level, which are adapted to site-specific conditions, are available from traditional and modern knowledge. However, besides disseminating this information efficiently, a conducive environment must be created for these technologies to be adopted. Long-term land-use rights for owners and leaseholders, risk reduction measures that include safety nets and credit and saving schemes, and profitability of recommended technologies are prerequisites for their adoption. Participatory land-use and land-management planning that organizes access to and use of land and adequate pricing policies and employment opportunities outside agriculture may ease pressure on land and promote the investments required for more sustainable land use. Developing and implementing national action plans under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will help combat land degradation through coordinated approaches.

6. AKST can capitalize on the rich biodiversity existing in CWANA, but it also has to counteract the threat that agriculture poses to biodiversity. Given the global changes occurring, particularly climate change, the rich biodiversity in CWANA may gain importance in crop and livestock breeding. Furthermore, markets capitalizing on biodiversity as a source of food, herbal remedies and income are gradually emerging. Strategies for conserving biodiversity include different means of in situ and ex situ conservation. Agricultural practices in ecoagriculture such as agroforestry, compensation areas and biodiversity-enhancing landscape elements and adequate land-use planning including the creation and maintenance of protected areas help conserve biodiversity. Establishing and strengthening gene banks may simultaneously allow capitalizing on biodiversity by using genes from wild relatives of crop species and neglected landraces and supporting their conservation. Implementing National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) developed through the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) may facilitate biodiversity conservation as well as making use of this treasure in CWANA.

7. Numerous approaches to mitigate and adapt to climate change are available, but further research is needed to tackle the differing challenges that CWANA subregions will face. Conservation agriculture, improved rangeland management and adaptations in rice cultivation as well as improved feeding of ruminants and improved manure management may substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and possibly increase carbon sequestration in CWANA. Research regarding adaptation to climate change will need particular focus on pest and disease management (resistance, forecasting and modeling, IPM) and the introduction of adapted crops and varieties. Erosion control, floodwater management and ways to cope with saltwater intrusion will probably have to receive additional attention, and efficient management of scarce water becomes even more important. Developing capacity may be required to successfully face the challenges ahead and may also help in benefiting from the Flexible Mechanisms included in the Kyoto Protocol (e.g., the Clean Development Mechanism).

8. CWANA has great opportunities to strengthen and reorient capacity development. Agricultural education,

research and extension will need to reorient the currently technology-focused approach to holistic and integrative systems approaches. Higher consideration of socioeconomic aspects and introduction of participatory approaches, including acknowledging the important role of women in agriculture, are required to respond to the real questions of farmers, markets and consumers, and may strengthen local ownership. Value-chain management and risk reduction are important topics for CWANA to strengthen in AKST. Blending local knowledge with modern science may bring novel technologies and approaches to the fore. Education, research and extension may greatly benefit from modern technologies (GIS, simulation modeling, expert systems, etc.) and from improved knowledge management. Links and collaboration between education, research, extension and farmers as well as the interaction with the private sector may make AKST more efficient and effective. AKST impact monitoring and evaluation allow for continued priority setting and sound strategy development.

9. Information and communication technologies (ICT) will allow capitalizing to a greater extent on the wealth of information and knowledge available for AKST. Besides improving information and knowledge sharing, exchange and dissemination through ICT infrastructure development and Internet connectivity, modern technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS), simulation modeling and expert systems make better use of existing information. Investments in ICT infrastructure and capacity development together with adequate information policies will allow sharing, exchanging and disseminating traditional and modern information and knowledge, thus strengthening links among AKST stakeholders in education, research, extension and production. This may reduce duplication of research activities and enable stakeholders in AKST systems to make use of the latest technologies. Access to up-to-date market information can assist decision making at various levels. Investments in ICT will narrow the digital divide gap between rich and poor people.

10. Improving market organization may help reduce postharvest losses and contribute substantially to poverty alleviation and development in CWANA. Only if market organization in CWANA countries is improved may the stakeholders in agricultural value chains fully capitalize on increased agricultural production. Producers, processors and traders need access to credits, markets (e.g., by closing the gap between rural areas and urban centers) and reliable market information, particularly in view of more diversified and market-oriented production. Appropriate technologies and infrastructure are required for well-functioning value chains. Processing facilities at different levels may substantially reduce postharvest losses, and together with the development of agribusiness provide additional income along the value chain, particularly if diversified production (with more focus on nonstaples) targets newly emerging market opportunities (organic products, supermarkets, etc.). Vertical integration and professional value-chain management facilitate quality and safety management at relevant levels and foster compliance with newly emerging standards.