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The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is the apex continental organization responsible for coordinating and promoting agricultural research for development (AR4D). FARA serves as the technical arm of the African Union Commission for matters concerning agricultural science, technology and innovation.
FARA was conceived in the late 1990s by a group of committed champions, including both African scientists and enlightened aid officials, who believed in the potential of agriculture to lift the continent out of poverty, but realized that this would only be possible if weak countries and fragmented agricultural research systems could somehow be brought together and strengthened under a common banner. FARA was then created in 1997 by sub-regional organizations, including CORAF/WECARD, ASARECA and SADC-FANR, at the 17th plenary of the Special Program for Agricultural Research in Africa (SPAAR), a precursor organization to FARA, located within the World Bank.
FARA serves as an entry point for agricultural research initiatives in Africa designed to be continental or sub-continental in scope, covering more than one sub-region. Based in Accra, Ghana.