In addition, the role that public research should play in poverty alleviation is not clear. According to Ekboir (2009), the system sets priorities and strategies on the basis of a linear vision of science that is more suitable for enhancing agricultural production through plant-breeding than for alleviating poverty. Furthermore, CGIAR Centers do not have sufficient expertise in fields such as agricultural marketing that would enable farmers to earn higher incomes (Science Council Secretariat, 2006). Therefore, it is of great importance that CGIAR establish partnerships with actors in the private sector and with NGOs that have this type of expertise.