The Challenge: For every $1 invested in agricultural research, it is estimated that $9 worth of food is produced in the developing countries where it is needed most. CGIAR is the largest publicly funded agricultural research network in the world, and Marchmont has been conducting media outreach on their behalf since 2013, through press offices, media retainers, opinion articles and targeted media campaigns.
Our Approach: To make CGIAR’s work as attractive to the media as possible, it has been essential first to align it to the external news agenda – from climate change and migration to, more recently, Covid-19. We then work to accurately and sensitively translate relevant scientific topics into more media-facing pitches and commentary. Marchmont has supported CGIAR around key events including Climate Week, the UN climate talks and the World Food Prize, as well as key launches of CGIAR initiatives such as their Crops to End Hunger initiative and their Covid-19 Hub.
Outcomes: Marchmont has placed CGIAR’s work in a range of top tier and specialist media outlets such as the Guardian, Telegraph, Independent, BBC, La Tribune, National Geographic, NPR, Reuters, ABC, Financial Times, Euractiv, Euronews, World Economic Forum, Eco-Business, Inter Press Service, Diplomatic Courier, The Conversation and AllAfrica. Marchmont also produced an introductory video of CGIAR’s work: