European Responses to Changing Global Needs

Transcription

1 First Announcement and Call for Contributions International Conference on Agricultural Research for Development European Responses to Changing Global Needs April 2005, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland

2 Organised by the European Forum for Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD) In collaboration with Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research (SFIAR) National Fora of other European Countries European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD) Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) Supported by Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), Berne Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich Other organisations (proposals have been submitted to several organisations in Switzerland and Europe) Conference chair Prof. Dr. Hans Hurni, Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research NCCR North-South, Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Berne. Chairman of EFARD Conference secretariat Manfred Kaufmann, Swiss Centre for International Agriculture (ZIL), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich.

3 Background and scope The mission of the European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD) is to strengthen the contribution of European Agricultural Research for Development to poverty alleviation, food security, and sustainable development in developing countries by providing a platform for strategic dialogue among European stakeholder groups in order to promote research partnerships between European and Southern research communities. EFARD s mission follows the principles of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) 1, and contributes to GFAR s Global Plan of Action, in partnership with the other regional fora of GFAR. In particular, EFARD has an important advocacy role to play in maintaining agricultural research for development as highest priority in the political agendas at European and International levels. EFARD Conferences, which are held about every three years, constitute the core element of EFARD s activities in order to further exchange and promote strategic planning among Europeans and partners from the South. Previous EFARD conferences, which were held in Montpellier (1997), Wageningen (1999) and Rome (2002), were directed towards the identification of common research themes and interests on the European level. The EFARD Conference 2002 in Rome focused on the identification of common research priorities related to financing opportunities within the 6 th framework programme of the EU. The forthcoming EFARD Conference, to be held in Zurich from April 2005, will build on these experiences, while taking particular account of the enlargement of the EU and contributing to the consolidation of regional fora in the South and East. 1

4 Objectives of the conference The main objectives of the EFARD 2005 Conference are: to promote the agenda of agricultural research for development among institutions in Europe and developing countries as well as countries in transition; to provide a platform for information exchange and development of joint activities to interested stakeholders such as researchers, policy makers, NGO s, farmers organizations and others, and to promote awareness among policy makers and the public regarding the objectives and mission of international agricultural research for development. Proposed conference themes 1 Agricultural research for development in a globalised world economy Agricultural market integration, subsidies, and world trade Agricultural research in Europe responding to the new member countries Agricultural reorientation in countries in transition Food security for developing and newly industrialised countries 2 Agriculture and food as a challenge for developing countries Rural development and agriculture for poverty alleviation Plant genetic resources and biotechnology Improved food quality and safety Land and water management for sustainable agriculture 3 European experiences in agricultural research and development Experiences in fostering sustainable agriculture in the European Union Swiss experiences in promoting sustainable agriculture The strengthened role of agricultural research for international cooperation Public private partnerships in agricultural research for development

5 Conference programme outline Wednesday, 27 April :30 17:30 programme, followed by a reception Thursday, 28 April :30 17:30 programme, followed by a dinner Friday, 29 April :30 12:00 programme, followed by closing Friday, 29 April :00 open end: optional meetings (EFARD, etc.), or technical excursions (optional) Saturday, 30 April 2005 Touristic and technical excursions to Swiss agricultural regions (optional) Call for contributions Inputs to the conference can be as presentations (keynotes and in sessions), workshop proposals, dialogue sessions, as posters, as dare to share booth exhibitions (attended by staff), or as a side event. Please send your ideas to the conference secretariat, as follows: (1) Title of input, (2) form of input (first and second choice), and (3) preferred theme (first and second choice). Please use the conference website for online application, or alternatively, the secretariat s . Conference proceedings Abstracts of conference contributions will be provided to the participants in print at the beginning of the conference Outcomes of the conference will be summarised in an online synthesis publication Selected papers of high scientific quality may eventually be jointly submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication

6 Excursions Friday 29 April 2005 (afternoon) Visit to the Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture at Zurich Reckenholz/ZH Visit to Syngenta Crop Protection AG at Stein/AG Visit to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in Frick/AG Saturday 30 April 2005 Excursion to the Grisons (Landquart, Trin): Rural Development in an alpine region Excursion to a farm in the canton of Lucerne, then visit of the City of Lucerne and sightseeing tour to Pilatus or Titlis mountain Pre-registration Persons wishing to place a notice of intent for participation and/or making an input are kindly requested to use online registration forms on the conference website. Alternatively, please send an for the conference secretariat, indicating your name, address, and idea for an input. Persons from developing countries may apply for partial support to attend the conference and make an input. There are a limited number of fellowships available for distribution. Persons wishing to apply for financial support please use the respective sections in the online registration, or apply to the conference secretariat by . Conference secretariat EFARD2005@agrl.ethz.ch Conference website:

7 Important deadlines Pre-registration (notice of intent) 30 June 2004 Submission of ideas for inputs 30 September 2004 Submission of applications for financial support 30 September 2004 Acceptance of inputs by Programme Committee 30 November 2004 Second announcement 30 November 2004 Submission of abstracts for all inputs 31 January 2005 Registration for conference 31 January 2005 Latest registration 31 March 2005 Conference dates April 2005 Programme committee Hans Hurni (EFARD Chairman / CDE, Berne) Andrea Fadani (German Forum, DFOR) Paul Harding (EIARD, EC) Bernard Hubert (French Forum) Bert Lof (Netherlands Forum, NFARD) Guy Poulter (UK Forum, ARD-UK) Ola Smith (Global Forum, GFAR) Peter Stamp (Swiss Forum, SFIAR) Organising committee Barbara Becker, Swiss Centre for International Agriculture, Zurich Jost Frei, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, Basle Padruot Fried, Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, Zurich Markus Giger, Centre for Development and Environment, University of Berne Katharina Jenny, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Berne Manfred Kaufmann, Swiss Centre for International Agriculture, Zurich Lukas Kilcher, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Frick Walter Müller, Federal Office for Agriculture, Berne Urs Scheidegger, Swiss College of Agriculture, Zollikofen Peter Stamp, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich

8 Conference venue The conference will be held in the Main Building of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), located in the heart of Zurich. Accomodation is available at several nearby hotels which are easily accessible by public transport from the conference venue. Zurich s Old Town and most of the major points of touristic interest are within walking distance from the conference venue. For more information on hotel booking and touristic attractions, please visit the conference homepage. In 2005, ETH is celebrating its 150 th anniversary under the slogan «Welcome tomorrow» with a wide choice of events and happenings. The EFARD 2005 conference is part of the Jubilee programme and will benefit from interesting side events and the high public and media interest related to the Jubilee. Address of the Conference Secretariat Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Swiss Centre for International Agriculture (ZIL) Manfred Kaufmann Scheuchzerstrasse 7 CH-8092 Zurich EFARD2005@agrl.ethz.ch Photos: Andreas Jenet Else Bünemann