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Private Sector Mechanism Meets in Rome

Morgane Danielou, Robynne Anderson, and Katy Lee of Emerging ag
Morgane Danielou, Robynne Anderson, and Katy Lee of Emerging ag provide the secretariat services to the Private Sector Mechanism through the International Agri-Food Network.

Almost 40 representatives from organisations all over the world came together in May during the annual meeting of the Private Sector Mechanism to the CFS (2015) in Rome. Covering virtually every sector of the agri-food value chain, we had representatives from beverages, biofuels, farmers, fisheries, forestry, inputs, livestock, grain trade, pulses, processors, and grocery products.

The Deputy Director-General of FAO, Dan Gustafson, met with the private sector for lunch on Wednesday. Discussion was centred around improved modalities of engagement for the private sector with FAO, better communication and engagement with the private sector concerning FAO’s programming “on the ground”, and increased opportunities for PSM members to be able to participate as observers and to convene side events at FAO conference.

More than 30 diplomatic attendees attended our reception on Tuesday evening at which Jaine Chisolm Caunt, the newly elected Chair of the International Agri-Food Network, welcomed the guests and invited special guest Minister Gustavo Infante, Vice-Chair of the CFS to bring remarks.

More than 60 countries, as well as UN Agencies, were reached during all of the meetings. The discussions helped to strengthen the foundation for long-term engagement and policy effectiveness at CFS and this year they were conducted in English, French and Spanish. Meetings with the private sector were arranged with:

  • African Union
  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Argentina
  • Austria
  • Bangladesh
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Cote D’Ivoire
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • European Union
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Italy
  • Kenya
  • Latvia
  • Liberia
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • South Sudan
  • Spain
  • Sudan
  • Switzerland
  • Uganda
  • UK
  • USA
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
Robynne Anderson

Robynne has extensive experience in the agriculture and food sector, working throughout the value chain – from basic inputs to farmers in the field to the grocery store shelf. She works internationally in the sector, including speaking at the United Nations on agriculture and food issues, and representing the International Agri-Food Network at the UN.Throughout her career she has worked with farm organisations like the Prairie Oat Growers Association, the National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi and the Himalayan Farmers Association, as well as global groups, to further the voice of agriculture in the food debate. She has also worked with Fortune 500 companies growing worldwide businesses to assist them with issues management and strategy decisions.

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