First Part

This session briefly sets the stage in terms of challenges on increasing food production and food security globally. Emerging and developing nations (such as China, India, Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya) give brief examples of innovative actions taken and investments made for better food security. What ideas are there for more international cooperation?  What can they offer and what do they need in terms of international cooperation in research and infrastructures for research. What tools are useful and how are partnerships developed, e.g., scientific exchanges, access to infrastructures and knowledge, new technology and virtual networks?

EU, US and other OECD members to present Research Infrastructures relevant for global food security and their ideas for innovative actions/tools to collaborate internationally, e.g., developing biosciences or studying the rich biodiversity in Africa?

Some more detailed questions that will be discussed in this session are the following:

- Can we improve the impact of research on food security through research infrastructures?

- Do we need building research capacity and creating stronger links between research infrastructures at the International level? What are the gaps and needs for infrastructures?

- What are the perspectives and lessons learned from experiencres in Africa and Europe?

Second Part

This session builds on the examples from the previous session. Which innovations have had a positive impact on food security in the past decade (improved varieties of rice, cassava, and farm animals)? What are the lessons learnt for future investment in research and what is the requirement in terms of research infrastructures?  What are the needs for improved technology to support research? What are the links to education and training?  What role should each stakeholder play for stronger international interaction? Do agribusiness want a role and, if so, which one?

This session intends to come up with concrete ideas for cooperation and specific facilities/programs to build stronger links between research infrastructures at the International level: what focus should they have, specific research areas, scientific exchanges, technology development.

Discussants will try to come up with concrete ideas for cooperation and specific facilities/programs to build stronger links between research infrastructures internationally. What focus should they have; specific research areas, scientific exchanges, technology development? 

Some more detailed questions for this session are the following:

- What practical steps do we need in order to intensify the effort?

- What tools are useful and how are partnerships developed, e.g., scientific exchanges, access to infrastructures and knowledge, new technology and virtual networks?

- Which critical data in Food Security should be more readily available, in which form should they be available, and which would be the actors to make this happen?