IFIAD Annual Conference 2019

'Sustainable Diets & Equitable Food Systems in a Changing Climate'

_24O3552-X3 The fourth annual conference of IFIAD will take place at the Headquarters of the Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Iveagh House, on Wednesday, 23rd October, 2019. The theme for this year’s conference will be ‘Sustainable Diets & Equitable Food Systems in a Changing Climate,’ and the keynote speaker at the event will be the President of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mr Gilbert Houngbo. This year’s event will include sessions on:

  • TRANSITIONING TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS IN A TIME OF CLIMATE CHANGE How do we provide nutritious diets for optimal health in the face of global warming. Unlocking the potential of agriculture in this context remains central on the international development agenda.
  • ENABLING BUSINESS TO DELIVER HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE DIETS FOR ALL Food systems have changed dramatically in the past half century, but the food industry is often criticised for making food unhealthier. What does the future hold?
  • HOW TO LEVERAGE THE FOOD SYSTEM TO REACH THE FURTHEST BEHIND FIRST? Just and fair inclusion for all is recognised as essential to the future. Since there are large disparities in nutrition and health between the rich and poor, what needs to happen?

RESOURCES:

This year's speakers are:

  • Gilbert F. Houngbo is the sixth President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). A former Prime Minister of Togo, in a 30 years career he has worked in politics, international development, diplomacy and financial management. Prior to his appointment as IFAD President, Houngbo was the Deputy Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), where he led field operations in more than 100 countries.
  • Prof. Charles Spillane, is Chair of the Irish Forum for International Agricultural Development (IFIAD). Prof. Spillane is the Established Professor (Chair) of Plant Science and Director of the inter-disciplinary Ryan Institute (www.ryaninstitute.ie) at the National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland. He is also the Director of NUI Galway’s Masters degree programme in Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (MScCCAFS).
  • Julia Wolf, Natural Resources Officer-Climate Change, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Julia Wolf is an agriculture economist and has been working for FAO, UNDP and the German Government for 20 years.
  • Bruce Campbell, Programme Director of Research on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), CGIAR. Dr Campbell is Director of the CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), a staff member of International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and Senior Advisor to the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA).
  • Dr John Gilliland OBE, Director of Global Agriculture and Sustainability at Devenish Nutrition, an innovative livestock nutrition company which creates complete solutions, improving animal, human and environmental health simultaneously.
  • Dr Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Prior to joining, he was the founding co-chair and lead author of the Global Nutrition Report (GNR). From 2004-2014 Lawrence was the Director of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), the world’s leading development studies institute, and prior to that, he was a research Director at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
  • Haika Malleko, Private Sector Coordinator for GAIN Tanzania. Haika Malleko works closely with food and nutrition businesses in Tanzania to mobilise them to invest in nutrition as well as working with government to create an enabling environment for business.
  • Margaret Ngetha, Enterprise Development Advisor with Self Help Africa. A technical advisor in Enterprise Development prior to Joining Self Help Africa, Margaret worked with TechnoServe supporting private sector led Food Processors in East and Southern Africa to unlock local regional and international markets for safe and nutritious foods.
  • Paul Murphy, CEO of Valid Nutrition, a social enterprise founded on the premise that market based solutions, which create and nurture consumer demand for good nutrition, are key to ending global malnutrition –and driving economic growth in the countries concerned.
  • Dr Fergus Sinclair, Leader of Systems Science at World Agroforestry (ICRAF). Dr Sinclair is Leader of Systems Science at World Agroforestry, Nairobi through collaboration with Bangor University, UK.
  • Betty Chinyamunyamu, CEO of National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM). A Development Economist with extensive knowledge and experience in agribusiness development, food security, rural development, project development and management, policy and advocacy.
  • Sophie Healy-Thow,Youth Leader and Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) Lead Group Member. She is a co-founder of “Agrikua”, an online platform which aims to promote women and decrease the gender gap in agriculture in developing countries with eight young people from across the globe.
  • Niamh Garvey, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Trócaire. She has worked in research, policy and advocacy on issues including climate justice, aid policy, international trade and the middle east.