Twenty years of collaboration, two decisions and a signature. Two institutions that know each other by heart have chosen to rewrite the rules of their alliance. The Interprofessional Fund for Agricultural Research and Consulting (FIRCA) and the National Agricultural Research Center (CNRA) have signed a memorandum of understanding specifying the financial terms applicable to research projects, while integrating recent developments of the CNRA and FIRCA management procedures. A technical text, but with concrete implications for the future of Ivorian agriculture.

The agreement was not born by chance.It is the culmination of a process of discussions initiated during the review workshop of 20 years of collaboration between the two structures, organized on November 4 and 5, 2025 at the HP Resort Hotel in Yamoussoukro. This meeting, which also brought together representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and several professional agricultural organizations (Apromac, Coffee-Cocoa Council, Cotton-Cashew Council, Intercoton, among others), made it possible to take stock of two decades of cooperation and identify areas for improvement, particularly on the procedures for financing research and acquiring equipment. At the end of these discussions, 5 joint decisions were taken between the two leaders, leading to the signature on August 27.As a reminder, FIRCA finances agricultural research and advisory programs, while the CNRA is the entity responsible for executing research projects and developing new agricultural technologies.

Thus, by clarifying the financial framework and management procedures, this protocol aims to streamline the execution of research and development projects. The two partners see this as a reaffirmation of their common commitment to efficient agricultural research, bringing innovation, in the service of sustainable and prosperous Ivorian agriculture.