Annual Conference 2013
49th Annual Conference and
2013 Future Leaders Forum
"Feeding the Future in a Changing Climate"
June 2-4, 2013
Invitation
It is my sincere pleasure to invite you to participate in The Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development's (AIARD) 49th Annual Conference to be held at the Embassy Suites DC Convention Center June 2 to 4, 2013. AIARD is an association of professionals, practitioners, and students, representing universities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, consulting firms, government agencies, and international organizations. We dedicate ourselves to seeking solutions to the problems of promoting effective development with a focus on the role that agriculture and rural development can play for inclusive and sustained economic growth.
The 2013 annual conference will explore the latest scientific evidence surrounding climate change and its potential impact on global food security and natural resources, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable populations in developing countries and the role of smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The first part of the conference will bring together leading experts to discuss climate change projections and the future of food security with a global population headed towards 9 billion by 2050. Topics will include changing precipitation patterns and availability of water, impacts on crops and livestock, prevalence of pests and diseases, sustainable forest management, and balancing the needs for food, feed, and fuel. The second part of the conference will highlight successful approaches to mitigating and adapting to climate change, including new technologies, international partnerships, and farmer-led initiatives that are already proving effective in many countries around the world. The final part of the conference, "An Urgent Call to Action," will look ahead to see what AIARD and its members can do to educate the public and influence policy-makers concerning climate change and its impact on food security.
AIARD's strength is the technical expertise and experience of its membership, which can, and should be leveraged to inform the agriculture and rural development agenda. As a thought leader AIARD needs to provide a venue for its membership where these topical issues are discussed, and, from which, priorities are identified and communicated. The opportunity to share ideas, make new acquaintances, renew friendships, and contribute and consider creative and innovative ideas to address some of the most difficult issues in development is what we offer. We value the contributions that you can bring to this event and welcome your participation in it. You can help us make AIARD's 49th Annual Conference its best ever.
I, along with the Executive Board, hope to see you in Washington in early June at the AIARD conference. We welcome your participation and look forward to engaging in a productive and stimulating discourse on the issues related to climate change and its potential impact on agriculture and rural development.
Sincerely,
Chuck Chopak President, AIARD
The 2013 annual conference will explore the latest scientific evidence surrounding climate change and its potential impact on global food security and natural resources, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable populations in developing countries and the role of smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The first part of the conference will bring together leading experts to discuss climate change projections and the future of food security with a global population headed towards 9 billion by 2050. Topics will include changing precipitation patterns and availability of water, impacts on crops and livestock, prevalence of pests and diseases, sustainable forest management, and balancing the needs for food, feed, and fuel. The second part of the conference will highlight successful approaches to mitigating and adapting to climate change, including new technologies, international partnerships, and farmer-led initiatives that are already proving effective in many countries around the world. The final part of the conference, "An Urgent Call to Action," will look ahead to see what AIARD and its members can do to educate the public and influence policy-makers concerning climate change and its impact on food security.
AIARD's strength is the technical expertise and experience of its membership, which can, and should be leveraged to inform the agriculture and rural development agenda. As a thought leader AIARD needs to provide a venue for its membership where these topical issues are discussed, and, from which, priorities are identified and communicated. The opportunity to share ideas, make new acquaintances, renew friendships, and contribute and consider creative and innovative ideas to address some of the most difficult issues in development is what we offer. We value the contributions that you can bring to this event and welcome your participation in it. You can help us make AIARD's 49th Annual Conference its best ever.
I, along with the Executive Board, hope to see you in Washington in early June at the AIARD conference. We welcome your participation and look forward to engaging in a productive and stimulating discourse on the issues related to climate change and its potential impact on agriculture and rural development.
Sincerely,
Chuck Chopak President, AIARD