Seven ways to turn science into action: Insights from CGIAR’s flagship report development process

In the face of climate change, environmental degradation and growing inequality, the need for actionable, science-backed solutions has never been more urgent. Enter CGIAR’s flagship report, an ambitious effort aimed at translating decades of groundbreaking research into tangible solutions —those that decision-makers, farmers, and governments alike can implement to ensure they adapt and thrive.

The CGIAR flagship report series will not be another set of documents filled with jargon and statistics. Over the coming years, the series will develop into a roadmap, carefully crafted in plain language to help decision makers tackle the complex challenges of food security and sustainability. And, unlike reports that might sit on shelves or prop up computer monitors or wobbly tables, this is designed for the user—policy makers, researchers, and agricultural leaders from Low- and Middle-Income Countries—those whose lives and livelihoods depend on the translation of science into action.

Collaboration: at the heart of the process

The development of this report reflects the very ethos of CGIAR—collaboration and partnership. So that the report is not just another well-intentioned but disconnected document, we have turned to the true experts—stakeholders who would ultimately be using it. We are engaging with government officials, private sector leaders, and scientific minds from across the globe to truly understand what they need from science. And what is holding us back from implementing innovations.

As one stakeholder put it, “We face urgent global challenges, but the solutions are often unclear. We need evidence that is accessible and aligned with our national agendas.”

Every aspect of report design has been guided by the advice of decision-makers. This collaborative spirit is shaping a report series that is user-focused, practical, and forward-thinking.

Lessons learned: what decision-makers want from science

So far, seven important insights have emerged—they are imperatives for how all of us can turn science into action:

1. Decision-makers crave clarity and pragmatism: Too often, reports provide abstract theory when what is needed are practical solutions. Stakeholders want clear, concise steps that can be applied immediately, without wading through technical jargon. “Give us specifics, not abstractions,” one participant insisted, and that mantra is guiding the tone of the first report. A recurring theme has been the need to “democratize information.” Science that sits on hard drives does nothing for the farmer or the policy advisor trying to make quick decisions. The report will distill complex scientific findings into straightforward, usable information, with easy-to-understand language, links to implementation tools, and a focus on real-world application.
2. National contexts matter: For science to truly be impactful, it must align with a country’s strategies. As one government official noted, “scientists need to understand the system our government is operating in and respond to our needs, not just global ones.” The Flagship Report will show innovations and recommendations that are relevant for national priorities.
3. Building trust is key to action: A private sector leader from Malawi explained that, “trust is everything. We came together as value-chain players, scientists, and governments, and that’s when real progress happened.” Without trust, there is no collaboration—and without collaboration, no solution can be implemented effectively.
4. Partnerships drive progress: The report highlights the need for ongoing collaboration across sectors. Stakeholders from governments and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) alike emphasized that CGIAR’s greatest successes have come when different groups come together. “Open and ongoing partnership forums have been essential to our success,” shared one participant. Partnerships must continue to be the backbone of CGIAR’s work moving forward.
5. Interactive tools make science real: It’s not enough to present data and hope it gets used. Stakeholders want interactive tools that help them visualize scenarios and explore trade-offs. We need to make science not just theoretical, but vivid, actionable and immediate.
6. Storytelling is a powerful tool: Throughout the consultation process it became clear that stories matter. They have the power to move people in ways that data alone cannot. The flagship report is tapping into this power, showing real-world examples of where CGIAR and partner science has made a tangible difference. These stories provide a blueprint for taking solutions to scale.
7. Implementation requires continual engagement: It does not end with a report. Effective science demands ongoing engagement to maintain alignment with the real-world. One stakeholder described CGIAR’s International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) advancing policy in Rwanda as, “aligning research priorities to the national strategy, helping deliver the strategy, and being available to provide agile responses to information requests when urgent needs arise.” We must provide not only data and innovations but also implementation tools, capacity building, and continual responsiveness to ensure science translates into action.

A call to action – with the steps to follow

We have been told that the flagship report needs to go beyond reflecting CGIAR’s past—it needs to be a call to action for the future. By turning science into practical solutions, by continuing to engage in meaningful partnerships, and by ensuring that our work is tailored to the needs of those on the frontlines, we can meet the challenges decision-makers face head-on.

When CGIAR’s firstflagship report is delivered in the coming months, it will offer decision-makers resources they need to navigate an uncertain future. But more than that, it will demonstrate what is possible when science is not just observed, but applied—when research leaves the hard drive, and enters the field, where it can make a real difference.

—

 Blog by Julianne Biddle, Lead Researcher, CGIAR Flagship Report; and Adam Hunt, Senior Content Advisor, CGIAR. We would like to thank all funders who support this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund, and the special support for this project from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with GIZ. Image: Farmers analyze data and experiment with growing corn. By Attasit saentep