The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Cornell International Institute for Food Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD) in collaboration with the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) is hosting an international symposium on “Inclusive Agro-Enterprise Development”, as part of the technical program of IAAE’s Triennial Conference of 2012.
The symposium aims to bring together leading scholars, government officials, private sector representatives and development practitioners to discuss innovative approaches to promote inclusive agro-enterprise development. The goal is to offer a platform whereby novel international experiences in agro-enterprise development policies and support institutions can be discussed, lessons can be learned and recommendations can be made to improve the effectiveness of agro-enterprise investment promotion initiatives by governments and development organizations.
- Areas of special interest for discussion include:
- Business models linking producers and buyers
- Agro-industry clusters, agribusiness incubators and agro-food parks
- Agro-based growth corridors and special economic zones
- Technical and financial support for small and medium enterprises
- Collective action and producer associations/ cooperatives
- Risk management approaches and tools for small-holders
- Pro-poor investment promotion policies and mechanisms
- Incentives for micro and missing-middle investors
- Infrastructure investments to enhance market integration
Potential contributors to the symposium can send a proposal consisting of an extended abstract (250 – 400 words) and a brief resume.
Professionals from developing countries who have their contributions accepted for presentation at the symposium are eligible to a grant of a maximum of US$2,500 (two thousand and five hundred dollars), to help defray their costs of participation in the IAAE event. The grants will be provided to a number of selected participants, upon submission of a technical paper to be prepared in accordance with FAO guidelines, to be later communicated to authors. The selected papers and a synthesis of the symposium discussions and deliberations will be published as a joint FAO – Cornell University book.
Deadline for Submission of an extended abstract (max 400 words): February 28th 2012
For more information, visit this link.
