CAST & CropLife

Were You There?  You Still Can Be!

If you missed Friday's Town Hall Meeting at the Newseum featuring Gale Buchanan and CAST's new Issue Paper on Ag Policy (Agricultural Productivity Strategies for the Future: Addressing U.S. and Global Challenges), you can catch up and be part of the ongoing discussion at Crop News Network.  Now Serving 9 Billion: Global Dialogue on Meeting Food Needs for the Next Generation connected thousands around the world--1,000 computers on 4 continents and 85,000 respondents via Twitter, blog, and email.  Join CAST and see a complete review in future issues of "Friday Notes."

FEBRUARY 12th EVENT NOTICE:

CropLife International would like your participation in a worldwide event on
the future of agriculture

I'm writing to let you know about an exciting interactive global dialogue that CropLife International is hosting in Washington, DC and broadcasting via the web that will address agricultural challenges, such as: How will we feed 9 billion people in 2050? Will there be enough water for a thirsty world? How can we improve the livelihood of our world's 2.5 billion farmers? For decades, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borlaug worked tirelessly to answer these questions and provide resource-poor farmers with the tools needed to improve farming techniques and feed billions. How can we continue his legacy and ensure food security for a growing world population? Join leading agricultural experts in an international, "Town Hall 2.0" discussion on how to address the challenges farmers and nations will face in the next century. Panelists will comment on Dr. Borlaug's last published statement - featured in a new Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) report. Be sure to participate in the discussion and make your voice heard on how agricultural policies can make a difference for the future. Participate online via Webcast, Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail. The challenges are daunting. We need solutions now. We need your support. What: A live panel discussion at the Newseum with some of the world's leading thinkers of Agriculture and Science Title: 9 Billion Served: A Global Dialogue on Meeting Food Needs for the Next Generation Where: Washington, DC and online Live here > http://www.CropNewsNetwork.com/ When: February 12th, 2010 at 10 AM EST - 12 PM EST Who: Moderated by Frank Sesno, George Washington University School of Public Policy Robert Paarlberg, Professor at Wellesley College and author of Starved for Science: How Biotechnology is Being Kept Out of Africa; Nina Fedoroff, Science and Technology Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of State and to the Administrator of USAID, author of Mendel in the Kitchen; Mark Cantley, former head of the European Commission's "Concertation Unit for Biotechnology in Europe" and of OECD's Biotechnology Unit; Calestous Juma, Pew award winner and Professor of Practice at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government; and, Gale Buchanan, lead author of the CAST report and former USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics How to Register:   You can participate either in-person at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., or virtually through the web site CropNewsNetwork.com, or follow the event on Twitter at twitter.com/CropLifeFdn and twitter.com/CropLifeEvent.  The event will include an open dialogue between panelists, audience members, and online participants. Submit questions in advance at CropNewsNetwork.com, via e-mail during the live Webcast, or on Twitter. More information and online registration is at the following website > http://newseumcast.eventbrite.com/ If you have additional questions, please contact Alex Rinkus at arinkus@CropLifeFoundation.org. We hope that you will be able to join us for this interactive dialogue, either in-person or online. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to your colleagues, contacts and associates. Thank you very much! Regards, Deb Carstoiu CropLife International

Farm Foundation Forum

Feeding the World:   Where Do We Begin? Much attention has been given to building awareness of the challenges facing the world's agriculture as it works to provide food, feed, fuel and fiber to a global population that is expected to double in the next 30 years.  The most recent was the release of a paper by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), "Agricultural Productivity Strategies for the Future: Addressing U.S. and Global Challenges." How to begin addressing those challenges will be the focus of the Feb. 2 Farm Foundation Forum.  Presenters, yet to be named, will make brief comments, after which the floor will be opened for discussion. The Forum will be 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington D.C.  Coffee will be available at 8:30 a.m.   If you plan to attend, please RSVP by noon Friday, Jan. 29. There is no charge to participate.  About the Forum: Farm Foundation, NFP organizes these public forums to engage all stakeholders in informed dialogue on food, agricultural and rural policies.  Participants examine current policies, explore and analyze alternative policy proposals, and give voice to new proposals.  Speakers give brief topic summaries, with ample time provided for discussion.  Who should participate: People with an interest in agricultural, food and rural policy, including members of Congress, congressional staff, executive branch officials, industry representatives, NGO representatives, academics and members of the media.