Mark Your Calendar

Climate change and agriculture top the agenda

Rome, 08 February 2012 –The annual Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will feature international personalities who will address climate change issues affecting the agricultural sector – more storms, droughts and rising sea levels.At the very intersection of these challenges  are smallholder farmers in developing countries. Why should we focus on them?  How can smallholders make a difference?  How can they help lead the way to climate-smart and more productive agriculture?

Taking place ahead of Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, slated for Brazil later this year, where climate-smart agriculture will be a major focus, discussions at the Council will highlight how food security and climate change are inextricably linked.

Speakers at the IFAD Governing Council include:

• Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda
• Andrea Riccardi, Minister of International Cooperation and Integration Policies, Republic of Italy
• Akin Adesina, Minister of Agriculture, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will share his perspective on the importance of agriculture and how sustainable productivity improvements can reduce poverty in developing countries. He will challenge both global players and national governments to adopt a new approach to supporting small farmers.

The President of Rwanda and IFAD President will address a jointpress conference on 22 February at 12:15 p.m. to explore the urgent need to enhance smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change.

Journalists must obtain accreditation by 17 February 2012.

Please fill in the accreditation form and send to ifadnewsroom@ifad.org.

Television crews, in particular, are advised to arrive early in order to ensure smooth security clearance of their equipment prior to entering the IFAD premises.

The IFAD social reporting team will report live from the Governing Council. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Media Alert No: MA/01/2012

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) works with poor rural people to enable them to grow and sell more food, increase their incomes and determine the direction of their own lives. Since 1978, IFAD has invested about US$13.7 billion in grants and low-interest loans to developing countries through projects empowering about 405 million people to break out of poverty, thereby helping to create vibrant rural communities. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized UN agency based in Rome – the United Nation’s food and agricultural hub. It is a unique partnership of 167 members from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), other developing countries and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).