UN-backed African Green Revolution meeting to kick off

The United Nations-backed conference on the African Green Revolution – which supports African farming communities as they evolve from subsistence farming to sustainable modern agriculture – kicks off tomorrow in Oslo, Norway.

The first such gathering took place last year, spurred by a July 2004 call by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan to bolster agricultural productivity and food security through a “Green Revolution” in Africa, which he said is the only continent bypassed by the transformation.

This year’s conference – themed “Partnership for Productivity” – emphasizes public-private partnerships, and will draw a wide range of participants, including policymakers, Government officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), farmers, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

“The rural world is at a crossroads, facing ever-increasing pressure to produce more food to feed growing populations amid a number of rapidly evolving global challenges such as climate change, rural-urban migration and emerging biofuel markets,” said Kanayo Nwanze, Vice-President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The Green Revolution “will move forward with support from the outside because the challenges facing African agricultural development require comprehensive solutions only possible through strategic alliances,” he stressed.

Mr. Nwanze is one of scores of speakers to address the four-day conference, expected to be attended by around 200 people.