Asian Agricultural Technology: Spurring Innovation, Transfer, Adaptation, and Uptake

The United States Agency for International Development, Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA), is hereby issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for the anticipated - Asian Agricultural Technology Innovation and Transfer activity. The RFI offers the opportunity for interested individuals and organizations to provide recommendations on approaches for facilitating the creation and diffusion of agricultural technologies within the South and Southeast Asia regions. Stakeholders in the region, including farmers, policy-makers, researchers and the private sector, have identified technology transfer as holding great promise in addressing food security concerns in some of the poorest countries. The diversity across the region is an opportunity for stakeholders to learn from each other and share knowledge and materials across borders to provide improved tools for agricultural production and to reduce post-harvest loss, as well as stronger management systems, to their low-income farmers. As a regional mission, USAID/RDMA is well poised to facilitate action on this opportunity and spur innovation, adaptation, and diffusion throughout the region, with a focus on Feed the Future (FTF) countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Nepal). USAID/RDMA's Agricultural Learning Exchange for Asian Regional Networking (AgLEARN) ongoing activity has demonstrated some positive examples of technology adaptation and transfer. Using this as a foundation, the proposed activity will explore new pathways toward reaching the U.S. Government's FTF initiative goals of inclusive agricultural sector growth and improved nutrition. In responding to this RFI, significant emphasis should be placed on discrete and actionable interventions USAID/RDMA could take to support agricultural technology innovation, adaptation, and transfer.