By Laurie Burstein
St. Louis will again be the global stage when more than 400 leaders from all over the world gather for one of the largest meetings to discuss and debate the needs of the world's growing population and the shortages of food, fuel, fiber and water in both developed and developing nations.
The 2009 Congress is conducted by the St. Louis-based World Agricultural Forum (WAF), a neutral, global organization providing all countries and sectors an equal voice for the discussion of agriculture policies and strategies. WAF was established in 1997, and has an impressive advisory board that includes top international players, such as James Bolger, ONZ, former prime minister of New Zealand and ambassador to the United States.
The WAF also conducts regional Congresses, such as the first African meeting set to take place in Fall 2009 in Uganda that will address regional emerging trends and key industry issues such as sustainable agriculture, fair trade policies and biotechnology. The agenda for each Congress is primarily focused on the theme of "creating wealth through investing in agriculture."
"Just as we have done for the past six years, the World Agricultural Forum will bring together global leaders at the forefront of these agricultural issues to focus on solutions," says Dr. Leonard Guarraia, chairman and CEO of the WAF.
Dr. Guarraia continues, "Much has been said about the problems facing world agriculture, now we need to develop the tools and practices that will liberate our global potential to feed every man, woman and child on earth. Agriculture is the solution; what we need to solve together is how we leverage it for abundance, not just sustainability."
The WAF 2009 World Congress is set for May 17 to 20, 2009 in St. Louis. This will be the WAF's 6th Biennial World Congress. Participants will examine solutions to the world's current and future struggles with agriculture and food supply by exploring ways to leverage technology and innovation, create incentives for production, adapt agriculture practices to supplement climate change and overcome social obstacles.
Each sector—government, private and private-public partnerships, civil society non-governmental organizations—will be challenged to provide benchmarks for success in using agriculture as the means for economic growth and stability, particularly addressing the issues of food, fuel, fiber and water.
The 2009 World Congress will also
integrate the WAF Task Force on Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education—Entrepreneurship and Community Development. With more attention focused on emerging economies' potential in agriculture, the WAF will assemble educational leaders from around the globe who have demonstrated positive results in preparing small farmers on how to address both the business and hands-on aspects of agriculture in today's world.
Higher education leaders such as Jose Zaglul of EARTH University in Costa Rica, who have successfully trained hundreds of farmers in Central and South America, will participate along with other well-known educators. The goal is to encourage the
tertiary education system in emerging economies, such as Africa, to produce entrepreneurial and community oriented graduates who are committed to assisting and promoting the critical role agriculture plays in creating wealth at the individual, local and national level.
Carole Brookins, co-founder and managing director of Public Capital Advisors, who has been involved with the WAF since it began and is a board member says, "What is uniquely important about the World Agricultural Forum is that it brings together worldwide leaders in agriculture to discuss crucial issues. It has become a vital, global networking forum determined to find real
world solutions."
She adds the WAF is very action-oriented. "We look at what's being done successfully in certain countries and find ways to bring some of these innovations in agriculture to other countries."
One example Brookins points to is in the area of biofuels. WAF has a bio-energy
initiative in Africa to work in rural areas
with native people to help them produce new fuel sources from local plants.
Dr. Guarraia also mentions that the
St. Louis region and local companies play an important role in the success of the WAF's past and upcoming Congresses. Locally-based corporations such as Novus, Monsanto, Cargill and Bunge, are given a leadership role in key discussions highlighting the industry'sÊdeveloping solutions in addressing global agriculturalÊchallenges the world faces in feeding its population.
"In May 2007, the WAF experienced our most successful World Congress to date, with more than 400 world leaders representing 30 nations in St. Louis for our 10th Anniversary," Dr. Guarraia says.
He continues, "Agriculture has become one of the hottest news topics and the WAF's World Congresses brings that international attention to theÊSt. Louis region and economy. We expect our upcoming 2009 Congress to bring high-level participants from around the globe to St. Louis for an interchange of ideas and solutions." |
