Addressing Food Security in the Medium and Long Term
INFO
The Green Revolution contributed to a decades-long rise in supplies of agricultural-based food inputs and a concomitant reduction in prices over the long term. As productivity gains have now run their course and available land and water have become more scarce, slowing yield gains, energy prices and climate change have exacerbated the situation. On the demand side, population and economic growth in developing countries, and the reallocation of agricultural land to accommodate biofuel production, are the major influences. These factors combined will maintain pressure on world food markets, and especially will lead to greater volatility.
This session will discuss the major factors influencing world food markets over the medium to long run. Presenters will discuss factors affecting food prices in the future and policy options needed to increase agricultural productivity over the long term. Participating sites will include countries in the ECA and MENA (Middle East North Africa) region.
This program will also feature an email discussion forum between experts and participants following the event (see "Reading Materials" tab).
Program Speakers Panelists:
Mr. Ulrich Koester, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kiel, Germany
Mr. Derek Byerlee, Former World Bank Senior Advisor, Consultant to the World Bank’s Development Research Group
Discussants:
Mr. Bekzod Shamsiev, Sr. Agricultural Economist, Sustainable Development Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank
Moderator:
Mr. Gary Fine, Sr. Private Sector Development Specialist, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank
Mr. Ulrich Koester is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Kiel, Germany. Prof. Koester's research interests are in agricultural market analysis, agricultural market policy, international trade in agricultural commodities and the transition of Eastern European and Central Asian economies. As a visiting fellow for ten years at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), he conducted research on regional cooperation to improve food security. Prof. Koester received his doctoral degree (Dr. rer. pol.) from the University of Göttingen, Germany.
Mr. Derek Byerlee is a former World Bank staff specializing in agricultural economics in developing countries. After beginning in academia at Michigan State University, he spent the bulk of his career at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). After joining the World Bank in 1994, he worked to find innovative approaches to funding and organizing agricultural research, including emerging challenges in biotechnology policy, for several years also providing strategic direction and led policy work for the agricultural and rural sector in the World Bank.
Presenters and other World Bank experts will address additional questions and comments from participants all day December 18 and 19. Participants will receive an initial email following the video conference which will enable them to respond to all or specific experts.
RSS