On my way to the National Farm Machinery Show I stopped for the combined meeting of the Gateway NAMA and St. Louis Agribusiness Club. Our featured speaker is Mr. Raymond Cesca, President of the World Agricultural Forum. His presentation is “The World Agricultural Forum: Empowering Agriculture to Drive Economic Growth” He’s actually in the middle of it right now. Of course I brought my Mac inside.
Ray focused his comments on this idea of how agricultural production can be the mechanism that developing nation countries can use to grow their economies. He believes that for-profit companies can get involved and not only help overcome the problems of poverty and starvation but still make a profit doing so.
He issued an invitation to anyone who would like to learn more to attend this year’s World Ag Forum Regional Congress which will be held in Kampala, Uganda, September 3-5. You can find the agenda for the Congress here.
Prior to the meeting I did a short interview with Ray on the topic which you can listen to here:
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Just so you can get this on your calendars in case it’s not already.
The Republic of Uganda will host the World Agricultural Forum’s Regional Congress on September 3-5, 2008 in Kampala, Uganda. This first Congress in Africa is titled “By Africa, For Africa: Creating Wealth Through Investing in Agriculture.” The Congress will bring together recognized leaders from many disciplines who will discuss, debate and propose the means by which sustainable agriculture-based solutions can be implemented to help “feed every man, woman and child” in Africa.
“It is my pleasure to welcome the World Agricultural Forum’s 2008 African Congress to Uganda,” said His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda. “Africa, as a whole, is enjoying the highest growth rates in 30 years. Our continent is breaking old paradigms in order to integrate profitably into the global economy and liberate itself. We are working to build the agricultural infrastructure that will boost our economic standings and transform Africa. Agriculture is vital to Africa’s survival, just as this influential meeting of the minds is essential to reveal the emerging new Africa.”
U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns was on hand at the World Agricultural Forum Congress. Here he is getting interviewed by Mizzou Ag Journalism blogger Julia Shuck. His full comments are available online. Here’s an excerpt.
Ladies and gentlemen, in the Doha talks, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to really have a profound impact on hunger and poverty in the developing world. Two-thirds of the WTO member countries are developing countries; 32 of these are considered least developed countries, truly the poorest of the poor. In these countries, over 70 percent of the poor live in rural areas where agriculture is the employer.
The World Bank has calculated that roughly half of the global economic benefit from free trade would be enjoyed by developing countries. And more than 90 percent of their gains would come from reducing tariffs. The Peterson Institute of International Economics estimates global free trade could lift as many as 500 million people out of poverty and inject $200 billion annually into the economies of developing countries.
The simple fact is economic growth spurred by trade liberalization can have a profound impact, actually far more than voluntary aid donations although those are enormously important also. When the day comes that the nations of the world agree on greater trade liberalization, the United States is ready to be a good trading partner.
World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
This week on the ZimmCast (I know I’m a little late) you can hear an anecdote from Bobby Rahal about his racing career and learn more about the World Agricultural Forum.
Bobby says that his best time in racing was when he won. That’s not surprising. I’m sure I’ll see him again later this month in Indianapolis at the Indy 500.
Also in the program I’ve got interviews with Ray Cesca, President of the World Agricultural Forum and Leonard Guarraia, founder of the WAF. They talk about the mission of the organization and what they hope to accomplish as this week’s World Congress taking place in St. Louis.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: 
ZimmCast 118 (13 min MP3)
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Here’s me with the Mizzou agribloggers Julia and Nicki from earlier today at the World Agricultural Forum. According to their blog, I’m the Godfather of ag blogging. Now that’s a catchy title don’t you think?
Besides writing for their blog Julia and Nicki are helping the World Ag Forum staff by writing reports from the “Breakout Sessions.”
World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
Mike Adams, the host of AgriTalk (center) thought I must be going through AgriTalk withdrawal on AgWired since I haven’t posted a picture of them in so long. No, they don’t pay me to do this (they should). I just run into them so many places.
This is Mike interviewing World Agricultural Forum Chairman, James Bolger, this morning. Next to him is the producing machine, John Herath. He’s got a nice camera btw and takes good pictures which you’ll find on their website. An extraordinary thing for a radio show.
I am no longer at the World Congress of the World Agricultural Forum but am expecting to obtain some coverage via the Mizzou Ag Journalism Bloggers.
World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
The Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development for the European Economic Union is Mariann Fischer Boel. She was the keynote speaker on the program today here at the World Agricultural Forum.
You can listen to her speech here while she’s finishing up with questions and answers. In her talk she tries to clear up misconceptions about farmers, farming and the policies of the EU. In particular she provides some historic detail on the EU CAP (Common Ag Policy). She says they’re continuing the move to reduce subsidies. One of the key words heard here is sustainability and she does make a point about the care the EU needs to use in moving forward so that their farmers sustain their prosperity.
You can listen to the speech here:
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World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
One of the directors of the World Agricultural Forum is Dick McWard. He’s taking notes during this morning’s speech by Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Dick is a producer from Illinois who is also retired from Bunge North America where he worked in industry affairs. I asked him for his perspective on an event like the 2007 World Congress of the World Agricultural Forum (that’s the official title of the event). He says that this event provides growers like him with the opportunity to open up new markets around the world.
You can listen to my interview with Dick here:
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World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
The flower man from Columbia is Ernesto Velez, Columbian Association of Flower Exporters. He gave us a presentation at our evening reception at the World Agricultural Forum here this evening.
He said that there was a 90+% chance that the dozen carnations I bought Cindy on Sunday came from Columbia.
If you’d like to learn about where a major source of our cut flowers come from here in the United States you might be interested to hear his presentation.
You can listen to the Ernesto Velez presentation here:
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World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
It is definitely the end of the day here in St. Louis at the World Agricultural Forum. We had a very nice reception. Just check out the photo album.
The top of the hotel has a very nice outside area from which we had a good view of the city and the sunset.
The best part was the ice sculpture filled with shrimp. You’ll have to find that in the photo album.
World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
One of the people covering the World Agricultural Forum is Rich Keller. Rich is the editor of AgProfessional and AgLender, Vance Publishing. I think he dared me to take his picture as he was enjoying a big soft pretzel on a break.
I’m sure there are some dares I won’t take but it’s nice to see Rich in action.
It’s almost the end of the first day of the Forum and it’s been a pretty busy one. The last session is just finishing up before tonight’s reception.
Don’t forget to check out the online photo album.
World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
The President and CEO of Bunge North America is Carl Hausmann. He was part of a panel today at the World Agricultural Forum that addressed the needs of food, fuel, fiber and water.
I interviewed Carl after the session and asked what he thought one of the main concerns was that people expressed here. He says that when it comes to biofuels the subject needs to be more than a national issue, that it’s a global issue. He says that when countries individually deal with it through things like subsidies that it tends to distort world trade. He would like to think that this forum will not only be an exchange of ideas among the participants but that they will leave and effect the political debate in their countries. He believes biofuels will be with us well into the future. He also says that the rapid increase in the price of corn has been a shocker to many but that the commodity has been undervalued for years and that the world will become used to $3.50 to $4 corn.
You can listen to my interview with Carl here:
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World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
The president of the World Agricultural Forum is Raymond Cesca, pictured here to the left of Leonard Guarraia.
I interviewed Ray in between sessions earlier today about what he hopes to see accomplished. He says the theme of investing in agriculture is meant to be about more than just food and fuel but about successful business models and food production. He says they hope to see agriculture as the economic engine for growth and that investment in agriculture can be the driver for it.
You can listen to my interview with Ray here:
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World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
Another key figure on the program today at the World Agricultural Forum was the Hon. Dr. Rajashekara Reddy, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh, India. He participated in the opening session then held a press conference this afternoon.
I recorded his press conference for you. In it he was first asked about the price of seed in India and what he thought about it. You can listen to how he answers that. He basically wondered why seed from Monsanto costs so much in India vs. the United States. I asked him about biofuels production in his country and what it means to the economy there. He says they’ve only just begun the development of “fuel crops” and says it will be several years before it becomes significant but he’d like to see a goal of having biofuels replace at least 5% of their fuel consumption as soon as possible. He also addresses high world dairy prices and the increase in cotton production in India.
You can listen to Dr. Reddy’s press conference here:
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World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
One of the first speakers on the program here at the World Agricultural Forum was Robert Lane, Chairman and CEO of Deere & Company.
I’ve got his full comments here for you to listen to if you’d like. It’s about 22 minutes. In it he speaks to the topic of investing in agriculture to create prosperity, the theme of the event. He sees it as a timely topic and says right away that we need to have a sustainable level of prosperity. For that to happen he would like to see a more open business environment that’s conducive to investment. He says there needs to be true transparency. He says that new technology is absolutely necessary for success and that’s most likely to develop in open economies. He also says that green (as in environmental) is a societal issue which makes it a global business issue. He talks about how his company is working to be more involved in these things through acquisitions, new products and the involvement in organizations around the world working on these issues.
You can listen to Robert Lane’s comments here:
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World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
The founder and CEO of the World Agricultural Forum is Leonard Guarraia. After he welcomed everyone to this year’s Forum I was able to talk with him briefly about the mission of the Forum and what he hopes gets accomplished here.
He says they want to bring together leaders from around the world for discussion, get the press to listen and understand agriculture’s role and to take action. He says they have over 400 people attending which is well over what they expected but he’s happy with that.
You can listen to my interview with Leonard Guarraia here:
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World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
Leading off today’s program here at the World Agricultural Forum is the Chairman, the Rt. Honorable James Bolger, ONZ. He moderated the opening discussion which included presentations with Robert White, Chairman and CEO, Deere & Co. and His Excellency, Hon. Dr. Rajashekara Reddy, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh, India.
I spoke to Mr. Bolger after their session to get a sense of what it is he hopes will be accomplished here at the Forum. He says that he hopes to energize people to think differently and realize that we’re in a global economy and decisions that individual countries make have an impact on everyone. He points to work in his country of New Zealand to reduce methane emissions from grazing livestock as an example of the type of work that needs to be done.
You can listen to my interview with James Bolger here:
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World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
Here’s the current Mizzou Student Blogging Team, Bill Allen (left) and Julia Shuck (right). Bill has to return home but Julia, who is a freshman Agricultural Journalism major will be sticking around for the whole World Agricultural Forum. I’m hoping she’ll be able to supply me with some coverage after I leave tomorrow.
Be sure to check out her posts on the newly created Mizzou Agricultural Journalism Blog.
World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
The main room for the World Agricultural Forum is set up in a kind of arena style with participants at tables on risers around a central podium and table where groups of speakers gather and talk on a specific subject.
I’m here to cover the event for the next day and then I’ll be seeking the help of the Mizzou Student Blogging Team for the rest of the conference. Right now these guys are talking about “How Do We Revolutionize The Global System To Meet The Growing Needs Of Food, Fuel, Fiber And Water For All?” I’m recording the presentation after doing some interviews on the break so you can expect some audio to come soon. There are representatives on this program from companies like Bunge North America, Tyson Foods and Monsanto and representatives from government and NGO’s in Uganda and Brazil.
All my photos are being uploaded to an online photo album. Feel free to check it out:
World Agricultural Forum Photo Album
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