The Crawford Fund has an ongoing interest in food security. It encourages national attention through policy work and media efforts to issues related to food security. The three key areas of our work, providing reputable sources of information and discussion of issues related to agricultural research and food security are our conferences, our 2007/8 Task Force on Food Security and its report, and our current research project “A Wider Canvas for International Agricultural Research’ which will produce a series of briefs from February 2012.
Our international development conferences, held annually in Parliament House Canberra, and bi-annually in a State location, provide an opportunity to highlight needed action in relation to key issues to improve global food security, and particularly in relation to what Australia does or could do. You can download the proceedings from our conferences.
Emerging trends in world food security have implications for international agricultural research. A Crawford Fund study is underway to analyse the effect of these emerging trends on the future research agenda and potential new funding streams for such research. The study “A Wider Canvas for International Agricultural Research” will also seek to demonstrate the benefits of investments in international agricultural research. You can find further information and copies of the series of briefs being developed by clicking on the link.
In May 2008, a time when high world food prices had attracted policy and media interest, the Fund responded to a need for more Australian focus and attention by establishing a Task Force on world food security, with eminent thinkers from Australia and partners from other overseas organisations active in the area of food policy. The recommendations from the task force were accepted almost in full and hold currency into the future when considering the way ahead for policy makers. More information on the Task Force, its report and the response in Australia can be found through the link.
Further Information:
Dr Denis Blight, Executive Director, Crawford Fund.
Dr Gabrielle Persley, Research Study Director, Crawford Fund; Chair, Doyle Foundation, Scotland UK.
A crop farmer and her child on a farm near Mt Kenya (photo: ACIAR)
The Crawford Fund is undertaking a new research study on emerging trends in world food security and their implications for international agricultural research. The purpose of the study is to analyse the emerging trends that will affect the future research agenda and identify potential new funding streams for such research. The study will also demonstrate the benefits of investments in international agricultural research.