The Montpellier Panel launched their new report ‘Growth with Resilience: Opportunities in African Agriculture’ on the 21st March at DFID, London and on 22nd March at the European Commission, Brussels.

Growth with Resilience: Opportunities in African Agriculture

Download the report here 

The Montpellier Panel presented their new report ‘Growth with Resilience: Opportunities in African Agriculture’ on Wednesday 21st March at the Department for International Development (DFID), London and on Thursday 22^nd March at the European Commission, Brussels.

The report  aims to inform discussions related to key policy events in 2012 and will look broadly at agriculture’s role in supporting green growth, food and nutrition security, ecosystem services and climate change mitigation and adaptation, among others.

Sir Gordon Conway, Chair of the Montpellier Panel, said:

“Agriculture is back high on the political agenda, as more leaders are recognizing the key role which it can play in addressing many of the world’s most pressing challenges.  Policies and funding now need to better reflect African national and regional priorities, and build resilient agricultural programmes that fulfill the strong growth potential of the sector. The Montpellier Panel work will also suggest more and better ways for translating these discussions into meaningful interventions on the ground.”

The Montpellier Panel consists a group of ten experts from the fields of agriculture, sustainable development, trade, policy, and global development. It first convened at the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) in Montpellier in March 2010. 

Their first report “Africa and Europe: Partnerships for Agricultural Development”, highlights African priorities in agriculture and nutrition and makes recommendations for ensuring global food price stability and strengthening partnerships between Europe and Africa.

Montpellier Panel members include:

• Gordon Conway (Chair), Professor of International Development, Imperial College London
• Tom Arnold, Chief Executive, Concern Worldwide
• Joachim von Braun, Director, ZEF, University of Bonn
• Henri Carsalade, Chair of the ICARDA Board of Trustees and President of Agropolis Foundation
• Louise Fresco, Professor, University of Amsterdam
• Peter Hazell, Visiting Professor, Imperial College London
• Namanga Ngongi, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
• David Radcliffe, Senior advisor: Agricultural Research for Development, DG Development and Cooperation, European Commission
• Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, Chief Executive, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN)
• Ramadjita Tabo, Deputy Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
• Prabhu Pingali, Deputy Director, Agricultural Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Observer)
• Camilla Toulmin, Director, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) (Moderator)

To request a hard copy or for more information about the report please contact Jo Seed at j.seed@imperial.ac.uk

Media coverage 

• The Guardian Global Development blog  - Expert report sets out new agricultural resilience strategy for African countries
• SciDevNet - How to create resilient agriculture 
• The Huffington Post - Growth with Resilience: An Opportunity for African Agriculture 
• Voice of America - New Report Finds Agriculture Promotes African Economic Growth
• Reuters Africa - Empowering women vital for world food supply
• BBC World Service Business Daily, Out of Africa - Radio interview with Sir Gordon Conway
• Montpellier Panel Members - video about the new report
• Nigeria Newsline - Growth with Resilience: An Opportunity for African Agriculture
• QWT News - Growth with Resilience: An Opportunity for African Agriculture 
• Business Day - Vital to empower women farmers
• CTA, Brussels Office Weblog - Agricultural Growth in Africa: still powerless to improve livelihoods
• African Brains - How to create resilient Agriculture 
• Paepard - Informal stakeholder consultation on agriculture research in Africa
• African Smallholder Farmers Group (ASFG) - Launch of Mon tpe llier Panel Report: Growth with Resilience: Opportunities in African Agriculture 
• World Food Programme - Growth with Resilience: An opportunity for African Agriculture 
• Global Food for Thought News Brief - Growth with Resilience: Opportunities in African Agriculture 
• Ethiopian Review - African Economic Growth through Agriculture 
• Resilience Science - Montpellier Panel – Growth with Resilience: Opportunities in African Agriculture
• Climate Exchange Network for Africa (CENA) - Growth with Resilience: Opportunities in African Agriculture- A Montpellier Panel Report
• Truth about Trade and Technology - How to create resilient agriculture 

Media Contacts

For media inquiries please contact:

Michael Hoevel, Glasshouse Partnership 

michaelh@glasshousepartnership.com  

    +44 (0)207 908 6508   (office)

    +44 (0)79 6265 7322   (mobile)

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