Further to this, 2015 is the International Year of Soils, and we are launching the latest Montpellier Panel Report ‘No Ordinary Matter: Conserving, Restoring and Enhancing Africa’s Soils’ on the 4th of December, ahead of World Soil Day. We hope that by adding weight to the post-2015 negotiations and drawing further attention to the vital importance of soils for world food security and development, policy makers will place sustainable land and soil management as a key focus area in the post-2015 agenda. As Conservation International’s video highlights - without soil, humans cannot exist.
The G7 meeting will run from the 7th-8th of June 2015 in Germany. Key topics will focus on the global economy and foreign policy, security and development . As part of the development agenda, Germany will focus on delivering health outcomes continuing on from their role as the host of the 2015 Gavi replenishment in January. G7 leaders also intend to support African nations to lay the foundations for security, growth and sustainable development; Agriculture for Impact will continue to emphasize the transformative role that agriculture can play in this process.
Given the political and economic power wielded by the G20 countries, the potential to do more for agricultural development certainly exists. So why is agriculture not more prominent in discussions that are supposed to promote “Growth and Resilience”? With an emerging economy taking the G20 reins in 2015, we hope that Turkey, a country with deep roots and a clear future in trade and agriculture, will make these issues a priority. As the Overseas Development Institute reported, African economic development should be seen as central to the G20 objectives and we plan to stress the importance of agriculture for growth and job creation during the 2015 discussions.
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in France from the 30 November to 11 December 2015. There is great potential for development if the meeting doesn't end in a stalemate as it did in Copenhagen; all the nations of the world including the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, will be bound by a universal agreement on climate. The Montpellier Panel looks forward to engaging further on this issue in 2015. In other news, Agriculture for Impact is recruiting a Project Administrator for January 2015. If you are interested in joining our small and vibrant team based in London, please click for more details and to apply before the 8th of December deadline.
I hope you all have a well-deserved break over the December holidays as there is much to do in the New Year. I look forward to working with you to ensure the “super development” year of opportunities is also one of impact.
Agriculture for Impact: from the blog and in the media
From the blog: "What Women Want?"
"G20: Is agriculture the elephant in the room?". Emily Alpert blogs for Thomson Reuters Foundation
"Small & Growing:
Entrepreneurship for African Agriculture'
