The Crawford Fund and the Africa Australia Research Forum

25-28 August 2013, Perth Australia. The 2013 Crawford Fund Conference addresses the interaction between mining and agriculture, industries significant to both Australia and African countries, and identifies national and international practices and policies that provide benefits to communities and improve food security.

The 2013 Conference is being held in conjunction with the Africa Australia Research Forum and will precede the successful "Africa Down Under" mining event in Perth..

Agriculture and mining are important industries in many developing countries, as they are in Australia. Each industry can aid national economic growth, a healthy trade surplus and an inflow of investment capital, and can impact beneficially, or otherwise, on the other industry. At the same time, a booming mining industry can have seemingly perverse consequences for other sectors of the economy.

In 2013 the Crawford Fund partnered with the AARF to explore:

• How policy, investment and research and development can be better used to provide pro-poor benefits
• How to ensure positive, sustainable outcomes from mining and agriculture for food security and development  
• How we can use expertise and infrastructure from mining in developing countries to help poor agricultural and rural communities emerge from poverty.

Key Speakers

• The Hon Dr Florence Chenoweth, Africa Prize Winner and Minister for Agriculture in the Republic of Liberia
• Hon Professor Sospeter Muhongo, Minister of Energy and Minerals, Tanzania
• Mr Mario Pezzini, Director, OECD Development Centre
• His Excellency Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana and Chairman of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa
• Professor Kevin Urama, Executive Director, African Technology Policy Studies Network
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• Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
• Dr Gavin Hilson, Chair, Sustainability in Business, Surrey University, UK

You can also download the full program here

Crawford Fund 2013 Conference - Full Program

Background:

Established in June 1987 by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), the Crawford Fund was named thus in honour of the late Sir John Crawford and commemorates his outstanding services to international agricultural research.

The Crawford Fund depends on grants and donations from governments, private companies, corporations, charitable trusts and individual Australians. It also welcomes partnerships with agencies and organisations in Australia and overseas.

The Fund promotes and supports international R&D activities in which Australian research organisations and companies are active participants. It supports the work of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) and other international research centres.

Related: Opinion
Scidev 09/09/2013: Missed opportunities at an Africa-Australia research meeting