Report of the NGO Committee to CGIAR International Centers Week 1997

Report to ICW97 by the CGIAR NGO Committee which held its fifth meeting on October 24-25, 1997 in Washington D.C. during International Centers Week. The report describes Committee activities since MTM97, including the conclusions of a workshop on replenishing soil fertility in Africa which the committee sponsored with ICRAF and others. It describes visits to IITA and African NARS and NGOs, and to Latin America where consultations were held both in the Andean Region and for Latin America generally. Much of the document is a review of Chairman Altieri's views on biotechnology. The report also covers interaction with TAC on the selection of specialist panels on biotechnology, participation in the CGIAR System Review, and comments on impact assessment.The Chairman reported orally to ICW97, and this written version was circulated later.