I was very glad to participate in a stimulating conference on Transforming the Food Production System, from December 14-15 in London, United Kingdom. Over these two days, Chatham House, a leading UK think-tank brought together speakers from around the world to map-out opportunities and challenges for boosting agriculture in developing countries.

On Thursday 15, I spoke about the role of knowledge and technology in achieving not only rapid, but also pro-poor agricultural transformation in developing countries. The discussions were vibrant and productive. From my observations, there is continued strong momentum for food security and agricultural development support within the development community, including amongst donors, practitioners, and the private sector. It is really encouraging that many actors are exploring innovative approaches to tackle the complex problems affecting food security. Indeed, agricultural technology and innovation will continue to be crucial for sustainable solutions. Biotechnologies such as nutrient-enriched or drought-tolerant and disease-resistant crop varieties hold much promise in helping to alleviate food insecurity and malnutrition in developing countries. Policy research, which supports the implementation of evidence-based policies, is also critical to address food security challenges and harness the opportunities presented.

Tags: agriculture, development, food security, innovation
Posted in Events, Speeches