The Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD 2012) brought together all groups of stakeholders: from researchers to donors such as the FAO, EC or IFAD, to farmers organizations or the private sector. The surprise at the conference co-organized by GFAR and the CGIAR Consortium was the recognition of the role that young … More Young professionals rule!

Between 2008 and 2011 I did a PhD in rural development in Romania. I studied over 50 rural communities, their habits and culture in order to develop a better socio-economic development strategies. In the 50+ communities where I have been in Romania, I have seen people that are struggling to ensure their day-to-day living for … More Rural poverty exists everywhere

October 30th 2012 was the hottest day in Uruguay, the hottest day if we consider that it was the day when the F.2.2. Foresight at Global Level session discussed….where we should go from here. The GCARD2 F2 session on “Foresight Guiding Research and Innovation” had two sessions running in parallel. Session F2.1. was dedicated to … More Future challenges are just around the corner

What is food security? While I was following today, the P.1.1. session on “National Food Security” of the Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD 2012) which discusses Partnerships to Achieve Food and Nutrition Security, I was asked this question. The definition of food security shifted in the past 50 years dramatically. The World Food Summit in 1996 gave … More The Global Food Policy

With world food prices rising by 138% over the past ten years (according to the FAO Food Price Index) and with the UN 2011 World Population Prospects stating that, by 2050, the world population will surpass 9 billion, the challenges of achieving current and future food security in the developing world are brought to the attention … More The road to food security is not a lonely one