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Event
20 September 2017

Agri4D – 2017 – Rural Transformation and Urbanization

Photo by Nestlé via flickr. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Photo by Nestlé via flickr. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Agricultural Research for Development Conference – 2017

Rural populations, still a majority in developing countries are usually marginalized and living in poverty. These small-scale farmers support one third of the global population. Agenda 2030 focuses on eradicating poverty by 2030, and on “leaving no one behind”. A crucial focus must be the rural poor who depend on agriculture and related services for their livelihoods.

There is today a rapid migration of the rural poor to swelling urban centres in search of better job opportunities and improved livelihoods. A large part of these rural migrants succeeds in finding better life, but for many the hopes of a better future often turns into a nightmare of economic and social insecurity. Rural-urban linkages may have a positive impact on the rural poor connecting them to economic incomes and development opportunities. A rural transformation linked to pro poor inclusive growth and urban dynamics can thus be a critical component of sustainable development as a whole.

Key to reaching the goals of Agenda 2030 is Rural transformation, which is about social and economic transformation going hand in hand within the framework of environmental boundaries. The IFAD 2016 Report points to increased productivity of agricultural production as a crucial element to reach an inclusive rural transformation, as there is a tremendous gap between the most productive and the least productive of small holder farmers. In order to achieve this, we need improved health and education as a base, and access to water, inputs, markets, value chains and knowledge. We also need systems to avoid food loses, a secure access to land, and basic credits, and measures for adapting to and mitigating climate change. All these elements are at our hands but must be coupled with social and political transformations.

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Swedish International Agriculture Network Initiative (SIANI) are pleased to announce the Agri4D 2017 Conference. This is a two­ day event for researchers and professionals working with and/or interested in agriculture for development. Master and PhD students, senior scientists, experts from social, political, soils, crops, natural resources and animal science, economy, forestry, horticulture, veterinary medicine etc. are encouraged to participate.

Keynote speakers and sessions

Keynote speakers to the conference include Ingrid Öborn (ICRAF and SLU), Bimbika Sijapati Basnett (CIFOR), Thomas Jayne (Michigan State University – MSU), Antony Chapoto, (Indaba agricultural policy research institute – IAPRI, Zambia), Pay Drechsel (International Water Management Institute – IWMI), Nighisty Ghezae, (International Foundation for Science – IFS) and Luc Mougeot (International Development Research Centre – IDRC).

We will have three parallel thematic sessions on each day of the conference. The poster session will open on the first day. For more detailed information, please see the conference program and this web page.

 

 

Times

From 20 September 2017 at 08:00 to 21 September 2017 at 16:00

Venue

Undervisningshuset, Almas allé 10
SLU Campus Ultuna

Resources

Downloads
Relevant Content

20 March 2015

18 May 2017

Publication

Agri4D – 2017 Conference Invitation and Program

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Swedish International Agriculture Network Initiative (SIANI) are very pleased to announce that registration for our Agri4D 2017 Conference is...

15 September 2017

Publication

Agri4D – 2017 Book of Abstracts

Book of abstracts for the Agri4D - 2017 conference with general program, session schedules and bios of speakers and moderators

21 December 2017

Video

The Rise of Medium-Scale Farms in Africa: Causes and Consequences of Changing Farm Size Distributions

Agri4D 2017 The Rise of Medium-Scale Farms in Africa: Causes and Consequences of Changing Farm Size Distributions. Thomas Jayne, Michigan State University – MSU

21 December 2017

Video

Diverse aquaculture and its societal impacts-roles of South-south learning

Agri4D - 2017 Diverse aquaculture and its societal impacts-roles of South-south learning. Dave Little, University of Stirling, UK

21 December 2017

Video

Towards Sustainable Land Use: Challenges and opportunities

Agri4D - 2017 Towards Sustainable Land Use: Challenges and opportunities. Ingrid Öborn, ICRAF and SLU

Agenda

Wednesday 20 Sept

08.15   Registration and coffee

08.45   Welcome by organizers, and opening message by Anna-Maria Oltorp, Head of Sida’s unit for research cooperation. Moderator Annika Åhnberg

09.00   Keynote speeches

  • The Rise of Medium-Scale Farms in Africa: Causes and Consequences of Changing Farm Size Distributions. Thomas Jayne, Michigan State University – MSU
  • Diverse aquaculture and its societal impacts-roles of South-south learning. Dave Little, University of Stirling, UK

10.15   Coffee break

10.45   Keynote speeches

  • Towards Sustainable Land Use: Challenges and opportunities. Ingrid Öborn, ICRAF and SLU. 
  • Addressing gender and rights in forestry sector: Lessons from CIFOR’s research in developing countries.  Bimbika Sijapati Basnett, CIFOR.

12.00   Lunch

13.00   Poster session

14.15   Thematic sessions

  • Land – under pressures or dynamic changes? Session leaders: Ewa Wredle, SLU; Madelene Ostwald, GMV (Chalmers/GU) and Linköping University; Ingrid Öborn, ICRAF and SLU
  • Forests for Food Security – in the light of Equal Rights and Sustainable Resource ManagementSession leaders: Malin Gustafsson, Focali/GMV; Jenny Friman, GU.
  • Fish farming for food security, nutrition and poverty reduction. Session leaders: Anders Kiessling, SLU; Anna Norman Haldén, SLU

(Coffee break 15.30 – 15.45)

17.15-19.00     Reception (mingle)

Thursday , 21 Sept

08.15   Coffee

08.45   Thematic sessions

  • Knowledge Based Bioeconomies – Tools for Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development. Session leaders: Ivar Virgin, SEI; Antony Chapoto, IAPRI, Zambia
  • Water in Transforming Landscapes. Session leaders: Lotta Samuelson, SIWI; Kristina Johansson, SIWI; Nighisty Ghezae, IFS
  • Urban and peri-urban agriculture, livelihoods, and food and nutrition security in the Global South. Session leaders: Magnus Jirström, LU; Beatrix Alsanius, SLU

Coffee break (10.30-11.00)

12.00   Lunch

13.00   Welcome to Day 2 by Moderator Marika Griehsel

13.15   Keynote speeches

  • Empowering developing countries: Developing the scientific capacity of young researchers to tackle global challenges. Nighisty Ghezae, Director of International Foundation for Science – IFS  
  • Sustainable Poverty Reduction: The market and economics of emerging bioeconomies in Sub Saharan Africa. Antony Chapoto, Research Director at the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), Zambia

14.15   Coffee break

14.45   Keynote speeches

  • Urban Agricultures Without Borders: Lessons, Logics and Liabilities. Luc Mougeot, International Development Research Centre – IDRC, Canada
  • Urban Agriculture between Urban Phenomenon and Urban Legend: Perspectives from Research in Africa. Pay Drechsel, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), CGIAR, Headquarters – Sri Lanka

15.45   Panel discussion with keynote speakers. Moderator Marika Griehsel

16.45-17.00   Closing of the conference

For Participants

Agri4D@akademikonferens.se

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