In September 2020, ACIAR initiated a new research program—Climate Change—to focus on an issue that represents an acute threat to global food security and successful poverty eradication. ACIAR already has supported and brokered research that aims to build adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability of smallholder agricultural systems to climate change.

Improving agricultural water management through innovative technical and policy approaches. The Water Program (formerly the Water and Climate Program) addresses the challenge of efficient, sustainable water use to support agricultural production in a context of increasingly uncertain climate, competition from other sectors and declining water quality. The program works to improve agricultural water management through innovative technical and policy approaches under three main themes:

Introducing conservation agriculture Soil and Land Management Program aims to help smallholders boost productivity through sustainable use of limited resources in a changing climate. Ensuring that agricultural production is sustainable—and benefits smallholder farmers—is a key challenge for long-term food security.

Putting people at the centre of agricultural research-for-development The Social Sciences Program takes a people-centred approach to agricultural research for development to reduce poverty. Particular emphasis is placed on research on gendered social relations to ensure equitable development for women and men. Other demographic issues such as age, education, income, assets, and distance to market are considered in project design.

Developing more productive, profitable and sustainable livestock systems The Livestock Systems Program brokers research partnerships to develop more productive, profitable and sustainable livestock systems for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. The program takes a holistic view of livestock systems, looking at animal health and production technologies within the broader sociocultural, gender, policy and economic contexts. Animal welfare and gender-sensitive approaches are central themes.

Scientific support to establish, manage and sustainably use forests The Forestry Program contributes to conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources to establish, manage and sustainably use forests. This provides social, economic and environmental benefits to partner countries and Australia.

Improving food security and farmers’ livelihood through productive and sustainable crops The Crops Program aims to increase the productivity and sustainability of major crops by exploring improved varieties and new crop management methods. The program is built on two complementary themes of genetics and sustainable intensification and diversification.

Improving livelihoods from productive aquatic farming systems and sustainable fisheries The Fisheries Program brokers research partnerships to improve food security and fishers’ livelihoods through productive aquatic farming systems and sustainable wild-catch fisheries. It aims to improve human health and wellbeing by making food systems and policies more nutrition-sensitive.

Improving fruit, vegetable and ornamental crop production The Horticulture Program aims to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of fruit, vegetable, ornamental and beverage crops in developing countries to improve livelihoods and deliver, safe nutritious food.