This week, Bangkok is host to important meeting: The High Level Policy Dialogue on Investment in Agricultural Research for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific (HLPD).
In his opening remarks, APAARI Executive Secretary and Chair of the Organizing Committee, Raghunath Ghodake, described this meeting as “a dream come true for APAARI”. Over 150 agriculture researchers and policy makers came together for the two-day conference, the purpose of which is to examine the global challenges facing agriculture.
Sakchai Sriboonsue, from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Thailand, highlighted the importance of this meeting to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific.
Other speakers emphasized the lack of investment in agriculture research, and how climate change will have a big impact to food security. As we depend on main crops like maize, rice, and wheat, agriculture research should explore other crops that can provide additional nutritients.
Communication among and between farmers and researcher alike, is important to transfer new knowledge. Novel technologies like smartphones will allow easier knowledge transfer between both.
Day 1 of HLPD meeting was full of interesting discussions and opinions. Stay in touch with the latest updates via the Twitter hashtag #GCARD3.
Blogpost and photo by Syazwan Abd Rahman, #GCARD3 Social Reporter – syazwan.rahman(at)cffresearch.org
This post is part of the live coverage during the #GCARD3 Regional Consultation for Asia and Pacific region. This post is written by one of our social reporters, and represents the author’s views only.
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