Toward a Digital One CGIAR: Strategic research on digital transformation in food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis

The report examines how the global research consortium CGIAR is restructuring into “One CGIAR” to fully leverage digital technologies and data in transforming food, land, and water systems amid the climate crisis. Strategic research, led by the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture, involved 165 surveys with researchers and agricultural research-for-development stakeholders, 80 semi-structured interviews with experts from agribusiness, technology, and finance sectors, and 10 internal workshops. The study identifies four key digital intervention areas: responsible data sharing, responsible use of artificial intelligence, expansion of inclusive digital services, and strengthening digital trust and collective action. It also proposes an action plan to build capacity in digital leadership, governance, data management, digital skills, unified information infrastructure, and digital innovation strategy, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).