2010 Conference Program

PUBLIC LECTURE FORUM
Moderator: Daniel Jutras, Dean, Faculty of Law, McGill University

A global perspective on prospects for Food and Nutrition Security:
the work of the UN High Level Task Force
Dr. David Nabarro
United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative on Food Security and Nutrition

A distinguished international expert will give his views on the political, social, economic and technological interventions to deal with one of the major causes of human suffering, indignity, and inequality – world hunger. Participants are encouraged to share their views and ideas. The Forum will also feature the launch of the McGill Institute for Global Food Security.

Defining and Measuring Food and Nutrition Security in Vulnerable Communities

Food and nutrition security is a multidimensional phenomenon recognized as a human right that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access and use of sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Understanding is needed of the driving forces and consequences of unsustainable food resources as well as measures of the elements of food security itself. A diversity of measures useful at international, national, community and household levels will be discussed, with implications to target and evaluate required interventions to alleviate food and nutrition insecurity.

Co-Chairs:
Harriet Kuhnlein, Professor Emerita of Human Nutrition and Founding Director, Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE), McGill University
Dyno Keatinge, Director General, World Vegetable Center (AVRDC), Taiwan

Speakers:
Arne Oshaug, Professor in Public Nutrition and Research Director of the Food, Nutrition and Society Programme, Akershus University College, Norway
Barbara Burlingame, Senior Officer and Leader of the Nutrition Requirements and Assessment Group, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Rome
Rafael Perez-Escamilla, Professor, Epidemiology & Public Health Director, Office of Community Health, Yale School of Public Health
Joyce Kinabo, Professor, Department for Food Science and Technology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

Linkages between Food Security, Nutrition and Health

Food insecurity, hunger and the quality of diets impact on health and nutrition outcomes. Special consideration is given to examining how food insecurity relates to the health of vulnerable populations in less developed countries and in Canada. Selected case studies (Kenya, Latin America, Canadian aboriginal populations) analyze the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition. Policies and programs that attempt to secure a healthy food supply for vulnerable groups and at risk populations are discussed.

Co-Chairs:
Timothy Johns, Professor, School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University
Grace Marquis, Canada Research Chair in Social and Environmental Aspects of Nutrition, Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment, McGill University

Speakers:
Grace Egeland, Canada Research Chair In Environment, Nutrition and Health, Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment, McGill University
Marie Ruel, Director, Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington DC
Chowdhury Jalal, Research Coordinator, Research and Evaluation Division, BRAC, Bangladesh

The Global Water Outlook: an International Response

Agriculture accounts for 70% of global fresh water withdrawals and more than 90% of its consumptive use. Diminished water availability due to increased competition and impaired water quality due to pollution will affect crop production. Furthermore, with climate change, droughts and floods will become more frequent, and rising sea levels will flood low-lying agricultural areas. The combined impacts of climate change and growing water scarcity will severely limit global food production particularly in the semiarid tropics where some 800 million people are expected to be affected by food insecurity.

Co-Chairs:
John Kennelly, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta
Vijaya Raghavan, James McGill Professor, Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University

Speakers:
Bart Schultz, Professor, Land and Water Development, UNESCO-IHE, Delft, and Former Advisor, Rijkswaterstaat, Civil Engineering Division, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Mohamed Ait Kadi, President, General Council of Agricultural Development, Rabat, Morocco
Claudia Ringler, Senior Research Fellow, Water Research Program, Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington DC

Water Management Scenarios for Securing the Food Supply

Agriculture and food security policies are strongly connected to water policies, which in turn have profound effects on how water is managed and used at district and local levels. Coherence between them must be ensured. Innovative national programs which promote sustainable land and water use, improve crop yields and prevent environmental degradation will be presented. Case studies representing the physical, climatic and socio-economic conditions of different countries will be discussed.

Co-Chairs:
Donald L. Smith, James McGill Professor, Plant Science Department, McGill University
Marilyn Scott, Director, McGill School of Environment, McGill University

Speakers:
M. Gopalakrishnan, Secretary General, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), New Delhi, India
Zhanyi Gao, Director, National Centre for Efficient Irrigation Technology Research, and Hon. Vice President of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, China
José Joaquín Campos, Director General, Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Costa Rica

Response of the International Development Agencies to Food Security

As a result of the 2008 world food crisis, the major international development agencies and the donor community developed a high level response program aimed to stimulate agricultural production in the developing countries. The response program took many forms including increased investments in the agricultural sector, research, technology transfer, and the development of country policy frameworks for transformation of the agri-food sector. Representatives of the key agencies will present the results of their on-going work, lessons learned and new initiatives.

Co-Chairs:
Jean-Paul LaForest, Doyen, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval
Douglas Hedley, Executive Director, Canadian Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

Speakers:
Rebekah Young, Senior Economist, Canadian Department of Finance, Ottawa
Cheryl Morden, Director, North American Liaison Office, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Washington DC
Christopher Delgado, Strategy and Policy Adviser, Agriculture and Rural Development, World Bank, Washington DC
Florence Rolle, Senior Liaison Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Liaison Office for North America, Washington DC

Bridging the Divide: Water Scarcity, Food Security and Health

This will be a thought provoking session by renowned international experts on the topics of water-borne diseases and human health. They will explore the challenges confronting the health sector as related to food security, and provide suggestions for an integrated approach towards nutrition and public health, and community-supported food security initiatives.

Co-Chairs:
Anwar Naseem, Professor, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University
Aly Shady, Senior Water Advisor, Canadian International Development Agency, Ottawa

Speakers:
Timothy Geary, Canada Research Chair in Parasite Biotechnology, Director, Institute of Parasitology, McGill University
Noel Solomons, Co-founder and Scientific Director, Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism (CeSSIAM), Guatemala
Marco Ferroni, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, Switzerland
Victoria Quinn, Senior Vice-President, Helen Keller International, Washington, DC

Lunch and Plenary Wrap Up

A panel will give an overview and synopsis of the conference findings. Participants will have an opportunity to react, and present their views in an open forum on the key subjects discussed during the conference.

Chair:
Chandra A. Madramootoo, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University

Panel:
Marco Ferroni, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, Switzerland
Jean Lebel, Director, Agriculture and Environment Program, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa
Eugene Terry, Agricultural Research and Development Specialist, Washington DC
Dyno Keatinge, Director General, World Vegetable Center (AVRDC), Taiwan
Victoria Quinn, Senior Vice-President, Helen Keller International, Washington, DC