Institutional Learning and Change Initiative

May 18 - 20, 2009 Saint Louis Missouri USA St. Louis Ballpark Hilton Hotel

The Agricultural Challenge: Assuring Food for Everyone and Protecting the Planet—Technical, Financial and Trade Implications

The 2009 World Congress will seek solutions to issues around agricultural production and supply, rising food costs, the crucial resource of water, and the impacts on agricultural economies and resources during a period of unprecedented financial uncertainties on a global scale. Defining strategies and creating solutions will require a better understanding of the drivers and challenges of agriculture and food production including labour, rising prices, shrinking sources of credit, leveraging of innovation and technology, creation of incentives for production and higher productivity, and reducing the impact of input costs to farmers. Lessons learned in Latin America will highlight the important role of education to drive successes in agricultural production and provide a path forward for Africa and the developing world. Each sector -- government, private and private-public partnerships and civil society (NGOs) will be challenged to provide a road map to success by addressing the crucial issues of safe, affordable and reliable supplies of food, fuel, fiber and water. Failure to address issues around agriculture and food production as an economic priority could have long-lasting impacts in the global community.

http://www.worldagforum.org/rel-archive-2009-congress.htm