CGIAR appoints new Director

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has announced the appointment of Chinese researcher Ren Wang as director of its global network of 15 research centres.

Wang was selected as Director of CGIAR following an extensive international search. He has served for the last seven years as Deputy Director General for Research at the CGIAR-supported International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, where he developed new collaborative initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia and managed IRRI programmes in 14 countries.

"Dr. Wang has a deep understanding of the strategic contribution of the CGIAR's scientific expertise in helping rural communities, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve sustainable growth in agricultural productivity," said Katherine Sierra, Chair of CGIAR and Vice President of the World Bank's Sustainable Development Network.

Wang was quoted as saying, "For a scientist committed to seeing agricultural science improve the lives of the world's poorest people, it's hard to imagine a higher honor than serving as CGIAR Director. I look forward to supporting our thousands of scientists and staff in their efforts to enhance food production around the world in the face of immense global challenges."

In addition to his work with IRRI, Wang has made important contributions in shaping China's internationally renowned agriculture research services. He was Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), where he was the point person for China's partnership with the CGIAR. He also helped foster an unprecedented level of cooperation with Japan in agriculture through the establishment of the Sino-Japan Center for Sustainable Agriculture at CAAS.

Wang holds a PhD in entomology from Virginia Polytechnic and State University, both in the US.

As a researcher, he pioneered a programme for biological control of exotic pests in China and later promoted integrated pest management initiatives internationally from various posts.

The CGIAR was created in 1971 and now has more than 8,500 scientists and staff working in over 100 countries, addressing every critical component of agriculture. Such sectors include agroforestry, biodiversity, food, forage and tree crops, pro-environment farming techniques, fisheries, forestry, livestock, food policies and agricultural research services.

IITA