2009 Global Farmer Apaļā galda

oktobris 13-15, 2009 – Des Moines, Aiova ASV

Participants:

Moderator – Dr. Robert Thompson, Gardner Chair in Agricultural Policy, Univ. of Illinois

ArgentÄ«na – Mr. Marcelo Merce
Austrālija – Ms. Louise Staley
BrazÄ«lija – Mr. Eduardo Sekita
Čīle – Mr. Eugenio vs
Ķīna – Mr. Cheng Cunwang
Hondurasa – Mr. Luis Rodriguez
Indija – Mr. Rajesh Kumar
Īrija – Mr. Jim McCarthy
Kenija – Mr. Gilbert Bor
Meksika – Mr. Francisco Gurria
Portugāle – Mr. Jose Rasquilha
Portugāle – Mr. Joao Grilo
Dienvidāfrika – Mr. Michael Allen
Apvienotā Karaliste – Mr. Lindsay Hargreaves
Savienotās Valstis:
Indiāna – Ms. Carol Keizer
Å…Å«džersija – Mr. John Rigolizzo, Jr.
Oklahoma – Ms. Hope Pjesky

Farmers world-wide, both large and small producers, have at least two goals: 1) to produce enough food and fiber to support their families; un 2) to have access to risk management technology and information so they can overcome the challenges of weather and the economy.
When 17 farmers from six continents met in Des Moines during the Global Farmer Roundtable, they talked about both issues, said Bob Thompson, the distinguished University of Illinois professor of international agriculture public policy, who moderated two days of discussion.

The farmers introduced themselves to each other by describing their farm operations, and through that, “they learn how similar their problems are,” Thompson said. “They also learned from each other what has worked and what has not worked” in solving those problems.

Thompson, who is on both the USDA-USTR Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade and the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council, said the farmers clearly were concerned about losing competitiveness. “We are entering a period of greater volatility and risk in both commodity prices and yields,” he said. “Risk management skills will be key for their future.”

The Global Farmer Roundtable, which was organized by Truth About Trade and Technology (JĀŅEM), brings farmers together to focus on their similarities and provide education about technologies that can help them manage risk, said Mary Boote, TATT’s executive director. “Agricultural science is increasingly under attack by groups and individuals who, for political rather than scientific reasons, are campaigning to limit advances,” she said.

“The farmers who participated in this year’s Roundtable got acquainted with one another and will form a powerful network of information and assistance,” Boote said as she pointed to the networks formed by the 59 farmers who have attended since its inception in 2006.

The Global Farmer Roundtable was sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Council for Biotechnology Information.