Powerful technologies are becoming an integral part of interdisciplinary research within the CGIAR. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) comprise one such technology. By linking geo-referenced data to digital maps, it opens up a whole new range of opportunities for integrating diverse information. Users can more readily see and understand interrelationships between, for example, urban and rural areas, markets, crop production, deforestation, and soil erosion. They can develop more realistic models and monitor more accurately. Ultimately, the improved understanding of the landscape strengthens strategies and activities in natural resource management, agricultural development, land change analysis, and ecological studies.

The CGIAR chain of international research centers embraced GIS over a decade ago; in May 1999, they formed the Consortium for Spatial Information (CSI) which connects 10 GIS laboratories from around the world. Together, these laboratories constitute a formidable assemblage of technical ingenuity, scientific expertise, and practical experience in spatial analysis. They have already developed virtually unrivalled collections of data on population, poverty, climate, soils, crops, livestock, transportation, and biodiversity. The CSI researchers are breaking new ground in the way they integrate biophysical and socio-economic data to better target agricultural technologies and resources to farmers’ needs.

The CSI is also creating mechanisms for standardizing data sets within the CGIAR, sharing methodologies and solutions, and facilitating inter-center collaboration. The Consortium also serves as a platform for joint efforts in GIS-based agricultural research at global, regional, and local levels.