Media Release

28 October 2022

Leaders converge on Brisbane to solve global food insecurity

International agricultural research leaders will gather in Brisbane next week to discuss how to tackle worsening global food security.

Over 5 days, from 31 October to 4 November, more than 100 leaders will come together at multiple high-level events to discuss the future of sustainable and resilient food systems.

This provides a unique opportunity to hear from agricultural research and policy experts ahead of COP27, which will take place against the backdrop of a worsening global food security crisis.

This event is hosted by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and CGIAR, the world’s largest agricultural innovation network, and aligned with the TropAg Conference.

Media Opportunity
Time: 8:00am-9:30am
Date: Wednesday 2 November 2022
Location: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Plaza Foyer 1-3

Media are invited to attend a breakfast event which will include a Ministerial welcome from Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities, Mark Furner MP, ACIAR CEO Professor Andrew Campbell and a Welcome to Country Ceremony delivered by Songwoman Maroochy Barambah (please note Songwoman Maroochy does not permit videography of her performance).

You will also have the opportunity to interview, film and photograph attending global agricultural leaders. Guests are members of the CGIAR System Council, Australia’s Commission for International Agricultural Research (the Commission) such as Commission Chair and National Farmers’ Federation President Mrs Fiona Simson and Policy Advisory Council (for international agricultural research) including Olam International Limited Co-founder and Group CEO Mr Sunny Veghese.

Additional information

The week’s key events include:

• A dialogue series hosted by the Commission on food security and food systems transformation, beginning with a plenary session, ‘Food security and food systems transformation in the Indo-Pacific – the role for science’, on Tuesday 1 November at the TropAg International Agricultural Conference. Media welcome – please register interest.
• A meeting of the System Council, the governing body of the CGIAR, which Australia is hosting for the first time. The System Council is made up of the top 15 CGIAR funders, which includes Australia, and undertakes agricultural research for development through a network of international research centres.
• Parallel meetings of the Commission and the Policy Advisory Council, which advise the Foreign Minister on food security and agricultural development issues.
  A complete list of Commissioners and Policy Advisory Council Members is attached.
  Ends.

For more information, please contact:
Michelle Nakamura, 0478 403 806 (michelle.nakamura@aciar.gov.au)
Andrew Sillis, 0403 259 329 (andrew.sillis@aciar.gov.au)

Commission for International Agricultural Research
The Commission provides expert advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in relation to program formulation for agricultural research and development, priority setting, and funding.