AgTalks Session 3

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) invites you to the Third Session of AgTalks on 1 April 2015, from 2.30 to 5 p.m. in the Italian Conference Room, IFAD Headquarters, Rome, Italy. AgTalks presents the latest thinking, trends and research on policies and innovations in small-scale farming.

R.S.V.P. by e-mail to protocol@ifad.org by 31 March 2015

Bridging the gap between smallholder farmers and consumers

Food systems are often focused on maximizing profits rather than generating income on a sustainable basis for smallholder farmers. But in the context of rapid urbanization throughout the developing world, ensuring sustainable rural transformation and building vibrant rural communities is essential to global food security. Transformation of rural areas and sustainable smallholder agriculture involves creating viable market linkages between small farmers and consumers. This third session of AgTalks brings together experts to address various approaches to building these linkages and helping small farmers succeed.

Speakers

• Gabriela Soto Muñoz, a leader of the organic agriculture movement in Costa Rica as well as globally, will address organic agriculture and the role of traceability as a model for connecting to consumers. She will tell the story of the evolution of markets for organic products, how this has impacted farmers, and what the future holds.

• Maximo Torero, a leading expert in agricultural markets from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), will talk about what both consumers and farmers want. He will give a macroeconomic overview of the situation both globally and regionally, focusing on inconsistencies that inhibit establishment of linkages between farmers and consumers.

• Beatrice Makwenda, Policy and Programmes Coordinator of the National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (NASFAM), will talk about how farmers in Malawi are benefiting from the progressive development of a national and international marketing scheme that is making NASFAM a recognized brand in supermarkets, ensuring quality, sufficient production and economic benefits for farmers, as well as establishing credibility among consumers.

• Kari Huhtala, Cooperative Director at the Pellervo Society in Helsinki, will explore the history of how the cooperative movement in Finland has come to be one of the most powerful examples in the world, capturing over 70% of the value chain for the benefit of Finnish farmers and consumers.

Social media and webcasting

Participants are encouraged to share their ideas, views and insights via social media channels using #agtalks.

The virtual audience may follow the proceedings and interact with the prominent guests on the social media channels listed below and via webcasting at http://webcasting.ifad.org/agtalks

• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ifadnews

• Blog: http://ifad-un.blogspot.com

• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/IFADTV

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IFAD

• Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104946654582685330240/posts