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Symposium Key Messages (161KB)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Stewardship techniques and new technologies are essential to these goals. Knowledge-sharing will underpin the success of these endeavours and groups must work co-operatively, especially smallholder farmers. Throughout the sector, agriculture must embrace change and act more strongly.<\/p>\n
Aspirations expressed by the participants were:<\/h3>\n\n- Protect Soils<\/li>\n
- Improve livelihoods for smallholders<\/li>\n
- Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions<\/li>\n
- Improve Water Quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Opening remarks with Chuck Magro, CEO Agrium Inc.<\/h3>\n\n- Safety \u2013 essential for sector to get that right<\/li>\n
- Farmers \u2013 need for knowledge to advance next generation<\/li>\n
- Environmental Stewardship \u2013 furthering 4R programmes<\/li>\n
- Innovation and Technology \u2013 US farmer productivity up by 100% with a 5% increase in total nutrient use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Framework for Increasing Soil Quality<\/h3>\n
Speakers:<\/strong>
\nHlami Ngwenya, Consultant, Global Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS)
\nBarbara J. Cade-Menun, Ph.D Rsearch Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
\nAjay Markanday, Director, FAO Liaison Office for North America (LOW)
\nTerry Tindall Ph.D, Senior Agronomist, J.R Simplot Company<\/p>\n\n- Soil quality is defined by the purpose of the soils. Are they sustaining what they are supposed to?<\/li>\n
- Developing and maintaining healthy soils is a continuous process. Learning from larger scale farms can be transferred to smaller.<\/li>\n
- The social aspect of enabling farmers is essential and they must be respected and empowered through local organisations.<\/li>\n
- The policy and financing systems have been inadequate to support the growth and importance of agriculture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
International Year of Soil 2015<\/h3>\n
Chair:<\/strong>
\nBarbara J. Cade-Menun, Ph.D Rsearch Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
\nPresident of the Canadian Society of Soil Science and the Chair of CSSS\u2019s Yeaar of the Soil Committee. She is also Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada\u2019s representative of the Year of Soil. <\/p>\n\n- There are many great tools to highlight the importance of soils in 2015 and every year.<\/li>\n
- The importance of soil is under-recognised.<\/li>\n
- The Canadian team pulled together materials for children\u2019s resources to build learn about soils.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Better Access to Inputs for Smallholders<\/h3>\n
Moderator:<\/strong>
\nKevin Tiessen, Senior Program Specialist, Agriculture and Food Security, IDRC
\nSpeakers:<\/strong>
\nHlami Ngwenya, Consultant, Global Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS)
\nIngrid Fischer, Director of Programs, Canadian Co-operative Association
\nLaurence Dare, East Africa Policy Manager, One Acre Fund<\/p>\n\n- Smallholder farmers have the ability to self-organize and need to be supported to do so<\/li>\n
- Cooperatives are private enterprises that serve a unique service to farmers providing access to extension, finance, technology, marketing, quality control<\/li>\n
- Women farmers need access to knowledge, information, technology and need to be reached by extension services<\/li>\n
- A comprehensive approach is needed when delivering services to smallholder farmers to deal with each barrier<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
8 Great Ideas<\/h3>\n\n- Upgrading retail market systems in Sub-Saharan Africa<\/li>\n
- Equipping smallholders for markets through local organizational development and aggregation of power<\/li>\n
- Linking microdosing, warrantage, and input shops to benefit smallholder farmers<\/li>\n
- Increase access to agro-processing such as economic development zone in Malawi<\/li>\n
- Smallholders\u2019 Co-operatives to share and reduce logistics costs<\/li>\n
- Development of inexpensive, efficient livestock vaccines<\/li>\n
- Africa Fertilizer Volunteer Program to get experts<\/li>\n
- Teach farming at schools Manyinga School in Zambia<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Climate Smart Agriculture<\/h3>\n
Keynote:<\/strong>
\nAjay Markanday, Director, FAO Liaison Office for North America (LOW)
\nChair:<\/strong>
\nEric Robinson, Alternate Permanent Representative of Canada to the Food and Agriculture Agencies of the UN
\nSpeakers:<\/strong>
\nAnette Engelund Friis, Head of Program Coordination on Climate Chance, Agriculture and Food Security, CGIAR Research Program
\nBen Pratt, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, The Mosaic Company
\nDr. Kaushik Majumdar, Director of Programs for South Asia, International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI)
\nTim Nerbas, Agrologist, Soil Conservation Council of Canada<\/p>\n\n- Agriculture is an important emitter of GHG with only forestry being a major sink<\/li>\n
- \u201cSave and Grow\u201d is an FAO publication that helps outline how to sustainably intensify agriculture to meet future food demand<\/li>\n
- At the upcoming COP negotiations in Paris, France and FAO will co-host an event on food security and climate<\/li>\n
- A Global Coalition on Climate Smart Agriculture has been formed and is hosted at FAO<\/li>\n
- The public expects absolute reductions in agricultural emissions of GHG even with rising food demand.<\/li>\n
- The sector has been challenged to meet pressures on environmental impact the 4R programme is a solution, but the bar is high to deliver. Be braced that regulation is coming.<\/li>\n
- Use of information technologies and insurance are tools to increase efficiency of input use.<\/li>\n
- Practices are needed to help farmers deal with climate change. The Nutrient Expert Decision Support Tool is a way to use the 4R to improve farmers production.<\/li>\n
- Management can sequester carbon in the soil but changes in management can release that carbon and put soils at risk. Vertical tillage and other fall work can harm gains.<\/li>\n
- If major changes are needed to achieve both adaptation and mitigation, who is going to pay? Almost certainly developed farmers will and potentially developed-country consumers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Moving Climate Smart Agriculture Ahead<\/h3>\n
Chair:<\/strong>
\nPatrick Heffer, Senior Director, Agriculture Service, International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA)<\/p>\n\n- Global Coalition on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) lacks clarity and there is an interest in participating but groups need more direction and openness.<\/li>\n
- Create an incentive for farmers to manage capital expense of converting to CSA<\/li>\n
- Encourage CSA and certification of farms<\/li>\n
- Fostering better alignment between NGOs and private sector<\/li>\n
- Develop metrics to determine how existing programme align with CSA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Metrics for Sustainable Agriculture<\/h3>\n
Chair:<\/strong>
\nRosemary O\u2019Brien, Vice President Public Affairs, CF Industries
\nSpeakers:<\/strong>
\nDr. Xuhua Zhong, Guangdong Acadamy of Agricultural Sciences, The Rice Research Institute
\nNishan Majarian, CEO and Co-Founder, Agrian Inc.
\nMogens Nielsenm Projecct Manager, Yara Denmark<\/p>\n
Opening remarks with Chuck Magro, CEO Agrium Inc.<\/h3>\n\n- Safety \u2013 essential for sector to get that right<\/li>\n
- Farmers \u2013 need for knowledge to advance next generation<\/li>\n
- Environmental Stewardship \u2013 furthering 4R programmes<\/li>\n
- Innovation and Technology \u2013 US farmer productivity up by 100% with a 5% increase in total nutrient use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Framework for Increasing Soil Quality<\/h3>\n
Speakers:<\/strong>
\nHlami Ngwenya, Consultant, Global Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS)
\nBarbara J. Cade-Menun, Ph.D Rsearch Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
\nAjay Markanday, Director, FAO Liaison Office for North America (LOW)
\nTerry Tindall Ph.D, Senior Agronomist, J.R Simplot Company<\/p>\n\n- Soil quality is defined by the purpose of the soils. Are they sustaining what they are supposed to?<\/li>\n
- Developing and maintaining healthy soils is a continuous process. Learning from larger scale farms can be transferred to smaller.<\/li>\n
- The social aspect of enabling farmers is essential and they must be respected and empowered through local organisations.<\/li>\n
- The policy and financing systems have been inadequate to support the growth and importance of agriculture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
International Year of Soil 2015<\/h3>\n
Chair:<\/strong>
\nBarbara J. Cade-Menun, Ph.D Rsearch Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
\nPresident of the Canadian Society of Soil Science and the Chair of CSSS\u2019s Yeaar of the Soil Committee. She is also Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada\u2019s representative of the Year of Soil. <\/p>\n\n- There are many great tools to highlight the importance of soils in 2015 and every year.<\/li>\n
- The importance of soil is under-recognised.<\/li>\n
- The Canadian team pulled together materials for children\u2019s resources to build learn about soils.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Better Access to Inputs for Smallholders<\/h3>\n
Moderator:<\/strong>
\nKevin Tiessen, Senior Program Specialist, Agriculture and Food Security, IDRC
\nSpeakers:<\/strong>
\nHlami Ngwenya, Consultant, Global Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS)
\nIngrid Fischer, Director of Programs, Canadian Co-operative Association
\nLaurence Dare, East Africa Policy Manager, One Acre Fund<\/p>\n\n- Smallholder farmers have the ability to self-organize and need to be supported to do so<\/li>\n
- Cooperatives are private enterprises that serve a unique service to farmers providing access to extension, finance, technology, marketing, quality control<\/li>\n
- Women farmers need access to knowledge, information, technology and need to be reached by extension services<\/li>\n
- A comprehensive approach is needed when delivering services to smallholder farmers to deal with each barrier<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
8 Great Ideas<\/h3>\n\n- Upgrading retail market systems in Sub-Saharan Africa<\/li>\n
- Equipping smallholders for markets through local organizational development and aggregation of power<\/li>\n
- Linking microdosing, warrantage, and input shops to benefit smallholder farmers<\/li>\n
- Increase access to agro-processing such as economic development zone in Malawi<\/li>\n
- Smallholders\u2019 Co-operatives to share and reduce logistics costs<\/li>\n
- Development of inexpensive, efficient livestock vaccines<\/li>\n
- Africa Fertilizer Volunteer Program to get experts<\/li>\n
- Teach farming at schools Manyinga School in Zambia<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Climate Smart Agriculture<\/h3>\n
Keynote:<\/strong>
\nAjay Markanday, Director, FAO Liaison Office for North America (LOW)
\nChair:<\/strong>
\nEric Robinson, Alternate Permanent Representative of Canada to the Food and Agriculture Agencies of the UN
\nSpeakers:<\/strong>
\nAnette Engelund Friis, Head of Program Coordination on Climate Chance, Agriculture and Food Security, CGIAR Research Program
\nBen Pratt, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, The Mosaic Company
\nDr. Kaushik Majumdar, Director of Programs for South Asia, International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI)
\nTim Nerbas, Agrologist, Soil Conservation Council of Canada<\/p>\n\n- Agriculture is an important emitter of GHG with only forestry being a major sink<\/li>\n
- \u201cSave and Grow\u201d is an FAO publication that helps outline how to sustainably intensify agriculture to meet future food demand<\/li>\n
- At the upcoming COP negotiations in Paris, France and FAO will co-host an event on food security and climate<\/li>\n
- A Global Coalition on Climate Smart Agriculture has been formed and is hosted at FAO<\/li>\n
- The public expects absolute reductions in agricultural emissions of GHG even with rising food demand.<\/li>\n
- The sector has been challenged to meet pressures on environmental impact the 4R programme is a solution, but the bar is high to deliver. Be braced that regulation is coming.<\/li>\n
- Use of information technologies and insurance are tools to increase efficiency of input use.<\/li>\n
- Practices are needed to help farmers deal with climate change. The Nutrient Expert Decision Support Tool is a way to use the 4R to improve farmers production.<\/li>\n
- Management can sequester carbon in the soil but changes in management can release that carbon and put soils at risk. Vertical tillage and other fall work can harm gains.<\/li>\n
- If major changes are needed to achieve both adaptation and mitigation, who is going to pay? Almost certainly developed farmers will and potentially developed-country consumers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Moving Climate Smart Agriculture Ahead<\/h3>\n
Chair:<\/strong>
\nPatrick Heffer, Senior Director, Agriculture Service, International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA)<\/p>\n\n- Global Coalition on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) lacks clarity and there is an interest in participating but groups need more direction and openness.<\/li>\n
- Create an incentive for farmers to manage capital expense of converting to CSA<\/li>\n
- Encourage CSA and certification of farms<\/li>\n
- Fostering better alignment between NGOs and private sector<\/li>\n
- Develop metrics to determine how existing programme align with CSA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Metrics for Sustainable Agriculture<\/h3>\n
Chair:<\/strong>
\nRosemary O\u2019Brien, Vice President Public Affairs, CF Industries
\nSpeakers:<\/strong>
\nDr. Xuhua Zhong, Guangdong Acadamy of Agricultural Sciences, The Rice Research Institute
\nNishan Majarian, CEO and Co-Founder, Agrian Inc.
\nMogens Nielsenm Projecct Manager, Yara Denmark<\/p>\n
Framework for Increasing Soil Quality<\/h3>\n
Speakers:<\/strong> Chair:<\/strong> Moderator:<\/strong> Keynote:<\/strong> Chair:<\/strong> Chair:<\/strong>
\nHlami Ngwenya, Consultant, Global Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS)
\nBarbara J. Cade-Menun, Ph.D Rsearch Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
\nAjay Markanday, Director, FAO Liaison Office for North America (LOW)
\nTerry Tindall Ph.D, Senior Agronomist, J.R Simplot Company<\/p>\n\n
International Year of Soil 2015<\/h3>\n
\nBarbara J. Cade-Menun, Ph.D Rsearch Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
\nPresident of the Canadian Society of Soil Science and the Chair of CSSS\u2019s Yeaar of the Soil Committee. She is also Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada\u2019s representative of the Year of Soil. <\/p>\n\n
Better Access to Inputs for Smallholders<\/h3>\n
\nKevin Tiessen, Senior Program Specialist, Agriculture and Food Security, IDRC
\nSpeakers:<\/strong>
\nHlami Ngwenya, Consultant, Global Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS)
\nIngrid Fischer, Director of Programs, Canadian Co-operative Association
\nLaurence Dare, East Africa Policy Manager, One Acre Fund<\/p>\n\n
8 Great Ideas<\/h3>\n
\n
Climate Smart Agriculture<\/h3>\n
\nAjay Markanday, Director, FAO Liaison Office for North America (LOW)
\nChair:<\/strong>
\nEric Robinson, Alternate Permanent Representative of Canada to the Food and Agriculture Agencies of the UN
\nSpeakers:<\/strong>
\nAnette Engelund Friis, Head of Program Coordination on Climate Chance, Agriculture and Food Security, CGIAR Research Program
\nBen Pratt, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, The Mosaic Company
\nDr. Kaushik Majumdar, Director of Programs for South Asia, International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI)
\nTim Nerbas, Agrologist, Soil Conservation Council of Canada<\/p>\n\n
Moving Climate Smart Agriculture Ahead<\/h3>\n
\nPatrick Heffer, Senior Director, Agriculture Service, International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA)<\/p>\n\n
Metrics for Sustainable Agriculture<\/h3>\n
\nRosemary O\u2019Brien, Vice President Public Affairs, CF Industries
\nSpeakers:<\/strong>
\nDr. Xuhua Zhong, Guangdong Acadamy of Agricultural Sciences, The Rice Research Institute
\nNishan Majarian, CEO and Co-Founder, Agrian Inc.
\nMogens Nielsenm Projecct Manager, Yara Denmark<\/p>\n