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World Bank Sustainable Development Forum, June 13, 2006, Paris, France
The CGIAR Chair and the CGIAR Director spoke at a breakfast briefing held in conjunction with the World Bank’s Sustainable Development Forum in Paris on June 13. The audience consisted of representatives of the CGIAR’s European Members. The CGIAR Chair spoke on the key role of agriculture and agricultural research as catalysts of economic growth and productivity, especially in Africa. He said that “agriculture is the heart of long-term sustainable development,” and “is central to both ecological and environmental management.” Twenty-first century farmers will be required to transform themselves into productive landscape managers both to raise agricultural productivity to meet increasing demands and to protect scarce global resources, he added.
The CGIAR Director presented an update on developments within the CGIAR. He pointed out that steady support from European Members had contributed significantly to the progress achieved to date in the reform process. Member representatives were pleased to learn that CGIAR financing had increased to $460 million during 2005 and that Membership was poised to grow further in the next few months. They welcomed the inclusion of a farmer representative on ExCo and looked forward to AGM06 with its emphasis on CGIAR engagement with civil society. They strongly supported a continuing dialogue with civil society organizations.
Ian Johnson, Chairman of CGIAR and Francisco Reifschneider, Director of CGIAR addressing the audience. |
The audience was composed of CGIAR European Members.
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Francisco Reifschneider, Director of CGIAR speaking to the audience.
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