The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) was presented with the 2006 Gold Mercury Cooperation & Development Award which is granted to individuals, companies and organisations that promote trade and investment in developing economies in order to provide better living standards to local people. Over the past 30 years CGIAR have achieved a great degree of success in reducing poverty and increasing food security in developing countries. With the work of CGIAR, food production has seen a measurable increase which has in turn improved the health and nutrition of millions of people. CGIAR’S push to develop more environmentally friendly technologies has also protected between 230 million and 340 million hectares of land from cultivation, assisting in the conservation and the preservation of biodiversity worldwide. Through its multifaceted approach, CGIAR has been able to improve local living standards as well as helping to protect the environment.