AGRINATURA Science Days in Vienna

5 to 8 May 2014, Vienna. Growing together. Family farming and agricultural sciences transforming world food systems. The AGRINATURA Science Days assembled researchers and practitioners concerned with family farming, food security and transformative change in one single forum. It offered a unique opportunity for dialogue, learning, networking and exploring new research and higher education partnerships.

At the AGRINATURA Science Days following subjects were discussed:

• if and how alliances between small-scale family farming and agricultural sciences can transform local and global food systems in ways that ensure food and nutrition security at all levels. 
• how research and higher education become more effective in understanding and supporting transformations that benefit family farming, world food security and wellbeing. 
• explore how an emerging transformative change agenda fits into the Post-2015 development framework. 
• Results of the Science Days contribute to the AGRINATURA strategy and support the International Year of Family Farming.

Programme
Speakers

Pre-Discourse

• Michael Hauser: Enabling smallholder farmers to participate in markets

Keynote

Adipala Ekwamu: Small-scale family farming and food poverty: Achievements and the unfinished agenda.
Patrick Dugan: Knowledge, behaviour, power: a transformative change agenda for research and practice

Stream 1: Interdisciplinary research and multi stakeholder innovation with small-scale family farmers

• Lise Andreasen: From agro-ecological research project to agro-ecological research platform?
• Andrew Westby: Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Project: A case study of supporting Family Farming
• Francois Stepman: Programming SMEs in ARD

Stream 2: Higher education and new agricultural innovation competences for nudging transformative changes

• Omedo Bebe Bockline: Deploying Interactive On-line Networking Platform for Improving Quality and Relevance of African University Graduates to Labour Markets
• Paul Kibwika: Developing Human Resource Capacity for Agricultural & Rural Innovations: N-S universities collaboration
• Richard Hawkins: HEIs and IPs

Stream 3: Partnerships and transformative learning alliances of food system actors

• Carolyn Glynn: Changing mindsets on global development; using facts and experiences to reshape our efforts
• Christian Hoste: Agreenium The French consortium for Research & Higher Education in agriculture, food, animal health and the environment
• Luís Mira da Silva and Filipa Sacadura: INOVISA
• Sunil Simon: Farmers collective led on-farm adaptive research: an effective approach for building resilience to climate change

Closing

• Judith Francis: Europe´s future role

Note:

AGRINATURA is an alliance of 31 European universities and research organisations working in agricultural research, education, training and capacity strengthening for development. Activities of members help to unlock opportunities for farmers to enhance food security and improve the agro-food sector in general, whilst reducing the negative impact of agricultural activities on the environment.

The AGRINATURA Science Days in Vienna build on the international CARITAS Conference “Future without Hunger” in 2013. See conference report. JUNE 1-2, 2012 IN VIENNA / AUSTRIA. 121 pages

Extract: PAEPARD presentation on programming SME in ARD

Sme participation in agric research from François Stepman