e-Agriculture: looking back and moving forward
Welcome to the “WSIS+10 Forum” sponsored by the Grameen Foundation and FAO. Join us from 25 November through 6 December.
Over the last several years, there has been significant progress in improving communication and decision making in rural areas through the application of new technologies. Multi-stakeholder partnerships have formed, and time and money have been invested. Now more than ever we need to reflect on our experiences and strategize for the future.
What have we learned? What are the obstacles that still need to be overcome? Is everyone benefiting equally from these advances in technology?
In 2014 and 2015 reviews of our successes and failures in improving agricultural and rural development with ICT will be part of the WSIS+10 events and the MDG review. Multiple local, national and regional events will provide inputs. The e-Agriculture Community, has been invited to make its own inputs, and the Grameen Foundation has kindly offered to lead this activity.
Our guest Subject Matter Experts will contribute to the discussion, including:
• Md. Shahid Uddin Akbar, CEO, Bangladesh Institute of ICT in Development
• Lee Babcock, Managing Director, LHB Associates
• Stephane Boyera, CEO, SB Consulting
• Esteban Gallego, MANA Manager (Regional Food Security Program)
• Enrique Hennings, Global Producer Finance Manager, Fairtrade International
• Kiringai Kamau, Value Chain Analyst, VACID Africa
• Megan Mayzelle, e-Afghan Ag, UC Davis
• Hillary Miller-Wise, VP, Information Services, Grameen Foundation
• Pablo Ramirez, Ethical Sourcing Manager, Starbucks
• Rachel Sibande, Chief of Party, Agribusiness Systems International's Malawi TEXTs programs
• Gerard Sylvester, FAO Asia-Pacific
• John Tull, Director, Mobile Agriculture Innovation, Grameen Foundation
• Rachel Zedeck, Founder, Backpack Farm Agriculture Program
A synthesis will be prepared following the debate and a policy brief, which will take into account key initiatives, recommendations and conclusions, will be prepared for use in the WSIS+10 High Level Event scheduled for April 2014.
The forum is moderated by Juan Forero (Grameen Foundation) and Michael Riggs (FAO).