July 2010

Investment Forum for Food Security in Asia and the Pacific
Date: July 7th - 9th, 2010
Location: Manila, Philippines
The Asia and Pacific region is home to the largest number of poor, and is one of the most vulnerable regions against the impacts of climate change and economic shocks. The region is also the largest supplier and consumer of food. It is home to a dynamic food and agriculture industry that is providing an increasing range of affordable food products. Thus, what the region does for its food security will resonate around the world. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are co-organizing the first regional forum on food security to showcase Asia and the Pacific as an attractive region for increased public and private sector investments on food security related initiatives.
Background

US Food Assistance Programs: Assessing Progress and Challenges Related to Local and Regional Purchase, Food Quality, Host Country Capacity, and Moving to a Comprehensive Approach
Date: July 13th, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
At a time when US food assistance programs are undergoing significant changes, the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars will host a half-day discussion with USG program leaders and other food assistance experts to assess the progress of ongoing reforms.
Register

1st Global Business of Biodiversity Symposium
Date: July 13th, 2010
Location: London
This unique private-sector focused business and biodiversity conference, supported by Defra and BIS, will see the launch of the highly anticipated 'The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity' (TEEB) report from study leader Pavan Sukhdev. The TEEB for Business report, will offer attendees an insight into how business and enterprise have a huge role to play in how we manage, safeguard and invest in our natural capital. The report provides practical guidance to businesses on the issues and the opportunities created by the inclusion in mainstream business practices of ecosystem and biodiversity related considerations.
Program

CropLife America National Policy Conference
Date: July 13th, 2010
Location: Washington, D.C.
The daylong conference will bring together leading experts in the fields of agriculture, technology and policy, who will offer highly diverse perspectives and engage in frank discussions on all issues facing modern agriculture. Panelists will discuss the essential role of technology to produce more food while using fewer natural resources, barriers to and opportunities for progress and innovation, and the ethics behind who decides agriculture policy. Speakers and panelists include Michael Specter, New Yorker staff writer and author of Denialism, Marc Gunther, contributing editor at FORTUNE magazine, and Robert Kenner, producer of Food, Inc. For additional information on the 2010 National Policy Conference, please contact Francesca Joyce at 202-872-3898 or fjoyce@croplifeamerica.org.

What technology for African agriculture?
Date: July 15th, 2010
Location: London, UK
Better use of technology is at the heart of ambitions to improve productivity and efficiency in African agriculture but issues around how to best implement the use of agricultural technologies are hotly debate. For example which technologies are most needed and should the priority be to produce new technologies or rollout the use of proven ones? Through presentations from the panel, including Sir Gordon Conway, the meeting will explore how innovations should be generated, whether by formal scientific research, through farmer-to-farmer communication, or some intermediate approach.

U.S. Foreign Policy and Rural Women: A Gender Integration Approach to Diplomacy and Development
Date: July 16th, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
The U.S. Department of State and USAID have made gender equality a priority in their development and diplomacy efforts. As a flagship initiative, Feed the Future is an example of how this priority is being operationalized through policies and investments targeting rural women. This seminar will provide an overview of the Obama administration’s new concerted diplomacy and development efforts and their implication for rural women. The seminar will also explore the new direction of the policy dialogue and what the development community can do to ‘go beyond the rhetoric’ on gender integration, and translate policy commitments into action on the ground. Particular focus will be placed on the challenges associated with implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Accelerating Africa’s Agricultural Development: Leveraging Knowledge, Innovation & Resources through Collaboration
Date: July 27th, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
A luncheon panel discussion hosted by The Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora (AAAPD).

African Agri-Food Exports to the U.S.: Facing Challenges of Sanitary & Phytosanitary Standards and Tariff-Rate Quotas
Date: July 28th, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
The African Growth and Opportunity Act has strengthened U.S.-Africa trade ties, but the $1.2.-1.4 billion in food and agricultural goods the U.S. purchases from Africa each year are only a small fraction of the total value of U.S. imports from the continent. Please join the International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council and the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa for the release and discussion of two policy briefs, which analyze and seek to improve upon the disappointing performance of African food and agricultural exports to the U.S.