Media availability: Agricultural resilience in the face of climate change

Crop, water, livestock, forestry and fishery experts available to discuss climate change mitigation in the lead-up to Copenhagen

The ability of agriculture to adapt and withstand the impacts of climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Climate change presents a very real threat to the livelihoods and food security for millions of people in developing countries. Yet, agriculture is also adding to the climate change problem. Current practices, including the conversion of forests and grasslands for crops and pasture, contribute some 31 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

A changing planet brings an unprecedented opportunity to turn around agriculture in developing countries, making it more sustainable, reducing its negative impacts on the global environment, and at the same time, enhancing food security. Researchers with the world's largest alliance of agricultural research centers—the CGIAR—are working to develop and disseminate solutions to allow people to build resilient livelihoods and prosper in spite of variable and uncertain weather, both now and into the future.

In the lead up to Copenhagen, agricultural researchers with expertise in a wide range of climate issues—from crops, water, and livestock, to forests and fisheries—are available for media interviews to discuss the measures that are urgently needed for both adaptation and mitigation to climate change.

Africa Rice Center
Bioversity International
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
International Potato Center (CIP)
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
WorldFish Center

Agriculture & Rural Development Day

Agriculture & Rural Development Day is a one-day event that will seek to build consensus on what has to be done to fully incorporate agriculture into the post-Copenhagen climate agenda. The event will take place on Saturday, 12 December, at the Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE) at the University of Copenhagen. For more information, please visit: http://www.agricultureday.org/event-information.html

###

Editor's note: For stories, photos, and other information, please visit the CGIAR climate blog at http://cgiarclimatechange.wordpress.com.

[ | E-mail |

Share ]

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.