ɬÀï·¬

Program

ɬÀï·¬ Conference on Global Food Security

October 5-7, 2009


Conference Co-chairs

  • Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, ɬÀï·¬
  • Marilyn Knox, President, Nestlé Nutrition Canada

Monday, October 5

Salle Prince Arthur, New Residence Hall, ɬÀï·¬, 3625 Avenue du Parc

12h00  Registration opens


13h00 – 13h30  Opening Remarks and Conference Objectives

Speakers

  • Chandra A. Madramootoo , Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, ɬÀï·¬
  • Conference Co-Chairs

13h30 - 16h00  Food Security in a Challenging Economic Environment

Representatives of developing and emerging economy countries will speak on their specific country experiences and the impacts of the financial crisis on food supplies.

Co-Chairs

  • Marilyn Scott, Director, ɬÀï·¬ School of Environment and Associate Professor, Institute of Parasitology
  • John Kennelly, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta

Speakers

  • Abdul-Karim Adam, Senior Planning Officer, Nanumba North District, Ghana
  • Harmel Cazeau, Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Ressources Naturelles et du Développement Rural, Haïti
  • Dereje Biruk Gebremedhin , Team Leader, SWHISA Project, Ethiopia
  • Victor Dukhovny, Interstate Coordination Water Commission of Central Asia
  • M. Gopalakrishnan , Secretary General, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage
  • Daniel Uza, Vice-Chancellor, University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria
  • Dave Conley, The Aquaculture Communications Group, LLC

Open discussion and question period


Public Lecture - Panel Discussion

Monday, October 5, from 17h00 to 18h30

Salon Mont-Royal, Centre Mont-Royal, 2200 Mansfield Street

Global Food Security: Effects of the Global Recession and Future Prospects

Moderator

René Provost
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law and
Director, Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, ɬÀï·¬

Speakers

Tuesday, October 6

Salle Prince Arthur, New Residence Hall, ɬÀï·¬, 3625 Avenue du Parc

08h30 – 10h15  Access to Finance and Agricultural Credit: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities

Finance and credit experts, as well as farmers’ organizations will present their perspectives on the effects of the global economic downturn on access and challenges with respect to agricultural credit

Co-Chairs

  • Philip Oxhorn, Associate Professor and Founding Director, Institute for the Study of International Development
  • Caroline Pestieau , Former Governor, ICRISAT

Speakers

Open discussion and question period


10h15 - 10h30  Break


10h30 – 12h30  Investments Needed for Agricultural Development

Representatives from international agencies and developing countries will articulate the national investments required in to overcome food insecurity in the long term.

Co-Chairs

  • Anwar Naseem, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, ɬÀï·¬
  • Jean-Paul Laforest , Doyen - Dean, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval

Speakers

  • Marco Ferroni, Executive Director, Syngenta, Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture
  • Mamaru Tsidku Belete , Head, Bureau of Water Resources Development, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia
  • Christopher Delgado, Strategy and Policy Adviser for Agriculture and Rural Development, World Bank
  • Michael Hamp, Senior Technical Advisor, Rural Finance, International Fund for Agricultural Developmnent
  • Mario Renaud, Executive Director, Centre for International Studies and Cooperation, and Co-President, International Agriculture Alliance

Open discussion and question period


12h30 – 13h30  Lunch


13h30 – 15h15  Research and Capacity Building: Where are the Priorities?

Representatives of national, regional, and international research organizations will discuss the research and development priorities and new technologies required to achieve food security.

Co-Chairs

  • Jean Lebel, Director, Environmental & Natural Resources Management, IDRC
  • Yvon Martel, International, Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Speakers

  • Ikenna Onyido, Vice-Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Nigeria
  • Said Silim, Director - Eastern & Southern Africa, ICRISAT
  • Dyno Keatinge, Director General, AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center
  • Paul Mapfumo, Project leader and Regional Coordinator, CIMMYT-Southern Africa, Zimbabwe
  • Ephraim Mukisera, Director, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)

Open discussion and question period


15h15 - 15h30 Break


15h30 – 17h30  Response of International Agencies to Ongoing Challenges of Food Security

International development experts and representatives of the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Task Force on Global Food Security will report on ongoing food security implementation strategies.

Co-Chairs

  • Peter Todd, Dean, Desautels Faculty of Management, ɬÀï·¬
  • Aly Shady, Senior Water Advisor, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

Speakers

  • Henk-Jan Brinkman, Senior Advisor for Economic Policy, United Nations World Food Programme
  • Jim Cornelius, Executive Director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank
  • Christopher Delgado, Coordinator, Global Food Response Program, World Bank
  • Joe Dewbre, Senior Agriculture Policy Analyst, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • Robert Patterson, Senior Liaison Officer, Liaison Office for North America, FAO

Open discussion and question period


17h30 – 19h00 Networking Cocktail


Wednesday, October 7

Salle Prince Arthur, New Residence Hall, ɬÀï·¬, 3625 Avenue du Parc

08h30 – 10h30  Markets and Trade: How They Affect Food Security

International trade policies and market liberalization have led to increased food imports by developing countries from the developed countries. Many developing countries therefore became dependent on food imports, which are many times cheaper than those produced by local farmers. Reforming trade, price and subsidy policy is, however, not easy given political sensitivities and vested interests. The gains from reforms are considerable and require a better understanding of the adjustment process.

Co-Chairs

  • Caroline Begg, Department of Plant Science, ɬÀï·¬
  • Diane Vincent, Vice-Chairperson of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal

Speakers

  • Neil Conklin, President, Farm Foundation
  • Henk-Jan Brinkman, Senior Advisor for Economic Policy, United Nations World Food Programme
  • Douglas Hedley, Executive Director, Canadian Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
  • Christian Lacasse, Président général de l’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA)
  • Maximo Torero, Director, Market, Trade and Institution Division, IFPRI

Open discussion and question period


10h30 - 10h45  Break


10h45 – 12h30  Biofuels: How They Affect Food Security

Speakers will discuss biofuel policies, energy security and global biofuel developments. The impacts of biofuels on the diversion of land away from food production, thereby reducing food availability and driving up food prices will be presented. Trade-offs between food and energy security will be highlighted.

Co-Chairs

  • Mark Curtis, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, ɬÀï·¬
  • Vijaya Raghavan, Department of Bioresource Engineering, ɬÀï·¬

Speakers

Open discussion and question period


12h30 – 13h30  Lunch


13h30 – 15h15  Climate Change: The Challenges for Food Security

It is estimated that a change in climate could cause food production to drop by as much as 50% in many African countries and by 30% in Central and South Asia. National experts will discuss the impacts of rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns on agricultural production and food security.

Co-Chairs

  • Don Smith, Chair, Plant Science Department, ɬÀï·¬
  • Gail Chmura, Director, Global Environmental and Climate Change Centre (GEC3), Quebec

Speakers

  • Galina Stulina, SANIRI, Uzbekistan
  • Bert Drake, Plant Physiologist, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
  • Sam Gameda, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • Bano Mehdi, Brace Centre for Water Resources Management, ɬÀï·¬

Open discussion and question period


15h15 - 15h30  Break


15h30 – 17h30  Plenary Session

Formulation of Recommendations and an International Development Strategy to Overcome the Effects of the Financial Crisis on Food Trade Availability


Conference Wrap-up

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