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A changing world carries many challenges for agriculture. At the global level, increasing population, climate change, parallel demands for food and energy production and evolving human needs require a response in agricultural production, often at the same time as land and inputs become increasingly scarce and expensive. Agriculture needs to provide food security and economic development in the context of these global challenges by responding at the local, national and regional level. Success in responding to these challenges relies on dynamic and sustainable agriculture. This conference is intended to raise awareness of the importance of new plant varieties and high quality seed in this context and considers how governments can develop an enabling environment to encourage plant breeding and the production and distribution of high quality seed.
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Aim
The conference will comprise a two-day "Expert Forum", followed by a one-day "Policy Forum".
Expert Forum
The aim of the Expert Forum is to provide information and facilitate discussion on means of encouraging the development of new plant varieties and the production and distribution of high quality seed in order to meet the demands of a changing world. In particular, the Expert Forum will explore the:
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- importance of new plant varieties in responding to evolving needs;
- role of multilateral cooperation in facilitating access to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and ensuring fair and equitable benefit sharing;
- role of new technologies and methodologies in plant breeding;
- need for intellectual property protection to encourage the development of new plant varieties;
- scope for public/private partnerships;
- role of international certification in facilitating trade and market development;
- importance of high quality seed and seed treatment;
- benefits of effective systems of seed production and distribution;
- need for standardisation of methodologies in seed testing; and
- mechanisms for reducing technical barriers to trade and facilitating trade in seed.
These aspects will be considered in relation to a changing world, including a changing environment, market developments and evolving human needs, and their role in achieving future food security and economic development, especially in developing countries.
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Policy Forum
The Policy Forum will review the conclusions of the Expert Forum on means to provide an enabling environment that encourages the development of new varieties and facilitates the production and distribution of high quality seed.
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Audience
This event is aimed at policy makers, government officials, plant breeders, seed specialists, researchers, farmers' organizations and consumer organizations.
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Structure
The Conference will be held over three days, as follows:
September 8, 9: Expert Forum
September 10: Policy Forum
The Expert Forum will be in English only. The Policy Forum will have simultaneous interpretation in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, and Spanish.
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Conference presentations and proceedings
Copies of all presentations will be published on the Conference website. The proceedings will be published after the Conference.
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DECLARATION FROM THE SECOND WORLD SEED CONFERENCE
World food security: urgent measures on seed needed
More info »
PRESS RELEASE
Urgent government measures and increased public and private investment in the seed sector are required...
More info »
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