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Open discussions

Food, Agriculture and Cities

02.11.2009 to 23.11.2009 -  Members are invited to reflect on how the fact that over half of the world population today is living in urban areas is producing effects on their food security and on the need to strengthen urban-rural linkages.

• Read the introductory message 
• Read the introductory message in Spanish
• Read the introductory message in French
• Discussion proceedings

Public Procurement of Agricultural Goods

26.10.2009 to 16.11.2009 - Members are invited to share experiences of cases of pubic procurement where government institutions directly purchase or finance the procurement of agricultural goods to support specific farmers’ groups, who otherwise might have difficulties in market access.

• Read the introductory message 
• Read the introductory message in Spanish
• Read the introductory message in French
• Discussion proceedings

Revising the Food Chapter of the Sphere Handbook

19.10.2009 to 16.11.2009 - In the framework of the second revision of the Sphere Handbook - Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, members are invited to give their feedback on the Nutrition and Food Security components of the Handbook.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings 

Food Security and Agriculture Governance Systems

21.10.2009 to 16.11.2009 - Forum members are invited to discuss on the trends affecting the global food and agriculture production systems and on how the involvement of different actors, specifically from civil society, can support the shift to more sustainable models of production.

• Read the introductory message
• Read the introductory message in Spanish
• Read the introductory message in French
• Discussion proceedings

Closed discussions

Do international investments in agricultural land constitute a “land grab”, as reported by the international press, or do they instead offer development opportunities?

• Read the introductory message
• Read the introductory message in Spanish
• Read the introductory message in French 
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

How can we ensure that enough food is available for and accessible to a growing world population? The Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition invites interested parties to discuss these and other questions related to the future of agriculture.  

• Read the introductory message
• Read the introductory message in Spanish
• Read the introductory message in French
• Discussion proceedings 
• Concluding notes 
• Summary

The past 15 years have seen an evolution of Rural Development approaches and the shifting away from a mainly agricultural to a more holistic thinking. Have these shifts had an impact in increasing policy effectiveness in developing or transition countries and communities?

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

Traditional rural practices, often discarded in favour of modern production systems may still prove to be effective when not even more successful in providing livelihoods to rural communities. Members are invited to share their views and experiences on this topic.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

In the framework of the second revision of the Sphere Handbook - Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, members are invited to give their feedback on the Food Security component of the Handbook.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

Members are invited to share insights on and experiences with the legislation on food hygiene, monitoring mechanisms, policies for consumer protection and the situation of street food vending in their respective countries.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
  

Members share experiences and references on the application and operationalization of the Capabilities Approach in Food Security projects/programmes.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

Members are invited to share insights, success stories or good practices on the sustainable use of resources in arid and semi-arid lands.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

Forum members are invited to share opinions and references on “How cultural systems influence gender roles, women’s sexuality, rural livelihoods, food and nutrition security, in HIV/AIDS context”.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

Forum members are invited to share their insights and experiences in identifying food insecurity among the urban poor and explain which methods/ mechanisms have been used to address it at household and community-level.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

Forum members are invited to give opinion on two main questions:

- Are there generic causes of young child malnutrition? How they are related to each other and to the final nutritional outcome?

- Is ‘nutrition security’ a part of ‘food security’, or is ‘food security’ a part of ‘nutrition security’? Or are they the same? Or are they totally different?

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

Forum members are invited to share insights and experiences regarding the impact of cassava development on food security and nutrition of the rural poor.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

Forum members were invited to share experiences on innovative and flexible capacity building practices for development, in particular Open and Distance Learning practices.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary

Forum members shared experiences and insights on:

- The recent effects/impacts of demographic dynamics on specific and different food/nutrition insecure and vulnerable populations as well as the extend to which these dynamics either aggravate and/or help these vulnerable populations in their resilience and resourcefulness; 

- Who, when and where are the most vulnerable population groups, communities and agro-ecologies affected by demographic changes;

- What are the policy and program responses (if any) to these various population trends.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

Forum members shared their insights and practical experiences of "win-win" opportunities for viable investment in agricultural expansion, social protection programmes etc., which could build a strong constituency of public support for the eradication of hunger and malnutrition.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

This discussion was cross-posted with UNDP’s Poverty Reduction Network and the MDGNetwork (a UN Development Group’s network). The FSN Forum members were invited to:

- Share their experience related to the formulation of National Food Security Policy Documents and the implementation of those.

- Share comments on the suggested draft of the Logical Framework Matrix.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

Members were invited to share experiences and insights on the integration of nutrition in agriculture and livelihoods programs and integrated/multi-sectoral programming; constraints and obstacles faced in integration of nutrition in agriculture and livelihoods programs and how to overcome them; successful approaches, activities and tools for integrating nutrition in ongoing programs and for reducing malnutrition and poverty in a sustainable manner; relevant publications or tools on this topic to be shared with the Forum members.

• Introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

Members shared experiences on: the impact of climate change and variability on food security, nutrition and dietary quality; successful strategies for communication and awareness-raising on the effects of climate change; initiatives for adaptation to climate change and variability as well climate change mitigation measures at the level of small-scale farmers.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

Members shared practical experiences and information on:
a) application of human rights based approach to food security at national & local levels; b) human rights based food security policies, projects, programmes or plans; c) documents and other relevant material about right to food field-level activities; d) ways to promote the convergence between the right to food, food security and development.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Contributions from Solution Exchange India
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)
  

This topic was cross-posted on the Solution Exchange in India - Food and Nutrition Community to enrich the inputs and results of this discussion

Members shared their opinions and insights on the following issues: What is the Food Aid role in alleviating immediate hunger and reducing the costs of hunger? Which are the Food Aid implications for nutrition, health, Household coping strategies, human capacities, and policies? What are the long-term implications/impacts on the economic growth? How could Food Aid be more effective?  

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

Members shared cooking recipes and materials for cooking demonstrations and preparations particularly focusing on veggies and fruits in Africa

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

Whether and how a website should be created to facilitate the sharing of methods for producing basic foods at the household and community levels.

• Read the full topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

Members shared papers, data, case studies and points to highlight related to food security in mountains

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in French)
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

Members shared information and opinions on "sack garden" projects.

• Read the introductory message
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in French)
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

How to promote communication and collaboration among stakeholders in agriculture development (program officers of the IGOs and NGOs, the agriculture extension officers, the farmers, and the members of the agriculture research facilities...)

• Read the full topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (French)
• Discussion summary (Spanish)

Members shared training manuals/training resources on Food Security, especially those for civil servants at provincial and district level. 

• Read the full topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (in French)
• Discussion summary (in Spanish)

The link between 'technical' consensus and decision making is difficult to make partially because analysis of a food security situation, based on security information systems are often very technical and the 'translation' to a more political level are often difficult to make. The 'missing link' might be a lack of 'communication' skills? How to close the gaps in food security information systems and better link food security information with decision making?

• Read the full topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary 
• Discussion summary (French)
• Discussion summary (Spanish)

How do organic agriculture systems utilize traditional skills and knowledge, manage with weather extremes, and enhance productivity and resilience?

• Read the introduction of the topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (French)
• Discussion summary (Spanish)

Members shared:

• Case studies of initiatives towards mainstreaming food and nutrition security in poverty reduction strategies, development plans or national policies
• Opportunities, challenges and lessons learned in implementing such initiatives with positive outcomes
• What kind of policy assistance is available or required to overcome constraints to mainstreaming food and nutrition security at local levels (like in district or municipal plan)

This topic was cross-posted with the Food and Nutrition Community - Solution Exchange India.

• Read the introduction of the topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary (English)
• Discussion summary (French)
• Discussion summary (Spanish)

What could be the solutions to the over-reliance on short to medium strategies of Supplementation and Fortification? What could be done to promote staple food?

• Introduction of the topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (French)
• Discussion summary (Spanish)

Members shared their opinions and insights on the pros and cons of bio-fuel.

• Read the full topic
• Discussion summary
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary (Spanish)
• Discussion summary (French)

• Read the introduction of the topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Sommaire de la discussion
• Resumen de la discusión
  

Forum members shared information (examples, reference papers, contacts...) and insight/advice regarding Biological pesticide research and Extension.

• Introduction of the topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Summary of the discussion
• Sommaire de la discussion

Forum members shared insights on the impact of soaring food prices and policy measures adopted in country-specific situations as well as recommend appropriate policies/actions.   

• Introduction of the topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary
• Discussion summary (French)
• Discussion summary (Spanish)

Forum members were requested to:

1.Share examples of where smallholder farmers use genetically modified crops and the advantages and disadvantages they have noticed in relation to conventional corps.

2.Share examples of where multinational companies/ governments and others have promoted their genetic crops to small-scale farmers, specifically thinking of promises of higher yields and greater access to new markets.

3.Provide contact details of NGOs other organisations or people who are aware or engaged in similar studies to contact and share information.

• Introduction of the topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary (English) 
• Discussion summary (Spanish)
• Discussion summary (French)

Forum members shared ideas and experiences on how individuals, communities and countries can use the food price rise as a motive for concerted action against chronic hunger and malnutrition.

• Introduction of the topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary (English)
• Discussion summary (French)
• Discussion summary (Spanish)

The Forum members shared documents or studies on different food security indicators.  They aso discussed the following issues: lAre there studies that evaluate the contribution of community forestry to food security? What would be the best mechanisms to anchor Agricultural Activities and ensure Food Security in a Community Forestry process, which generally consists in management of natural/forest resources by and for local populations?

• See the full text of the topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary (English)
• Sommaire de la discussion
• Resumen de la discusión

Which tools, indicators or methods should be used for measuring the Food Security of households containing adults malnourished with HIV/AIDS?

• See the full text of the topic
• See the discussion proceedings
• Discussion summary (English)
• Sommaire de la discussion
• Resumen de la discusión

Why have the conditions of small holder farmers been getting worse and worse over the past 30 years? What is the way forward for small holder farmers and what are the implications, particularly for policy-making?

• Introductory message of the topic
• Discussion proceedings
• Summary of contributions in English
• Summary of contributions in Spanish
• Summary of contributions in French

Is the issue of Agricultural Biodiversity (i.e. the ecosystem, species and genetic diversity found in agricultural landscapes) much discussed in FSN circles? For example, are variables such as the number of different varieties of sorghum or the number of different leafy green vegetables (for example) grown by people in an area the kind of baseline data that are documented when doing livelihoods and food security vulnerability assessments? 

Is this aspect of livelihoods and food security sometimes ignored, or at least not given the consideration it deserves?

• Introductory message of the topic
• Summary of contributions in English
• See the summary of contributions in Spanish
• Summary of contributions in French
• Discussion proceedings

The topic "Nutrition education - essential but often neglected" was raised by Ms Jane Sherman, education consultant, and facilitated by Ms Ellen Muehlhoff, Senior Officer, Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division, FAO. 

• Introductory message
• Summary of contributions (English)
• Summary of contributions (Spanish)
• Summary of contributions (French)
• Discussion proceedings

"Topics on which research is most needed". This discussion was facilitated by Mr Andrew McMillan, former FAO director. The aims of this discussion were the following:

• To provide references with which we can substantiate the typical claims in FSN fields (see the full text of the topic for more details)
• To collect opinions and insights on the topics on which research is most needed
• To collect opinions and insights on how to solve the lack of necessary research/evidence

____________________________________________________

• See the full text of the topic
• See the final summary in English
• See the final summary in Spanish
• See the final summary in French
• See the proceedings

Suggestions for emerging topics for the programme of the 2nd International Conference on Poverty, Food and Health, involving the Human Rights approach, which took place in Lisbon, from 28th to 30th November, 2007.

• See the full text of the topic
• See the final summary
• See the discussion proceedings

E-discussion on "Drawing lessons from food security and nutrition research, analysis and information for improved decision making and response", facilitated by Mr. Mark Smulders, coordinator of the FAO-FIVIMS Programme

• See the full text of the topic
• See the discussion proceedings
• See the final summary
• Sommaire de la discussion
• Resumen de la discusión

Discussion topics

Please provide a short account of how you have been successful in conducting research or analysis, or have generated information in FSN:

(i) specifying a particular PURPOSE; (ii) clarifying which INDICATORS you used; (iii) stating how you COMMUNICATED your findings; (iv) explaining whether your work was in response to an EXPRESSED NEED for information (by whom and for what purpose); and (v) stating whether (or not) the knowledge generated resulted in CONCRETE ACTION.

What have been your SUCCESS FACTORS and/or KNOWLEDGE GAP/CONSTRAINT?

26th October-26 November

Peer review of the paper "Livelihood Characterisation in South Sudan: use of physiographic & agro-climatic layers