Event Summary: USAID Frontiers for Development Conference Pressures on the Planet: Food Security in an Increasingly Complex Ecosystem

June 12, 2012 Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

Moderator: Frank Sesno, School of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University; creator and host, Planet Forward Panelists: Judith Rodin, Rockefeller Foundation Chris Policinski, Land OLakes Calestous Juma, Harvard University James Boomgard, DAI Frank Sesno Panel will focus on the impact of climate change, natural resource degradation, population growth, the role of innovation and markets in addressing challenges, and the role of ecosystem function to increase agricultural productivity. What are the implications of agriculture and food security? What is the involvement of USAID? Calestous Juma Live in a paradoxical time: have been able to harness large amounts of knowledge, but unable to use it effectively. Chris Policinski Already know productivity must be driven up. Need a new governance model put in place that is fact-based; this leadership will drive increased output of more sustainable products. Judith Rodin Rockefeller is about innovative solutions. For agriculture, invested in conventional breeding, but cannot resist new technologies. If we resist new technologies, we limit the capability of land to feed all the people we need to. Urbanization is a big challenge. Although they require different attention, rural and urban development cannot be disconnected. Development agencies need to follow a more systemic integrated approach. James Boomgard Recently passed 20 years without any significant investments in agriculture. Now, USAID leadership sees the key role of agriculture in development. Missing ingredient has been coordination; a fundamental strategy at the government level. Country-led and country-developed projects are critical. Juma Need sustained executive leadership by heads of states, in particular those that build sustainable knowledge institutions.

Is USAID capable of aligning its priorities with those of local governments? Are we asking USAID to do things it is incapable of doing?

Boomgard USAID needs built-in realism and an explanation of what can be accomplished. Pressure needs to be put on commitments made by international organizations and governments. Rodin Important to define a long-term vision and framework, and obligate short-term goals against this long-term vision. Policinski Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) play an important role in todays landscape. If a private investor base is brought in, time frames can lengthen. Sesno Seventy percent of human use of freshwater is directed toward agriculture. Water availability needs to double in the next decades to accommodate the growing population. What role does analysis of ecosystem function play in agricultural sustainability? What is waters role? Rodin

Of the millions of species living in soil, scientists have only identified 10 percent. Need to look more closely at what soil can do first, and then move to water. Starting point should be in the application of what is already known. Climate change needs a more integrated approach, using specialists and researchers in the fields of water, climate and soil.

Juma We spend most time looking at the science of water, identifying problems not solutions. Need to bring forward a data-driven approach and work with engineers who come up with solutions (for example, polymers that will capture and hold water for plants). Sesno How many in the audience are encouraged to be innovators on the job? How often does the word come up in the workplace? All want to be innovators. Its an overused word; what are we really talking about? Rodin An innovation can be a product, a process or an organizational structure within a market. Social innovation is recombination taking old ideas and putting them together in new ways to catalyze change. Innovation is characterized by the outcome. Sesno Today see innovations in PPPs, particularly to advance food security.

Policinski Risk-taking is an essential piece of being able to innovate. Boomgard Two types of innovation: o The market level, which suggests that something is put together in a different sustainable way; o The innovations that make value chains more inclusive, such as those that promote growth for local smallholders. But can these innovations be scaled up? Rodin Smallholders should be given the opportunity for very low prices with insurance; give them the confidence to buy seeds and plant crops. There is also innovative financing and investing. Big organizations put in most risky level of financing against the smallholder taking a loan; big aid agencies come in a low level of risk, but high level of investment. These mechanisms catalyze capital into the agricultural sector. Sesno How do you see innovation enhancing food security? Juma Innovation is doing new things or doing old things in a new way. There are three areas for innovation in food security: o Foundation for agriculture (infrastructure) o Technical training o Creating enterprises (a vehicle to transfer knowledge into tangible services) Infrastructure is the mother of innovative development. There are innovations occurring in Africa at the moment, for example a military university for science and technology was recently established in Ghana. USAID should engage in similar training infrastructure and partnerships. Sesno There are clear linkages between education and food security. How can the educated populous improve food security? Policinski Have a project on post-secondary training in the agricultural sector. Education is important, but what kind should be of focus? Must push along in a variety of ways, including post-secondary programs. Rodin

Education should work in a cycle: a virtuous cycle, not a vicious cycle. Educating girls is key to development, as it also focuses on poverty issues. Post-secondary training can be important through the agricultural value chain. After PhD training, students must go back to do fieldwork in their own country and stay there for a few years to implement project.

Juma See 12-18-year-olds asking for education and defining a curriculum for what they believe they need to become better farmers. Ask women what they need and give it to them. Sesno Currently 80 percent of land is cultivated by small-scale farmers and a push for large scale farming is increasing. How can large scale expertise be translated to the small scale in order to improve food security? Boomgard Need to be interested in overall economic growth; the rural economy and agriculture are important subcomponents. Yet the entire rural economy is not driven by agriculture 30 percent of rural income is gained from non-agricultural activities. The rural economy is now an integrated system. The survival of small farmers is important as they play a critical role. Participation in small farms is predicted to go down as migration to big cities and the presence of large farms increases. Sesno How to broaden the network and bring more people to the table with innovative solutions? Policinski Favorite development project is one that gives cows to women in Malawi and links them to the market to generate income. Entire industry with local investment developed around the project. But the scale still is not big enough. What if reframe such a project into a business proposition? Juma The place to change the African continent is in school; schools are agents of development Rodin A shared value creation is essential. Means including the people (potentially through education) and changing the narrative from for them to with them. Globalization is all about improving our lives and their lives. Sesno Examples of a new model for inspiration? Rodin Good models are community-based, people-centric at the middle, and then build out from there with what the government does.

They involve stakeholders and shareholders.

Policinski There is no one-size-fits-all model. Effective projects come in all shapes and sizes. Sesno This conversation is critically important as it brings the power of innovation to the table. Explained the value of risk, investment, persistence, and patience in addition to the need to stand these ideas up so they are capable of changing processes.