Agriculture and Rural Development Day in Copenhagen

Policy makers, rural development practitioners, producers, civil society and the agricultural and scientific community will converge in Copenhagen on December 12, 2009 to  discuss "The road after Copenhagen: priority strategies and actions for ensuring food security and rural development in the face of climate change". The event will highlight the importance of agriculture in climate change and to identify priorities for global agriculture and food security. A workplan with strategies and actions to fully incorporate agriculture into the post-Copenhagen agenda will be developed.

Agriculture and Rural Development Day is being sponsored by a large consortium of organizations, which includes the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Alliance of the CGIAR Centers and the CCAFS Challenge Program.

The Agriculture and Rural Development Day coincides with the United Nations Climate Negotiations (UNFCCC COP-15).   A series of events from December 7-18, 2009 will be held during the UNFCCC COP-15. According to the CGIAR, they, along with key partners "will make the case that, while agriculture is part of the problem – contributing about 14 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions and accounting for most of the 19 percent contributed by deforestation – it must also be part of the solution."

Visit http://www.agricultureday.org/ for additional details of the event. Read the CGIAR press release at http://www.cgiar.org/monthlystory/december2009.html