WORLD AGRICULTRUAL FORUM'S 2009 WORLD CONGRESS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Michelle Kuehler
(314) 255-2340 x. 109
WORLD AGRICULTRUAL FORUM’S SIXTH BIENNIAL WORLD CONGRESS TO TAKE PLACE MAY 18-20, 2009 IN ST. LOUIS
World leaders gather to discuss our global priorities—food security
and the investments that will empower agriculture
ST. LOUIS (April 2009)—The World Agricultural Forum’s (WAF) Sixth Biennial World Congress, “Our Global Priority: Food Security—Financial, Trade and Technical Services,” will take place May 18-20, 2009 at the St. Louis Ballpark Hilton Hotel in downtown St. Louis. The World Congress provides one of the world’s largest biennial gatherings of agricultural leaders in government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses and academia to discuss the world’s growing population and the impacts on food, fuel, fiber and water in both emerging and developed markets.
Keynote speakers for the 2009 World Congress include: Right Honorable James Bolger, ONZ, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Ambassador to the United States, and current chairman of the WAF advisory board, Honorable Raghuveera Reddy, the Minister of Agriculture for Andhra Pradesh, India and Paul Collier, author of The Bottom Billion and professor at Oxford University.
“The World Congress is particularly important as this year’s agenda is designed to encourage world leaders to discuss what financial, technical and trade strategies need to be developed, adopted or enhanced for a food-secure world,” said Ambassador Bolger. “Progressive, far-reaching solutions to global problems are needed now more than ever, with the expansion of the agribusiness industry beyond food and into innovative energy sources, industrial products and pharmaceuticals. This World Congress will seek solutions to issues concerning agricultural production and supply, the crucial resource of water and the impact on agricultural economies and resources during a period of economic uncertainties.”
“Each participant in the Congress will have an active role in developing plans for change,” said Kathleen Moldthan, executive vice president and chief operating officer, WAF. “The World Congress is one of the only opportunities where government, NGOs and the private sector can share an equal voice. We have seen many partnerships emerge from these gatherings that would have never come to fruition in a different setting. Its these partnerships that illustrate the value of WAF and initiate the actions for change.”
The WAF’s recent 2009 Asia Roundtable titled, “Balancing the Agricultural Bottom Line” in Phuket, Thailand, was the precursor to this World Congress. The agenda focused on agriculture in the context of current global economic conditions and the regional impact to Asia. Organizations represented at the Asia Roundtable included: Asian Development Bank, Betagro Agro Group, Chaveevan International Group, Charoen Pokphand, Keystone Group, Liuhe Group, MM Flourmill, McDonald Group, Thailand Ministry of Agriculture, Monsanto, Nestle, NSF-CMi, Novus International, Rabobank and SkyLark Group. As a follow up to the Asia Roundtable, the WAF will publish and present Insights at the World Congress, which will highlight key points of discussion on each speaking topic.
In addition to the proceedings of the Asia Roundtable and the announcement of collaboration between world leaders in support of food security, WAF is pleased to announce the establishment of The Syngenta Award—Recognizing Contributions to Global Challenges, which will be presented at the World Congress in May.
“This award is an excellent opportunity to recognize those at the forefront of agricultural development in bringing plant potential to life across the globe,” said David Morgan, President of Syngenta Seeds Inc., who will be on hand to present the award at the World Agricultural Forum in May.
The award will be based on contributions to innovative programs that have made a difference in people’s ability to provide sustained food sources, while identifying and implementing agricultural solutions. Nomination forms can be found on the World Ag Forum Web site at http://worldagforum.org/images/pdfs/WAF-Syngenta-Award-Nomination-Form.pdf.
About The Sygenta Award
Syngenta believes that agriculture is vital to society. The adoption of modern crop protection technologies and improved crop genetics are essential to achieve the goals of sustainable agriculture. Complex issues continue to weave challenges into the WAF vision of empowering agriculture to feed every man, woman and child on earth.
The Syngenta Award—Recognizing Contributions to Global Challenges honor an individual or organization that has impacted the lives and livelihood of the world’s population by meeting the growing need for food. The recipient of this award will have contributed significantly to bringing plant potential to life by addressing the crucial issues of safe, affordable and reliable supplies of food, fuel, fiber and water. Nomination forms can be found on the Web site at http://worldagforum.org/images/pdfs/WAF-Syngenta-Award-Nomination-Form.pdf.
About the World Agricultural Forum (WAF)
The World Agricultural Forum (WAF) is at the forefront of the evolving agricultural industry and it serves as a catalyst for innovation and positive changes in agribusiness. On a global stage, the WAF produces one of the largest biennial gatherings of leaders concerned about the world’s growing population and the respective shortages of food, fuel and fiber in both developed and developing nations.
The WAF also conducts regional Congresses that, through the use of reliable and timely information, address emerging trends and key industry issues such as sustainable agriculture, fair trade policies and biotechnology. Its focus is to identify solutions to current problems facing poorer nations, particularly in overcoming hunger and poverty. For more information about the World Agricultural Forum, visit www.worldagforum.org or contact Michelle Kuehler at mkuehler@blacktwigllc.com.
