CropLife International Annual Conference
in association with EuropaBio
5 June 2003
Agricultural Technologies and Innovations:
Meeting local needs in a globalised world?
CropLife International held its third annual conference in Brussels on 5 June. This year, CropLife International joined forces with EuropaBio, the European Association for Bio Industries, to focus the conference on the use of agricultural technologies throughout the world. Participants from around the world, including representatives from industry, civil society and policy makers, debated with the speakers and panelists on technical and societal issues.
The conference was divided into 3 sessions, and included two panel discussions where all participants could contribute.
A summary of the conference is now available and can be downloaded here. For a selection of photos from the conference, please click here. Or why not see some highlights from the conference by taking a look at this video!
Presentations of each of the speakers are available and can be downloaded by clicking on the name of the speaker below.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Global and future perspective on the use of technology in sustainable agriculture
- Per Pinstrup-Andersen, Cornell University, and winner of 2001 World Food Prize
SESSION 1: Use of biotechnology in agriculture - case studies from around the world
Crops for arid conditions
- Jennifer Thomson, University of Cape Town
Agricultural technology in Africa
- Florence Wambugu, A Harvest Biotech Foundation
BT maize in the Philippines
- Margarita Escaler, ISAAA
Oilseed rape in Scotland
- Shirley Harrison, New Craig Farm
SESSION 2: Global food supply - agricultural, industrial and biosafety considerations
Agricultural realities
- David King, International Federation of Agricultural Producers (presentation to be uploaded shortly)
Global food chain needs
- Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes, University of Missouri
Biosafety considerations
- Calestous Juma, Harvard University
Panel discussion, including intervention by Steve Johnson of the Environmental Protection Agency.
SESSION 3: Environment, access, trade and business implications of agricultural technology
Potential role of Ag technologies in nature conservation
- Jeff McNeely, IUCN, the World Conservation Union
Industry activities for technology transfer
- Willy De Greef, International Biotech Regulatory Services
Fostering public-private partnerships
- Henk Knipscheer, Winrock International
Third World and Biotech
- Anuradha Mittal, Food First
Closing address
The past, present and future of agricultural technology
- Michael Pragnell, CEO, Syngenta and President, CropLife International