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<\/p>\nHappy Holidays! <\/p>\n
As 2018 comes to a close, here is a short selection of some of our proudest accomplishments of the past year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research was created and launched this year with Emerging as its Secretariat<\/strong>. The network supports coordination among members, information sharing, and engagement with key stakeholders, in order to raise awareness of the value of gene drive research for the public good and of the need for continuous efforts in its advancement. Their work this year focused on engagement in the policy process for the Convention for Biological Diversity, which met for the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP14) in Egypt in November. An\u00a0open letter<\/a>\u00a0was published ahead of the convention to discuss how research on gene drive technology can benefit environmental conservation and public health goals. Take a look at\u00a0their website<\/a>\u00a0for more information on the work they do.<\/p>\n On behalf of the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC), Emerging has been advocating for the establishment of\u00a0Journ\u00e9e mondiale des l\u00e9gumineuses<\/strong>. Burkina Faso has taken the leadership in advocating for Wold Pulses Day. The government hosted a celebration on February 10, 2018 in Ouagadougou and around the country. Since then, the Second Committee of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted, by consensus, in November 2018 a draft resolution establishing 10 February as World Pulses Day (WPD). The establishment of this day will be a lasting legacy of the enormously successful 2016 International Year of Pulses. The draft resolution should soon be endorsed by the Plenary of the UN General Assembly making the WPD a Day to be observed and celebrated internationally. Learn more\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On April 6,\u00a021 members of the Private Sector Mechanism<\/strong>\u00a0gathered in Rome for the PSM Annual General Meeting (AGM). The group was honored to have the opportunity to meet personally with the Chair of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS), H.E Mario Arvelo, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, who expressed his appreciation for the PSM as a vital mechanism within the Committee.<\/p>\n On April 6th,\u00a011 representatives<\/strong>\u00a0of the associations that make up the International Agri-Food Network gathered for their AGM. This meeting followed a week of activities that included the FAO 2nd International Symposium on Agroecology and an Agroeocology Panel & Discussion for Member States that was organized by the IAFN Secretariat, which is serviced by Emerging.\u00a0<\/p>\n Emerging assisted the International Seed Federation (ISF) in their social media campaigns for the\u00a0World Seed Congress<\/strong>\u00a0the past two years. This year, the Congress took place in Brisbane, Australia with over 1200 attendees. Emerging was onsite to coordinate social media streams, manage live updates and conduct social media training to congress delegates.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0UN\u00a0Committee on World Food Security (CFS)\u00a0<\/strong>is\u00a0the foremost intergovernmental platform\u00a0 to ensure good nutrition and food security for all. The Committee meets every year at the FAO. Emerging, as the Secretariat for the Private Sector Mechanism (PSM), coordinated our largest delegation to date, with\u00a0180 business leaders from 40 countries<\/strong>, including over\u00a065 youth<\/strong>\u00a0and representatives of youth organizations. PSM members hosted five side-events, spoke in plenary, appeared on panels, met with the Director General of FAO, and actively met with CFS stakeholders. Emerging also hosted the High Level Dinner, which attracted 190\u00a0 diplomats and senior business representatives who spent the evening discussing how to\u00a0Engage, Attract and Retain Youth in Agriculture<\/strong>.\u00a0Read the HLD report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Emerging is working for the Prairie Oat Growers Association to encourage oat consumption in Mexico in order to curb the obesity and diabetes epidemics in the country. Emerging has been running a digital marketing campaign called Avena Canada, through a Facebook page and a website promoting delicious oat-based recipes. The Facebook fan page\u00a0exceeded\u00a0200,000 fans<\/strong>. We run recipe contests and partner with local Mexican food bloggers to develop more recipes to grow a positive community of oat-loving foodies online!<\/p>\n Emerging attended the\u00a024th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)<\/strong>, that took place in Katowice, Poland, from December 2nd to 14th, 2018. In Katowice climate change negotiators must finish the work on the rules and guidelines that will help countries implement the Paris Agreement and turn the carbon-cutting vision set in Paris in 2015 into reality. The meeting will also contribute to the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and advance SDG 13 (climate action).<\/p>\n Emerging\u00a0took part in the global debate on climate change to find common solutions to the challenges that climate change is especially posing to agriculture production and food and nutrition security.<\/p>\n Want to learn more about our\u00a0projects?<\/a><\/p>\nTarget Malaria develops new resources<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/emergingag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/b2ap3_thumbnail_TM_MRR.jpg\")
Our collaboration with the\u00a0Cible le paludisme<\/a>\u00a0project is growing strong and we\u2019re excited to be helping a group tackling such an important issue. This year we\u2019ve supported the creation of\u00a0new communication tools that support learning and understanding of the project.<\/strong>\u00a0These include; development of infographics, factsheets, as well as a series of videos, such as one made to describe the\u00a0mark, release and recapture process\u00a0<\/a>as it collects information on mosquito vectors in Burkina Faso.\u00a0<\/p>\nEmerging Team Retreat<\/h3>\n
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The Emerging team gathered in Calgary, Alberta, for their annual winter team retreat. Together we were able to review our work, and had time to enjoy the Canadian snow!<\/p>\nFebruary<\/h1>\n
Journ\u00e9e mondiale des l\u00e9gumineuses<\/h3>\n
March<\/h1>\n
Healthy By Design: How Products and Nutrition Guidelines Meet<\/h3>\n
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On March 28th, Emerging assisted members of the Private Sector Mechanism (PSM) in hosting an innovative event called\u00a0Healthy by Design: How Products and Guidelines Meet.<\/strong>\u00a0This interactive, educational event consisted of a luncheon and series of tastings guided by members of the private sector to consider the challenges of producing foods that are nutritious while also being affordable, accessible, and\u00a0tasty.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/h1>\n
April<\/h1>\n
IAFN & PSM Annual General Meetings<\/h3>\n
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Emerging provides Secretariat services to the International Agri-Food Network (IAFN) and to the Private Sector Mechanism (PSM) to the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS).<\/p>\nJune<\/h1>\n
Journ\u00e9e Mondiale du Lait<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/emergingag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/b2ap3_small_WMD.png\")
Emerging assisted the Global Dairy Platform (GDP) in coordinating global celebrations for\u00a0Journ\u00e9e Mondiale du Lait<\/strong>\u00a0on June 1, 2017 and 2018. In 2018, World Milk Day was a worldwide success again;\u00a0taking place over 42 hours around the world with 586 registered events in 72 countries<\/strong>. Emerging coordinated a worldwide social media campaign that generated\u00a0868 million impressions<\/strong>\u00a0on social media for #WorldMilkDay. The Global Campaign which included #WorldMilkDay, #RaiseAGlass and 19 other translations and local hashtags received over\u00a01.1 billion impressions on social media<\/strong>.\u00a0 Read the full report\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\nISF World Seed Congress<\/h3>\n
July<\/h1>\n
SDG Business Forum 2018<\/h3>\n
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Emerging coordinated the participation of agri-food delegates to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. One of them was Thato Moagi, CEO, LeGae La Banareng Farms, who was a\u00a0panelist at a special event presented by the SDG Business Forum<\/strong>, on July 18. The event, entitled\u00a0\u201cA new era for responsible business \u2013 a conversation with CEOs\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0was moderated by Femi Oke, International Journalist and Broadcaster. Thato and the other two panelists spoke about how they are responding to the challenge of sustainability in their farm operations and their vision for SDG implementation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Investing in Reshaping Food Systems at HLPF 2018<\/h3>\n
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In the context of the\u00a0High Level Political Forum<\/strong>, Emerging worked with the Permanent Missions of Canada and Jamaica to the United Nations and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to host the Side Event “Investing for Reshaping Food Systems” to bring attention to the importance of investing in reshaping food systems to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieve broad-based development. The Side Event, convened on July 11, advocated\u00a0for food systems that can help achieve multiple SDGs by 2030 \u2013 food systems that are efficient, inclusive, climate-smart, sustainable, nutrition- and health-driven, and business-friendly.<\/p>\nGlobal Dairy Platform at HLPF 2018<\/h3>\n
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A number of representatives of the\u00a0Global Dairy Platform (GDP) participated in the third HLPF<\/strong>, from 9 to 18 July, 2018. Emerging worked with these Dairy Ambassadors to\u00a0information on the important role of dairy in delivering and implementing the SDGs by supporting the lives of one billion people around the world.<\/p>\nOctober<\/h1>\n
45th United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS)<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nJourn\u00e9e mondiale des l\u00e9gumineuses<\/h3>\n
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On behalf of Global Pulse Confederation and Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso, Emerging hosted a reception on October 25th in New York to support the\u00a0UN resolution of establishing 10 February as World Pulses Day<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nNovember<\/h1>\n
Avena Canada campaigns for World Diabetes Day<\/h3>\n
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For World Diabetes Day on November 14, the Prairie Oat Growers Association partnered with the Mexican Diabetes Federation and held a series of events focusing on the role of oats in a nutritious and healthy diet, including a\u00a0culinary event\u00a0held at the Colegio Superior de Gastronomia, a media event with journalists, a diabetes fair and digital promotion to encourage early diabetes diagnosis.<\/p>\nPOGA China builds momentum<\/h3>\n
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The Prairie Oat Growers Association joined the\u00a0Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ministerial Trade Mission to China<\/strong>\u00a0tto spark interest for Canadian oats and resolve a phytosanitary trade problem. Emerging joined the Canadian delegation and organized meetings with importers, traders, and government officials in Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Dalian.\u00a0<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/emergingag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/b2ap3_icon_POGA-China.jpg\"){kind=icon}
Emerging also launched a new\u00a0Oats Canada website\u00a0<\/strong>for the Chinese market.\u00a0Check it out here<\/a>.<\/p>\nInternational Symposium on Agricultural Innovation for Family Farmers<\/h3>\n
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The 1st International Symposium on Agricultural Innovation for Family Farmers<\/strong>\u00a0was held in Rome November 21 to 23, with the goal of unlocking the potential of agricultural innovation to achieve the sustainable development goals. Emerging coordinated a delegation of 45 registered attendees from 17 countries, including 9 youth representatives, and hosted several events including “Accelerating Innovation” and “The Future of Farming”.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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Agriculture and Livestock in the Climate Change Negotiations<\/h3>\n
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