48th Annual Conference and
2012 Future Leaders Forum
Theme: "Priorities for Inclusive Agriculture and Rural Development"
Program

The current thinking of many development agencies around the world has been to include poor households as a target for development and keep the focus on using market-led approaches. While these two development objectives are not mutually exclusive, most current development activities either focus on the poor, where scale and market inclusion are challenge, or focus on value chains, which does not meaningfully include the participation of resource-poor households. The specific topics proposed for this annual conference include making markets work for all; integrating public and private extension services; and integrating nutrition with agriculture. 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. This meeting is envisioned to have the AIARD membership discuss how it can play that role.

Sunday, June 3

3:30 p.m.Executive Board Meeting
Room of the Secretary/Treasurer, Embassy Suites Hotel, Washington, D.C.

5:00 p.m.Registration Room: Capital C Lobby

6:30 p.m.Sunday Evening Reception
Room: Capital C

Monday, June 4

7:30 a.m.Continental Breakfast
Room: Capital CD

8:30 a.m.Welcome and Program Overview
Handy Williamson, University of Missouri, AIARD President, 2011-2012
Chuck Chopak, DAI, 2012-2013 AIARD President-Elect

8:45 a.m.Panel I: Inclusive Agriculture and Rural Development: Overview

Presiding: Doyle Baker, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Panelists:

  • James Boomgard, President and Chief Executive Officer, DAI
  • Sonny Ramaswamy, Director, USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture
  • Paul Weisenfeld, Assistant Administrator, USAID Bureau of Food Security
10:10 a.m.Break

10:30 p.m.Panel II: Making Markets Work for All (Plenary)

Presiding: Doyle Baker, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Panelists:

  • Addressing Poverty through a Market-Based Approach to Agricultural Development: Ruth Campbell, Managing Director, Enterprise Development and Competitiveness, ACDI/VOCA
  • Enterprise Development and Market Access in Rural Areas - The Case for High-Value Horticulture: James Simon, Professor and Director, New Use Agriculture and Natural Plant Products Program, Rutgers University
  • Making Fertilizer Markets Work for Smallholders: Sarah Gavian, Chief Economist, IFDC
  • Developing Social Capital: Engaging the Poorest Communities: Pierre Ferrari, CEO and President, Heifer International
11:45 a.m.AIARD Future Leaders Forum: Introduction of Participants
Robert Haggerty, University of Idaho, AIARD Finance Chair and Past President

12:15pmLunch
Presiding: Handy Williamson, AIARD President, 2010-2011

Keynote Speaker: TBD

1:30 p.m.Panel II (continued): Making Markets Work for All (Small Group Discussion)

2:45 p.m.Panel III: Integrating Public and Private Sector Extension Services (Plenary)

Presiding: Michael J. McGirr, National Program Leader, Center for International Programs, USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture

Panelists:

  • Innovative Extension to Reach Poor Rural Farmers: Burt Swanson, Professor Emeritus and Rural Development Coordinator, Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services (MEAS), Worldwide Extension Study, University of Illinois
  • Developing Private Sector Extension Services Examples from Kenya and Zimbabwe: Tom Herlehy, Practice Manager for Agricultural Productivity and Competitiveness, Land O'Lakes
  • Sustainable Private Sector Delivery of Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services: Frank Lusby, Executive Director, Action for Enterprise
  • The "Business" of the Public Sector: William Rivera, Retired, University of Maryland, College Park
4:15 p.m.Panel III: Integrating Public and Private Sector Extension Services (Small Group Discussion)

5:00 p.m.Adjourn

5:45 p.m.President's Reception
Room: Capital CD Lobby

6:30 p.m.Dinner
Room: Capital CD
Presiding: Handy Williamson, University of Missouri, AIARD President, 2010-2011

7:30 p.m.AIARD Awards Presentation: Recognizing Excellence and Career Achievements
Albert Ayeni, Rutgers University, Awards Committee Chair, Presiding

8:00 p.m.Adjourn

Tuesday, June 5

7:30 a.m.Continental Breakfast
Room: Capital C

8:30 a.m.Panel IV: Integrating Nutrition and Agriculture (Plenary) Room Capital CD
Presiding: Kristin Penn, Technical Advisor, USAID, Feed the Future Deputy Coordinator's Office

Panelists:

  • Feed the Future's Updated Approach to Agriculture and Nutrition Linkages: Sally Abbot, USAID
  • Synthesis of Current Guidance for Linking Agriculture and Nutrition: Anna Herforth, Nutrition and Food Security Consultant
  • Better Crops for Better Nutrition - A Renewed Role for Agriculture: Fabiana Moura, Research Fellow, HarvestPlus
  • Integrating Agriculture, Nutrition, Health, and HIV Interventions: Tools and Program Experience: Ashley Aakesson, Nutrition Program Officer, PATH
9:45 a.m.Panel IV: Integrating Nutrition and Agriculture (Small Group Discussion)

10:30 a.m.Coffee Break

10:45 a.m.Roundtable Discussion: "The Future of AIARD: Creative Ideas for Moving Forward"
Moderator: Handy Williamson, University of Missouri, AIARD President 2011-2012

11:15 a.m.Reflections on the AIARD Conference
Future Leaders Forum Participants

11:45 a.m.47th Annual Meeting Program Wrap Up: Observations and Comments
AIARD President-Elect

NoonAdjourn Program Meeting

Lunch
Room: Capital CD

1:00 p.m.AIARD Annual Business Meeting
Handy Williamson, University of Missouri, AIARD President 2011-2012

1:45 p.m.Adjourn

Wednesday-Thursday, June 6-8

TBDFuture Leaders Forum Participants Visit Washington, DC Offices