Sweden and the CGIAR Day - October 20, 2005

Sweden and the CGIAR Day "After Johannesburg: Innovations in Agriculture for Food Security, Poverty Alleviation and Growth" was inaugurated by Minister for Development Cooperation, Carin Jamtin, at the Royal Swedish Academy for Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA), in Stockholm on October 20. " Sweden has enjoyed a long and valuable partnership with the CGIAR, and we are delighted to welcome the Chairman of the System, along with members of the Executive Committee to Stockholm" said the Minister.

"As a founding member of the CGIAR, Sweden has made seminal contributions to the System and her support - intellectual, technical, managerial, and financial - has helped the CGIAR to address vital topics such as forestry, agroforestry and conservation of the world's genetic resources to name just a few" said Ian Johnson during his opening remarks. In looking to the future, Johnson called on Swedish colleagues to think creatively about expanding the Sweden-CGIAR partnership in order to develop practical programs, policies and projects that deliver real benefits to poor people and achieve lasing development impact.

Participants from the Swedish parliament, Government Ministries and the media attended the opening session.

The discussions continued in the main lecture building of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala on October 21 co-sponsored by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas), SLU and the CGIAR. After a brief welcome from SLU Rector Ann-Christin Bylund, a series of presentations were made by Francisco Reifschneider, CGIAR Director, Per Pinstrup-Andersen, Chair of the CGIAR Science Council, Center Directors-General, Willie Dar, ICRISAT, and David Kaimowitz, CIFOR, as well as Olivier Hanotte of the International Livestock Research Center, Nairobi.

Two young Swedish scientists who collaborated with ICRAF and ILRI during their doctoral and post-doctoral studies presented their views on working with CG Centers in the field, prior to joining a panel discussion on how to enhance Swedish scientific participation in, and interaction with, the CGIAR. The discussion provided a forum to discuss mechanisms and funding possibilities to further enhance Sweden-CGIAR collaboration.

An exhibition highlighting the work of the CGIAR Centers in achieving the Millennium Development Goals was well received by participants, and a selection of CGIAR Center publications were displayed and distributed at the events.

Minister Carin Jamtin inaugurates the high-level dialogue at Sweden CGIAR Day

Councellor Martin Carlsson, President, KSLA, Sweden launches Sweden CGIAR Day

Ian Johnson, Chairman of the CGIAR (second from left) with Ruth Jacoby, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mats Harsman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Berit Olsson, Deputy Director General, SIDA, SAREC

Eva Ohlsson, SIDA; Willie Dar, Chair of the Alliance Executive; Uzo Mokwunye, Chair of the Center Board Chairs; Berit Olsson, DDG, SIDA/SAREC; Fionna Douglas, Communications Advisor, CGIAR Secretariat

CGIAR Exhibition highlighting work of the CGIAR Centers in achieving the Millenium Development Goals

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