The International Fund for Agricultural Development will hold its two-day Governing Council meeting as a forum for member States, partners and the public to discuss and debate what needs to be done to enable smallholder farmers to contribute to raising food availability by 70% by 2050. High level speakers will include Bill Gates, and Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, the CEO of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network, who will present on “What promise will Rio herald for agriculture.” The IFAD concept note for the meeting also highlights climate change challenges to sustainable agriculture and intervention options. Key speakers are listed in this press release: http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2012/alert/2.htm.  

dates: 22-23 February 2012   location: Rome, Italy   contact: IFAD   www: http://www.ifad.org/events/gc/35/index.htm