Highlights for Tuesday, 24 February 2009
On the second day of the IPM, participants discussed agriculture and rural development. At the opening of the discussion on agriculture, CSD-17 Chair Verburg invited contributions highlighting policies and measures that have worked and why, and how they might be replicated and scaled up. Panelist Norman Uphoff, Cornell University, said agriculture needs to be climate-proofed, including through focusing on soil biology and plants’ root systems. Panelist Sarah Scherr, Ecoagriculture Partners, presented a green strategy for food security and proposed that a global summit be convened to frame such a strategy.
The discussion on rural development was preceded by two presentations as well. Panelist Tim Hanstad, Rural Development Institute, highlighted the importance of empowering local communities and governments, and land ownership by women. Panelist Rosalud de la Rosa, WOCAN (Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management), recommended reforming agricultural extension institutions and using incentives to increase the number of women enrolled and trained.