and international research workshops and conferences. These activities would endeavour to encourage researchers to work on these grains.

- Provide research and innovation prizes and/or awards to scientists to support and promote their research interests.

Implementation

The MAHARISHI secretariat will be based in the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad with technical support from International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), One CGIAR, International organisations (IOs) and research institutions.

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Varanasi, 19 April 2023