The 2009 International Conference on the Integration of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in the Context of Climate Change, the Energy Crisis and Food Insecurity is now accepting proposals.  The deadline for abstract/proposal submission is January 15, 2009.

This Conference, as the outcome of joint efforts, is aimed at independent research organizations,
universities, government agencies, policy-makers, public policy advocates, nongovernmental
organizations (NGO) and corporate representatives from developing and developed countries. All of these stakeholders are interested in looking critically at the ways in which research is – and can be – used to create change worldwide. This Scientific Meeting will endeavor not only to share research results, but also to identify future research prospects, challenges, issues and concerns. Moreover, the organizers of this Meeting would like to generate innovative thinking in agricultural and rural development and to identify elements of a longer term research agenda to fill critical gaps in knowledge on these issues – through rigorous, defensible data collection, analysis interpretation and communication. They also would like to develop research projects and networks in these fields involving researchers from both developed and developing countries: believing that partnerships among researchers are critical components of any meaningful effort to develop synergistic research and change agendas.

At the heart of these intellectual concerns there is also the expectation of accomplishing a high
visibility scientific event that will share knowledge, skills and successful experiences, while
proposing new ways for concrete actions and strategies associated with any policy of sustainable
agriculture and rural development. The Conference will provide an opportunity for participants to
identify obstacles and constraints across specific regions of the world, and from lessons learned and best practices shared. As the remit of the Conference is global, experiences and issues from any part of the world are welcome.

For more information about the conference or submitting proposals, download the Conference flyer here.