Events
The Future Agricultures Consortium participates in many conferences and workshops. We also watch for important agriculture policy “windows” and report them here.
Latest articles
Climate Change: The Hidden Adaptation Opportunities For Young People In The Agrifood Sector
March 12, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers by Esther Kihoro, Immaculate Maina, Maureen Miruka, and Festus M. Murithi Climate change is one of the biggest challenges to sustainable development. Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change because of its overdependence on rain-fed agriculture, compounded by factors such
Youth, Agriculture and Land Grabs in Malawi
March 12, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers by Blessings Chinsinga and Michael Chasukwa Malawi has featured in the international media as a potential trigger of the unique version of the African Green Revolution for the rest of the countries to emulate. It has been flagged as such
Blog: Urban myths and rural futures for Africa’s young people
March 11, 2012 / Agricultural Investment, Gender and Land in Africa Are people in Africa really moving as much in one direction - into towns and cities - as is commonly believed? Ahead of our Young People, Farming and Food conference, John Thompson, Future Agricultures Consortium co-ordinator, has written a blog
Blog: Urban myths and rural futures for Africa’s young people
March 11, 2012 / Young People, Farming & Food Conference Are people in Africa really moving as much in one direction - into towns and cities - as is commonly believed? Ahead of our Young People, Farming and Food conference, John Thompson, Future Agricultures Consortium co-ordinator, has written a blog
Blog: Urban myths and rural futures for Africa’s young people
March 11, 2012 / Political Economy of Agricultural Policy in Africa Are people in Africa really moving as much in one direction - into towns and cities - as is commonly believed? Ahead of our Young People, Farming and Food conference, John Thompson, Future Agricultures Consortium co-ordinator, has written a blog
“Last resort and often not an option at all”: Youth, education and farming as livelihood in Ethiopia
March 9, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers By Getnet Tadele and Asrat Ayalew The current government of Ethiopia considers the agricultural sector as the key factor that will ultimately determine the success or failure of its national development plan based on the ADLI philosophy. Growth in the
The REVA PLAN in Senegal: Does modern farming of change minds of young people about agriculture?
March 9, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers By Mohamadou Sall Agriculture has always held a central position in Senegalese economy. In all areas of the country, agriculture was and still remains the solid prop of domestic economy. Agriculture was given much attention by the colonial administration: successive
Quick Money and Power: Tomatoes and livelihood building in rural Brong Ahafo, Ghana
March 9, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers By Christine Okali and James Sumberg This paper uses an example of small-scale, labour-intensive tomato production that is expected to lead to short-term capital accumulation to explore the prospects of engaging rural youth in the agri-food sector in Africa. The
Enticing African young people to agriculture through education, training and mentorship
March 9, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers By Grace Mwaura The challenge for Africa is that of human capital, not the absence, but the disempowerment of it. I address this challenge in relation to African agriculture and food security in the continent, and with a focus on
Fostering sustainable engagement of the youth in the agrifood sector: opportunities and challenges
March 9, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers By A.-H. Abubakari, M.R. McDonald, D. Ceplis, K.G. Mahunu, J. Owen, I.A. Idun, P. Kumah, M. Pritchard, G. Nyarko and F. Appiah The youth, who form the main active working force, constitute more than 20% of Ghana’s population. The Ghana
Nicholas Waitathu – turning worms into silky opportunities
March 7, 2012 / Young People Farming and Food Conference Runner-up Nicholas Waitathu’s entry to our 2012 journalism competition on young people, agriculture and food.
Isabella E.C. Akinseye – agri-what – Nigerian youth and agriculture
March 7, 2012 / Young People Farming and Food Conference Runner-up Isabella E.C. Akinseye’s entry to our 2012 journalism competition on young people, agriculture and food.
Vivian Nereah Atakos: Healthy Learning: Creating opportunities for experiential learning
March 7, 2012 / Young People Farming and Food Conference Entry by Vivian Nereah Atakos, Communication and Information Officer, VVOB Kenya, to our 2012 journalism competition on young people, agriculture and food. This entry won second place in the competition.
James Karuga: Rural youth shatter the myth of farming as a poor man’s profession
March 7, 2012 / Young People Farming and Food Conference Kenyan journalist James Karuga’s winning entry to our 2012 journalism competition on young people, farming and food.
Results of poll #1: young people and policy
March 5, 2012 / Young People, Farming & Food Conference During the course of our Young People, Food and Agriculture conference, which is scheduled to take place March 19-21, we are asking a series of questions on what role young people in Africa play in agriculture. Results from the poll
Employment of agricultural graduates: Who are we training for?
February 29, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers By Sidi Sanyang, Samba Ly, Stella Ennis, Lamin Jobe, Lassine Diarra, Pierre Bantaba Despite the active involvement of the civil society organizations such as agribusiness and farmers’ organizations in the agriculture job market in the last 10 years, the public
Agricultural Non-family Workers (Sourga) in Senegal River Valley
February 29, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers by Amadou Ndiaye Agricultural non-family labour appeared on Senegal’s farms with the introduction of the groundnut crop during the colonial era. This phenomenon started between the two wars. A few years after War World II, with the establishment of a
Common interest youth groups and their contribution to food security
February 29, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers Full title: Common interest youth groups and their contribution to food security among small holder farm households In Western Kenya By Libaisi, J.K, Marinda, P.A. and Wakhungu, J.W. The realization of development and smallholders’ livelihood goals requires strategies to improve
Farm households’ livelihood diversification and its implications
February 29, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers Full title: Farm households’ livelihood diversification and its implications for young people’s engagement in agriculture, the case of Uasin Gishu County, Kenya by Korir, L.K., Lagat, J.K. and Njehia, B.K. In Kenya, the youth represent about 35.39% of the total
Exploring opportunities and constraints for young agro-entrepreneurs in Africa
February 29, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers By Francesca Dalla Vale, UN FAO The purpose of this paper is to offer an analytical review of opportunities and constraints faced by youth wishing to become agro entrepreneurs while giving some examples and suggestions as to how governments and
Agriculture in the School Curriculum in Zimbabwe
February 29, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers By Lydia Biriwasha, FAC Early Career Fellow Agriculture has always played a vital role in the socio-economic development of most countries. In most rural areas it is a major source of livelihood (Juma, 2007). The agricultural sector is important in
‘The Land of our Birth’: Rural Youth Aspirations and Career Choice in Farming
February 29, 2012 / Young People, Farming and Food conference papers By Richard A. Ampadu, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University, The Hague A greater majority of studies in career development have focused on the educational aspirations of young people, with a particular accent on urban youth. Although agriculture is the
Media competition 2012 – Young People, Farming & Food (extended deadline)
February 17, 2012 / Young People Farming and Food Conference Extended deadline: 23 February 2012. Details, entry instructions and terms and conditions for the journalism competition for the Young People, Farming and Food conference 2012.
Reading list: Young People, Farming and Food
February 14, 2012 / Agricultural Investment, Gender and Land in Africa If you are attending or interested in our Young People, Farming and Food conference, you may like to read some of the resources below. They are selected examples of the rich body of research and reporting on youth and farming
Reading list: Young People, Farming and Food
February 14, 2012 / Young People, Farming & Food Conference If you are attending or interested in our Young People, Farming and Food conference, you may like to read some of the resources below. They are selected examples of the rich body of research and reporting on youth and farming
Reading list: Young People, Farming and Food
February 14, 2012 / Political Economy of Agricultural Policy in Africa If you are attending or interested in our Young People, Farming and Food conference, you may like to read some of the resources below. They are selected examples of the rich body of research and reporting on youth and farming
Video: food prices – what should be done?
February 11, 2012 / Food Price Volatility There is widespread agreement that poor people are most affected by volatility of food prices. But what should be done about it? In these short videos, made at a workshop at the Institute of Development Studies in February 2012, participants
What do young people think about cocoa farming in Ghana?
February 10, 2012 / Young People, Farming & Food Conference There is renewed interest in shoring up agriculture as an avenue to economic growth and, more broadly, to development on the African continent. This is evident in current policy and development discourses, in the budgetary and programmatic commitments of governments
What do young people think about cocoa farming in Ghana?
February 10, 2012 / Agricultural Investment, Gender and Land in Africa There is renewed interest in shoring up agriculture as an avenue to economic growth and, more broadly, to development on the African continent. This is evident in current policy and development discourses, in the budgetary and programmatic commitments of governments
What do young people think about cocoa farming in Ghana?
February 10, 2012 / Political Economy of Agricultural Policy in Africa There is renewed interest in shoring up agriculture as an avenue to economic growth and, more broadly, to development on the African continent. This is evident in current policy and development discourses, in the budgetary and programmatic commitments of governments
Food price volatility: debating causes and consequences
February 8, 2012 / Food Price Volatility Following our workshop on food price volatility on 6 February 2012, three participants have reflected on the big debates: why it matters, who is to blame and what should be done. Stephen Spratt, Research Fellow in the Institute of Development
Programme – Young People, Farming & Food conference
January 27, 2012 / Young People, Farming & Food Conference Young People, Farming & Food: the Future of the Agrifood Sector in Africa19-21 March 2012 Presentation slides from the conference are now available. The links are next to the titles in the list below. This programme was updated on 13
Conference Programme
January 27, 2012 / Political Economy of Agricultural Policy in Africa International Conference on the Political Economy of Agricultural Policy in Africa18-20 March 2013 - Roodevallei, Pretoria, South Africa Convened by the Future Agricultures Consortium (FAC) and the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) Organising Committee: Colin Poulton, Blessings
Conference Programme
January 27, 2012 / Agricultural Investment, Gender and Land in Africa International Conference on the Political Economy of Agricultural Policy in Africa18-20 March 2013 - Roodevallei, Pretoria, South Africa Convened by the Future Agricultures Consortium (FAC) and the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) Organising Committee: Colin Poulton, Blessings
Presentations – Food price volatility workshop
January 20, 2012 / Food Price Volatility Some key presentations from this workshop are now available to view on our Slideshare site - the links are below, under the names in each panel discussion. Financial Markets and Food Price Volatility: Actors and Actions Monday 6 February 2012,
Media competition 2012 – Young People, Farming & Food
January 20, 2012 / Young People Farming and Food Conference Details, entry instructions and terms and conditions for the journalism competition for the Young People, Farming and Food conference 2012.
Media competition: winning entries
January 20, 2012 / Young People, Farming & Food Conference We're delighted to announce the winners of our Africa-wide journalism competition on young people, farming and food. We had over 40 submissions to the competition. The panel was all agreed in the winning entries according to the following criteria: 1.
Media competition: winning entries
January 20, 2012 / Political Economy of Agricultural Policy in Africa We're delighted to announce the winners of our Africa-wide journalism competition on young people, farming and food. We had over 40 submissions to the competition. The panel was all agreed in the winning entries according to the following criteria: 1.
Media competition: winning entries
January 20, 2012 / Agricultural Investment, Gender and Land in Africa We're delighted to announce the winners of our Africa-wide journalism competition on young people, farming and food. We had over 40 submissions to the competition. The panel was all agreed in the winning entries according to the following criteria: 1.
Book: Seasonality, rural livelihoods and development
January 18, 2012 / Seasonality Revisited Edited by Stephen Devereux, Rachel Sabates-Wheeler & Richard Longhurst A systematic study of seasonality for over 20 years, this book aims to revive academic interest and policy awareness of this crucial but neglected issue. Buy the book from Routledge Book
Forced Displacement and Youth Employment in the Aftermath of the Congo War
January 11, 2012 / Young People Farming and Food Conference MICROCON Research Working Paper 38, January 2011 This paper tries to offer an indication of what it means to be young, displaced and looking for a job in a war-affected town of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Starting off as
Livestock, Land, the Changing Political Economy of Pastoralism in Laikipia: Pathways to Strengthen Pastoralist Livelihoods
August 29, 2011 / Workshops September 15?16th, 2011, Nanyuki. FAC in partnership with Desert Edge, a bio-trading company improving access to fair and sustainable markets for the pastoral communities and other residents of drylands will convene a two-day workshop in Laikipia, Kenya to reflect on
Call for abstracts: Special Issue on ‘Ethical Aspects of Large-scale Land Acquisition in Developing Countries’
July 19, 2011 / Events The project ‘Large-scale land acquisition and sustainable development’ in collaboration with the Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, calls for tabstracts for a special issue on ‘Ethical Aspects of Large-scale Land Acquisition in Developing Countries’, to be published in 2012-2013:
Transforming Agricultural Development and Production in Africa 13 – 17 November 2011
July 14, 2011 / Events The Salzburg Global Seminar, in cooperation with the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development with support from the Belgian Fund for Food Security, is hosting a special "Dialogue for Action" to identify successful and innovative actions that accelerate rural agricultural
Social Protection for Pastoralists: Just give them cash?
July 6, 2011 / Future of Pastoralism - Presentations Stephen Devereux, Institute of Development Studies & Karen Tibbo, Oxford Policy Management
Ghanaian Student Call for Papers
June 29, 2011 / Young People, Farming & Food Conference Deadline 15 September 2011 The organizers intend to have a panel of 4-6 presentations, selected on a competitive basis, from current or recently completed undergraduate and/or postgraduate students from Ghana. Conference costs for the selected presenters will be covered. Co-organized
Ghanaian Student Call for Papers
June 29, 2011 / Political Economy of Agricultural Policy in Africa Deadline 15 September 2011 The organizers intend to have a panel of 4-6 presentations, selected on a competitive basis, from current or recently completed undergraduate and/or postgraduate students from Ghana. Conference costs for the selected presenters will be covered. Co-organized
General Call for Papers
June 29, 2011 / Agricultural Investment, Gender and Land in Africa Deadline 15 September 2011 The organizers invite papers that offer rigorous analysis from various critical perspectives around the topics and questions listed below. We also encourage comparative studies and welcome proposals for thematic panels. Co-organized and hosted by the Future
Ghanaian Student Call for Papers
June 29, 2011 / Agricultural Investment, Gender and Land in Africa Deadline 15 September 2011 The organizers intend to have a panel of 4-6 presentations, selected on a competitive basis, from current or recently completed undergraduate and/or postgraduate students from Ghana. Conference costs for the selected presenters will be covered. Co-organized