Section 18, Agricultural Research Institute Act 2007 (Act No. 25 of 2007), to

(l) The object fof which the Institute is established is to Functionsserve as the national agricultural technological research body of Institute. responsible to - (a) conduct, facilitate, promote, coordinate and regulate a national food system through the Food Systems Research Platforrn; O) participate in agricultural innovations and technolory transfer processes. @ The Food Systems Research Platform shall comprise relevarrt stakeholders from such public and private sector institutions as may be determined by the Council and shall convene at least once a year to discuss challenges facing the development of researclq innovation and extension services in the national food systern, identiry viable solutions and provide other means of support to promote agricultural transformation. (3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (l), it shall be the firnction of the lnstitute to - (a) provide information that will assist govemment and other stakeholders in the developmoni of agricultural policies for poverty allet.iation, food security and improved livelihoods ofthe citizens of Sierra Leone; 24 No. 28 The Sierra LeoneAgricultural Researchlnstitute Act' 2023 (b) fonnulate agricultural research policies and progranxnes taking into account the.vision' misiion goal and objectives ofthe agricultural sector inline with governmentpolicy and the views of stakeholders, especially those that relate to sustainable food security and the conservation ofrenewable resources of Sierra Leone; (c) conduct basic and applied research in the following fields of studY - (i) food and cash croP Production; (ii) livestock and in-land fish production; (iD forestry and tree crops production; (iv) land waterresources and environmental management systems; (v) value addition and postharvest technologies for food and non-food Products; (vi) science of foo4 nutrition and related technologies; (vii) plant, animal health and biosat'ety; (viii) breeding, genetics, genetic resources and biotechnologY; (x) environmental ionservation; (x) digital and other emerging technologies in agriculture; No.28 I[e Sierra Leone.4gricult t.ll Research Institute Act, 2023 25 (x) socio-cultural, economic and policy anaiysis of agricultural systems; (xD agricultural corunercialisation, agibusiness, agripreneurship, and agroindustrialisation processes; (d) facilitate equitable access to research information, resources and technology and promote the application ofresearch findings aod technology in agricultural research and agricultuml technolory; (e) promote utilisation of agricultural research and knowledge systems; (0 establish sfiong working relationships with extension agencies in the public and private sector in the tansfer of tecbnology; G) maintain registers of research scientists, research projects and research results; (h) facilitate and provide relevant training and manpower development to serve the agricultural research needs of Siera Leone; (i) produce annual reports, medium and longterm research plans and strategies, high- Iighting the Eanagement, scientific training and financial aspects of the Institute; 0) establish stroDg links rvith national, regional and international research itrstitutions or' agencies involved in science and technolory developmenl and tra$fer; ?5 No.28 The Sierra LeoneAgriculturalResearchlnstitute Act' 2023 (m) disseminate and promote the dissemination of knowledge on modern agricultural innovations and technologies to stakeholders; (n) monitor and evaluate the adoption, implementation and impact of national agricultural research on agricultural productivitY; (o) process and forward to government, the annual estimates for agricultural research funding; (p) mobilise human, financial and capital resources tiom donors, private sector and from within the Institute for its benefit; (k) represent Sierra Leone in regional and international agricultural research forums; 0) enhance public awareness on the importance of scientific research to agricultural and economic development; (q) strengthen collaboration amongst, research, extension, farmers and policy makers and other key stakeholders in the national agricultural research and extension system; O build &e capacitY of- (r) agricultural extension staffin order to transt'er technolory effectivelY; (ii) service providers alongthe agricultural value chain; and I, Qi| learning institutions; No.28 fhe Siefra Leotrc Agrictlnral Research Inititute Ac!, 2023 n (s) engage the private sector in the agricultural research system towards - (, inv€stment in production; (i) rurding research; and (iii) market access; (t) strengthen partnerships and resource mot'ilisation; (u) build a performance-based system for researchers that recognises - (i) research publications, and (ii) rcsources generatedthrcngh gants and pannerships; (v) establish. rnaintain and operate incomegeneraling enfities forthe commercialisation of research ourputs of the Instiarte; (w) provide grants for agriculnral research and trainir)g programs, consistent with the national research priorities and srategic plan of rilu insritute; (x) t'acili'ate Jialogue among key stakeholders ,-'f th. .rrtional agricultural research system thror,gh rhe Food Systems Platform to tijscuss the needs and challenges of ag:icultural research and id€ntify sustainable dvelu:es to address them; and (y) do src h rther things as Cormcil may consider necessiry to attain the object stated in :ruhsictidn (l). '28 No.28 The Sierra Leone Agricultural ResearchlnstituteAct, 2023 Powers of