Stories tagged: Farming First

Farming First Celebrates Double Win at CorpComms Awards 2016

Farming First scooped the award for “Best Communications by a Not for Profit Organisation” at the Corporate Communications award ceremony in London last night. Our 2015 campaign “The Story of Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals” triumphed over stiff competition from ZSL London Zoo, Age UK and Scope. It also came highly commended in the “Best International Campaign” category, making it a double win for Farming First.

“The Story of Agriculture and Development Goals” was a year-long campaign that sought to ensure agriculture and sustainable farming issues were well represented in the text of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Farming First supporters went on three missions to the United Nations in New York, to meet with and present to Post-2015 negotiators, as well as taking part in side events to demonstrate how agriculture can be considered “a common thread” throughout the SDGs. An interactive toolkit was also launched, to explain the impact that investing in agriculture can have on a range of goals beyond Goal Two to end hunger, such as health, economic growth, gender equality and combatting climate change.

When the SDGs came into force in September 2015, Farming First was delighted to see many of the key issues it has been advocating for during this process, such as food security, rural development, and innovation well represented in the final text. These topics now feature six, two and 13 times respectively throughout the document. The Farming First supporter delegation also encouraged inclusion of improved access for farmers to extension services and training, access to inputs and investment in research and in infrastructure which are now specifically mentioned under Goal 2.

Farming First’s call to recognise agriculture as a common thread thought the SDGs has been well heeded. Equal access to resources for women farmers is mentioned in goal five on gender equality, and post-harvest losses are mentioned as target 12.3 in the goal relating to sustainable consumption and production.

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To celebrate the adoption of the SDGs, Farming First supporters submitted stories from farmers around the world that they work with, who shared their hopes for what the SDGs would achieve, and how they intended to implement them. You can read the full stories on our “SDGs and Me” page.

Farming First would like to thank all its supporters that contributed to this award-winning campaign!

Farming First’s “The Story of Agriculture & SDGs” Shortlisted for Industry Award

Farming First’s 2015 campaign “The Story of Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals” has been shortlisted for a Gold EMEA SABRE Award under the “associations” category.

The shortlist was selected from among more than 2,400 entries in this year’s competition, which recognizes Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation and Engagement. The campaigns were evaluated by a jury of more than 40 industry leaders.

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Click here to explore our interactive essay on why agriculture is the common thread in the SDGs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farming First’s campaign to showcase agriculture’s central role to many of the SDGs, beyond goal two of ending hunger, comprised of the interactive essay “The Story of Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals“, an expert blog series and a series of in-person advocacy tours with negotiators involved in the Post-2015 Intergovernmental Negotiations at the United Nations in New York. Agriculture was well-represented in the final outcome document, thanks to the had work of Farming First advocates and colleagues involved in this process.

The winner will be announced at the SABRE Awards ceremony in Berlin on 25th May 2016.

 

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Farming First & CGIAR Side Event at EU Development Days 2016

15th June 2016, 4pm – 5.15pm

Room D5, Tour & Taxis

Brussels, Belgium

Join Farming First and CGIAR at our interactive session “Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals with Science” at the EU Development Days!

Our distinguished panel – moderated by BBC science & environment journalist Mark Kinver – will tell stories of science changing farmers’ lives Pecha Kucha style. Discussing 20 images for just 20 seconds each, our speakers will stimulate debate on how science can be harnessed to achieve many of the interlinked Sustainable Development Goals, including ending hunger, combatting climate change and empowering women.

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Our Panel

Frank Rijsberman, CEO, CGIAR ConsortiumRijsberman2colorcropped

CGIAR is the largest agri-food research partnership in the world, made-up of 15 research centers with 10,000 staff in over 70 countries. Dr. Rijsberman leads the implementation of CGIAR’s vision through a portfolio of impact focused research programs dedicated to increasing food and nutrition security, reducing rural poverty, and protecting the environment.

I.Rae photoIsabella Rae, Head of Policy & Research, Self Help Africa

Dr. Rae has been working in the NGO sector for the past eight years, prior to which she worked with FAO, Bioversity International and WFP. She has experience in the design, elaboration and management of technical assistance projects, with particular emphasis on Central and Western Africa. She has published in areas of women rights, food security and governance, and the right to food.

Sona Ebai CroppedSona Ebai, Chief of Party, World Cocoa Foundation

Sona Ebai has spent the last 25 years in integrated rural regional development. Through his role at the World Cocoa Foundation/African Cocoa Initiative (WCF/ACI), he has been instrumental in fostering effective public and private sector models to support sustainable productivity and improved food security on diversified cocoa farms in West and Central Africa.

Kampmann, Willi - 3Willi Kampmann, Head of International Affairs, German Farmers’ Association (DBV)

Willi Kampmanm has worked with the German Farmers’ Association for 35 years and has headed the Brussels office since 2000, concentrating on European and international agricultural policy. He was responsible for creating the House of German Agriculture and Food Industry, together with  seven other German agricultural associations.

Our Moderator

160420 MKV colourMark Kinver, BBC Science & Environment Reporter

Mark Kinver has been reporting on science and environment issues for BBC News for ten years. As moderator for this event, Mark will help our panelists delve deeper into the issues raised, and let you have your say on the topics.

 

 

The European Development Days (EDD) are Europe’s leading forum on development and international cooperation. Organised by the European Commission, the forum brings the development community together each year to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

Farming First’s 15 Heroes of 2015

2015 is drawing to a close – and what better way to celebrate this milestone year for development, than by highlighting the work of some of Farming First’s most hardworking supporters and partners! Take a tour through our activities this past year and help us celebrate some of our heroes.

SONY DSC1. Mark Rosegrant at The Economist Feeding the World Conference

We kicked off the year at The Economist’s Feeding the World conference in Amsterdam, where we acted as their media partner for the fourth consecutive year. Mark Rosegrant, Director of the Environment and Production Technology Division of the International Food Policy Research Institute, spoke the rewards of technology and showcased some future solutions. He summarised findings from a report released last year that tested the effectiveness of 11 technologies under climate change scenarios. Watch his interview with Farming First TV to find out more, and click here to read our summary blog of The Economist event. Continue reading →

Agriculture Well Represented in Post-2015 Negotiations Final Text

The negotiations for post-2015 development agenda and the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is coming to a close. Two key documents are almost finalised, the Post 2015 Development Agenda outcome document, now entitled “Transforming Our World”, complemented by the Addis Ababa Agenda, that was adopted earlier in July 2015.

Farming First is delighted to see many of the key issues it has been advocating for during this process, such as food security, rural development, and innovation well represented in the “Transforming Our World” text. These topics now feature six, two and 13 times respectively throughout the document. The Farming First supporter delegation also encouraged inclusion of improved access for farmers to extension services and training, access to inputs and investment in research and in infrastructure which are now specifically mentioned under Goal 2.

Continue reading →

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed wins World Food Prize

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of Bangladesh, social enterprise visionary and founder of BRAC was announced yesterday as the 2015 winner of the World Food Prize, the most prominent global award for individuals whose breakthrough achievements alleviate hunger and promote global food security.

The World Food Prize Foundation – with whom Farming First partnering to make the announcement public – is awarding the $250,000 prize to Sir Fazle for the progress he has made in improving people’s lives, alleviating hunger, and providing pathways out of poverty for up to 150 million people across Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Screen Shot 2015-07-01 at 18.40.25BRAC, which was formally known as Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, has been hailed as the most effective anti-poverty organization in the world. Today BRAC operates 18 financially and socially profitable enterprises, across health, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, education, green energy, printing and retail sectors, and has been responsible for extraordinary advancements in the poultry, seed, and dairy industries in Bangladesh and other countries.

As part of its partnership, Farming First has been working with the World Food Prize team to promote Sir Fazle’s selection and celebrate BRAC’s outstanding contribution to global food security in the media. We are happy to have secured a number of articles in a variety of publications. Read more about Sir Fazle’s work and how BRAC has helped lead a generation out of poverty:

The Guardian – BRAC’s Sir Fazle Hasan Abed wins 2015 World Food Prize for reducing poverty

New York Times – Bangladesh based poverty group founder wins World Food Prize

BBC Online – Anti-poverty pioneer wins 2015 World Food Prize

USA Today – World Food Prize goes to founder of anti-poverty group

Thomson Reuters – Prize for man who lead a generation out of poverty in Bangladesh

Sir Fazle will be presented with the prestigious World Food Prize at a three-day symposium, known as the Borlaug Dialogue, which will take place in Des Moines, Iowa in October. Stay tuned to the Farming First blog and social media channels, as we will be hosting guest blogs and a Twitter Chat involving BRAC and the World Food Prize Foundation.