Policy makers, agriculturalists, negotiators and partners join hands in the African Conference on Agriculture, food Security and Climate Change to consider an African Position

Close to 1000 agricultural and climate change experts from African countries, policymakers, Ministers and representatives from the African Union Commission (AUC), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and other international organizations will convene here from the 6th to the 8th of September 2010 for an African Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change.

The Conference aims to take into account the relationship between agriculture, food security and climate change and draw up recommendations to the global conference in Hague in October which will bring together Governmental and nongovernmental actors (NGO’s, R&D and private sector) to strengthen the position for agriculture during the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Cancún, November 29 – December 10, 2010.

Appreciating the positive steps that Agriculture has so made in the negotiation process, participants at the Conference will be pushing for not only recognition of agriculture’s vital role in climate change adaptation and mitigation but subsequent articulation in the various texts – an issue that has for the most part been missing.

It is in this regard that participants in Addis Ababa will pay particular attention to current position of agriculture in negotiations, relevant policies, available best practices and technologies, as well as financing measures needed for the advancement of “climate smart agriculture” and the contribution of agriculture in the development of countries economies given anticipated climate changes.

Inherently, for Africa to meet the climate challenges, policy change, adoption of proven technologies and practices and substantial additional financing and investment will be needed. New investments ought to be pursued but at the same time ensure that adaptation and mitigation do not undermine support for agriculture and rural development.

Key-note remarks at the Addis Ababa Conference will be made by President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia H.E. Girma Wolde-Giorgis, Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson, AUC and Mrs. Gerda Verburg, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Netherlands and H.E Ole Kristian Holthe, Ambassador for Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway.

This article was originally posted on Sustainable Development Africa Platform