AMSTERDAM MAY 15-16, 2018 SPONSORED BY CONFERENCE INFORMATION
International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, invites investors, private companies whose supply chains rely on smallholder farmers, organizations offering products and services, donors, and government officials to join its Global Agribusiness Conference. The conference will focus on practical solutions to the challenges of building smallholder professionalism and closing yield gaps between commercial operations and smallholder farmers. A PRIVATE-SECTOR-LED DIALOGUE ON THE FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL SMALLHOLDER-BASED AGRICULTURE JOIN US FOR TWO REMARKABLE DAYS OF LEARNING AND NETWORKING PHOTO CGIAR MAY 15-16, 2018 AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS IFC.ORG/AGRIBUSINESS-CONFERENCE
2018 PROGRAM (PRELIMINARY) THE BUSINESS CASE AND THE DEVELOPMENT CASE FOR INTEGRATING SMALLHOLDERS INTO GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS The two keynote speakers from the private sector and the public sector will highlight the business case and the development case for the engagement of smallholder farmers in securing the future sustainable supply of key agricultural commodities. New technologies offer many new possibilities and successful agribusiness investments can provide a base for agro-processing and other value-adding business opportunities. At the same time, there is a strong development case: agribusiness will play a key role in reducing poverty, delivering shared prosperity and meeting at least eight of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Agribusiness can create much-needed opportunity in rural areas. HOW CAN INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS DE-RISK INVESTMENTS IN SMALLHOLDER SUPPLY CHAINS? Development of smallholder supply chains can yield significant public good but can also be risky investments too much so for most companies. This is particularly true in out-grower models in which farmers are provided with inputs and training. This panel will explore how blended finance and innovative financial models, including the GAFSP Private Sector Window and trade and supplier finance products, can lower risks for investors and increase access to farmer finance. 3 IFC GLOBAL AGRIBUSINESS CONFERENCE 2018
2018 PROGRAM (PRELIMINARY) HOW CAN NEW TECHNOLOGY IMPROVE SUPPLY CHAIN EFFICIENCY AND TRANSPARENCY? Technology advances have put detailed, real-time supply chain information at the fingertips of business managers. Agribusinesses are increasingly utilizing technology to geo-locate suppliers, establish traceability and segment smallholders. This session explores how technology is enabling companies to provide more targeted training, financing and other support, including the empowerment of women in the supply chain. This data can also be used to develop more effective procurement strategies, and facilitate compliance with global GAP. STATE OF THE ART APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING AND IMPROVING LIVELIHOODS IN SMALLHOLDER SUPPLY CHAINS Increasingly, agribusiness companies understand that the resilience of their supply chains depends on the livelihoods of their smallholder suppliers. This is part of a global trend that recognizes the importance of social and environmental sustainability alongside financial returns. Improving income requires increasing productivity, improving quality and reducing costs of production. Measuring livelihoods requires innovative tools, such as indexes for food security and income. This panel shares the experiences of companies with a comprehensive approach to sustainability and their role in the well-being of the communities where they operate. IFC GLOBAL AGRIBUSINESS CONFERENCE 2018 4
2018 PROGRAM (PRELIMINARY) WHAT ARE THE COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS TO SECURE SMALLHOLDER ACCESS TO MODERN INPUTS? Like all farmers, smallholders need seeds, fertilizer, plant protection equipment and information to grow crops successfully. Improved inputs can boost productivity, increase quality and help adapt to a changing climate. Securing access to better inputs requires financing and effective retailer networks that can serve farmers needs. This session examines how providers of agricultural inputs have reached farmers cost effectively. HOW CAN CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE PRACTICES BE ADOPTED MORE RAPIDLY BY SMALLHOLDERS? New technologies offer great potential for smallholder farmers to adapt to climate change and build farm-level resilience. In many countries, this is no longer a nice-to-have but a necessity. This panel will examine the role of new technologies in improving soil and water management and raising productivity. It will also look at considerations for the implementation of these technologies, including cost effectiveness, barriers to technology adoption and scalability. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD THE BUSINESS PROFESSIONALISM OF SMALLHOLDER AGGREGATORS AT SCALE? For smallholder farmers to successfully participate in modern commercial supply chains, they must move beyond semi-subsistence production to operate as successful independent agribusinesses. This panel will discuss innovative, scalable approaches to measuring and building the business management capability of organizations which bring smallholder farmers together. Improved business professionalism will enable smallholder farmer organizations to become better supply chain partners, whether as suppliers of agri-commodities, buyers of farm inputs, retailers, or customers of financial institutions. WHAT ARE THE DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO WATCH FOR? New digital technologies, the increasing availability of smart phones and ever improving internet access converge to create potential for both disruption of supply chain operations and for leapfrogging over obstacles to growth and development. Inabilities to access finance, resources and information are the main constraints to smallholder adoption of modern, high-yielding farm inputs and to aggregating smallholder crops after harvest. The panel will discuss specific tools that make traceability, access to information, advice and finance quicker, cheaper and more effective. 5 IFC GLOBAL AGRIBUSINESS CONFERENCE 2018
2018 PROGRAM (PRELIMINARY) ADDITIONAL SESSIONS WORKING WITH IFC AND GAFSP Are you considering working with IFC? Join this opportunity to meet with IFC and GAFSP staff and learn about how the GAFSP Private Sector Window can contribute to viable financing structures for investment in developing smallholder supply chains. INNOVATIONS MARKETPLACE A selection of displays featuring staff and information from innovative technology companies and other service providers. PHOTO CGIAR IFC GLOBAL AGRIBUSINESS CONFERENCE 2018 6
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Sponsoring the IFC Agribusiness Conference is an effective way of increasing your visibility among a wide range of agribusiness sector players from developed and emerging markets. Our conference brings a rare mix of participants from private companies, investors, and service organizations to donors and government officials. 7 IFC GLOBAL AGRIBUSINESS CONFERENCE 2018
CONTACT US ALAN JOHNSON +251 (011) 5176137 ajohnson6@ifc.org MACARENA DE MARTINI +1 (202) 458-0167 mdemartini@ifc.org STAY CONNECTED www.ifc.org/agribusiness #IFCagribusiness www.linkedin.com/showcase/ifc-agribusiness PHOTO CGIAR