“Pooling collective intelligence” to address the global challenges of “Feed-Heal-Protect,” launched by the University of Montpellier and its partners!

[Press Release] - Published on October 9, 2023 in Press Room

In preparation for the 2024 Montpellier Global Days, the University of Montpellier and CGIAR, in collaboration with partners from the I-SITE Program of Excellence, launched the Montpellier Process by hosting an international event on October 2 and 3 at the Institute of Botany. Titled “Pooling Collective Intelligence,” this workshop brought together representatives from global organizations and international expert groups to develop collective responses to major societal challenges centered on the pillars of “feeding, healing, and protecting.” The goal: to develop a joint roadmap by March 2024 and establish a community of practice and learning at the intersection of science and policy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Why this event?

In March 2022, the University of Montpellier, CGIAR, and the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS) organized the event“Feed-Care-Protect: Intelligence to Accelerate Food Systems Transformation at Local and Global Levels”with the support of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole. The event aimed to create a collaborative workspace to address the challenges of “feeding, caring for, and protecting.” Indeed, expertise today is sector-specific and highly fragmented, whereas multiple and interconnected crises call for new forms of collective intelligence. The Montpellier Declaration, signed by the participants, thus announced a “Pooling Collective Intelligence” event, a call for action highlighted by the scientific journal Nature in December 2022.

Building on this momentum, the Montpellier process will once again bring together prestigious international expert groups (IPCC, IPBES, HLPE-FSN, OHHLEP, IGS-GSDR¹)) to meet in Montpellier in March 2024. The challenge? To agree on the best ways to work together to address the major challenges facing the planet and humanity and to anticipate crises, at a time when the United Nations has announced a Decade of Science. The goal? To pool knowledge and strengthen collective intelligence in order to share compelling messages with decision-makers and elected officials, investors, civil society, and the scientific community. These decision-makers “expect” coordinated and clear messages (COP, G20, etc.) that have an impact, both immediately and in the long term, and thus shape the post-2030 international agenda. That is why the chairs of the expert groups and representatives of United Nations agencies met with other stakeholders on October 2 and 3, 2023, in Montpellier, to collaboratively develop the March 2024 program and foster the collective ownership and momentum necessary for the success of this Montpellier process.

The various objectives of the “Pooling Collective Intelligence” event on October 2 and 3

• Build shared ownership and commitment to the Montpellier Process and the March 2024 event by bringing together leaders from international expert groups, United Nations agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Shape the March 2024 event so that it can foster long-term collaboration.
• Explore the value, opportunities, and challenges associated with creating synergies at the intersections of science, expertise, society, and policy. Identify common principles, priority areas, and working methods.
• Make concrete commitments within the Montpellier process so that science can better contribute to addressing the challenges facing the planet and humanity, both locally and globally.

A packed two-day program featuring presentations by experts and numerous prominent figures

The program aimed to establish a shared vision for collaboration among expert groups, the interfaces between science and policy-making, and priority areas for action.  Following opening and welcome remarks by Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier; Andrew Campbell, Director General of CGIAR; and Clare Hart, Vice President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole responsible for international outreach and European cooperation—and with the presence of the Chair of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security, the chairs of IPBES, HLPE-FSN, and OHHLEP, as well as representatives from numerous organizations including the IPCC, participants were able to concretely operationalize the implementation of the Montpellier Process and, in particular, the Montpellier Global Days event in March 2024.

1. IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
   IPBES: Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
   HLPE-FSN: High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition
   OHHLEP: One Health High-Level Expert Panel
   IGS-GSDR: Independent Group of Scientists / Global Sustainable Development Report ↩︎

Keywords: Research, University