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Ray Cesca, GAEA International,
discussed farming practices, market access and subsidies, and asked how they can hinder or contribute to meeting the
Millennium Development Goals of reducing by half both people living in hunger and those living on less than
US$1 a day.
Jorge Cazenave, Cazenave and
Associates from Argentina, said protectionist policies in the North hurt the poorer farmers.
Philip Kiriro, East
Africa Farmers Federation, asked specific questions about
current investments in agriculture, successful varieties
of crops that could be used in East Africa, and to what extent governments invest in infrastructure.
Noel Devisch, Belgium
Boerenbond, said farmers in the developing countries have to make their own decisions
about agriculture and hoped developed country farmers
could share their experiences.
Hon. John Falloon,
New Zealand, said not all farmers will be able to maintain
their livelihoods, unless their farming practices change.
Nha Hoang, HDN Strategies, pointed to the diversity of food systems and standards around the globe
and called for greater agricultural research.
Above photo L-R: Charles Riemenschneider, Evandro
Didonet, Osler Desouzart, Gawain Kripke,
Susan Sechler, Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes, Jean-Marc
Trarieux and Gerard Viatte
Susan Sechler, German Marshall Fund, opened the session on "Balancing National Political
Interests with International Agreements" by calling for good
governance in both developing and developed countries.
Nicholas
Kalaitzandonakes, University of Missouri, said markets do not work perfectly and governments
should clarify the costs and benefits of their policy decisions.
Jean-Marc Trarieux,
Delegation of the European Commission, noted the share of European agricultural exports has declined drastically and
challenged the US to change its agricultural policies.
Evandro
Didonet, Brazilian Embassy, noted that his country has low tariffs and
does not subsidize agricultural production.
Gawain Kripke, OXFAM,
warned that if the US Farm Bill did not implement serious changes it would undermine international commitments.
Gerard Viatte,
former OECD Director of Agriculture, reminded participants that the answers lie not only in the agricultural sector, but also in trade policy.
Osler Desouzart, OD Consulting, said there is too much talk and too little action being taken
to implement political commitments.
Charles
Riemenscheider, North American Liaison Unit, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, said international animal health regulations are
used to ensure rapid detection of disease.
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In the afternoon session on fresh water, roundtable panelists offered success stories using technology and policies to meet increasing demands and declining availability for water, including through the use of integrated water resources management and industrial waste water reuse. In a roundtable on bioenergy, panelists discussed the development and application of energy alternatives such as ethanol, biodiesel and soybeans to achieve energy security. During the final afternoon discussion on "Successful Technology Transfer for Growth and Rural Development," panelists discussed successful experiences with technology transfer involving the private sector in Africa, India, Brazil and Hungary. |
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ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS: FRESH WATER - INCREASING DEMANDS AND DECLINING AVAILABILITY |
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Above
photos L-R: Roberto Lenton, The Earth Institute at Columbia
University, chaired the panel on "Fresh Water: |
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Above
photos L-R: Nha Hoang, HDN Strategies, the more crops can be grown per drop of water, the more efficient |
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ROUNDTABLE: SUCCESS WITH BIOENERGY | ||
In a roundtable on "Successes with Bioenergy," panelists discussed energy alternatives such as the use of ethanol, biodiesel and soybeans to achieve energy security.
Reid Detchon, Executive Director, Energy Future Coalition, noted that a future policy needs to address security, risk of climate change and economic development.
Mike Bryan, CEO, BBI International, said fuel ethanol and biodiesel will provide energy security in the future.
Rick Tolman, CEO, National Corn Growers Association, explained that ethanol has produced a 13% return on investment for some Iowa farmers, and that the ethanol industry is beginning a tremendous boom.
Stephen Censky, CEO, American Soybean Association, said that soybeans are an important part of fuel for the future, noting as an example the oversupply of soybean oil that could be used to create fuel.
Mike Eckhart, President, American Council for Renewable Energy, highlighted that renewable energy is more than just biofuels and soybeans, saying that renewable energy is a US$15 billion dollar a year industry. |
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ROUNDTABLE: SUCCESSFUL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR GROWTH AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
During a discussion on "Successful Technology Transfer for Growth and Rural Development," panelists discussed successful experiences with technology transfer using the private sector in Africa, India, Brazil and Hungary. Panelists, clockwise from L-R: Mpoko Bokanga, O. P. Singh, Felipe Manteiga, Kepler Euclides Filho, Istvan Feher, and Marco Quinones |
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