Frequently Asked Questions
What is the World Agricultural Forum?
The World Agricultural Forum (WAF) is the world's only neutral venue for world leaders in agriculture, commerce, technology, academia and government to convene and discuss agricultural and related private- and public-sector policies consistent with the need to feed the growing global population. Beginning with its first World Congress in 1999, the WAF hosts a biennial World Congress (historically in St. Louis, MO, USA) attended by high-level policy influencers, policymakers and change agents from around the globe. Regional World Area Forums are convened on a smaller scale to address regional priorities and build input towards the next World Congress.
What is the WAF's vision and mission?
The WAF vision is to empower agriculture to feed every man, woman, and child on earth. The WAF mission is to catalyze the development of action plans that meet the world's growing need for food, fiber, fuel, and water.
What Issues does the Forum consider?
Issues addressed at the World Congress and Regional Forums are identified by the International Advisory Board and Regional Steering Committees. Topics examined include both long term structural changes required to feed the worlds growing population, as well as shorter-term critical issues confronting the industry: global economic and agricultural baseline long-run forecasting; understanding and reacting to world calorie and nutrition demands and their impact on food stocks and trade; technology, both agricultural and related; sustainability and environmental considerations; and, government policies as they affect agriculture and its support systems.
How did the WAF begin?
In 1999, the WAF initiated the trend of multi-sectoral discussions in the ag-sector and pushed for the recognition of ag as a critical driver of growth in developing countries. Finally, the world has recognized this and agriculture is getting the level of attention it deserves.
What kinds of groups does the Forum bring together?
High-level decision-makers: producers, processors, the agricultural supply industry (e.g., seed and crop protection industry), technology companies, financial institutions, transporters, telecommunications companies, merchandisers, handlers and consumers. Members from governments and international policy organizations, scientists and academia, NGOs and the media are also integral contributors to the discussion. The WAF acts as a horizontal integrator of the agriculture and agri-food value chain.
How is the WAF supported?
Financial support comes from private foundations and numerous corporations. Membership revenue is an important source of funding.
How is the WAF governed?
A board of directors governs the WAF, which is responsible for operations and financial matters. An international advisory board of leading international figures in global agriculture sets the agendas for WAF meetings. The advisory board is chaired by Rt. Hon. James B. Bolger, ONZ, former three-term Prime Minister of New Zealand.
What is the World Congress?
Each World Congress is an invitation-only, high level, interactive event. The World Congress convenes decision makers in a neutral, inclusive, platform from all disciplines of agriculture and agribusiness to address important issues, share ideas and work towards solutions that will meet the world's growing needs. Comprised of interactive panels and roundtable discussions, the World Congress is highly interactive and challenges participants to discuss key issues, share regional perspectives on global challenges and debate differences in a neutral and open forum. Attendance is limited to approximately 300 persons to allow for a higher quality of interactive dialogue and networking.
What are the Regional Forums?
Regional Forums are built on outcomes of the World Congress yet serve as a precursor to the next World Congress. The outcomes of the Regional Forums are White Papers prepared in the region and presented at the next World Congress to identify policies and actions which will contribute to enhancing agriculture and food security. Each Regional Forum is a call-to-action for greater global attention on agriculture and the formation of more effective partnerships between the participants who represent government, corporations, academia, and non-governmental organizations based on a shared understanding of objectives and responsibilities. The Regional Forums are a more intimate event that the World Congresses. Also an invitation-only event, participants include the most influential global stakeholders in agriculture to focus on a particular region. The meeting offers all attendees a unique opportunity to discuss critical issues, share perspectives on regional challenges and exchange solutions without being encumbered by formal agenda required in official meetings. Consisting of formal presentations and interactive discussions, approximately 75-100 people take part in these two-day events.
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What is the World Agricultural Forum?
The World Agricultural Forum (WAF) is the world's only neutral venue for world leaders in agriculture, commerce, technology, academia and government to convene and discuss agricultural and related private- and public-sector policies consistent with the need to feed the growing global population. Beginning with its first World Congress in 1999, the WAF hosts a biennial World Congress (historically in St. Louis, MO, USA) attended by high-level policy influencers, policymakers and change agents from around the globe. Regional World Area Forums are convened on a smaller scale to address regional priorities and build input towards the next World Congress.
What is the WAF's vision and mission? The WAF vision is to empower agriculture to feed every man, woman, and child on earth. The WAF mission is to catalyze the development of action plans that meet the world's growing need for food, fiber, fuel, and water.
What Issues does the Forum consider?
Issues addressed at the World Congress and Regional Forums are identified by the International Advisory Board and Regional Steering Committees. Topics examined include both long term structural changes required to feed the worlds growing population, as well as shorter-term critical issues confronting the industry: global economic and agricultural baseline long-run forecasting; understanding and reacting to world calorie and nutrition demands and their impact on food stocks and trade; technology, both agricultural and related; sustainability and environmental considerations; and, government policies as they affect agriculture and its support systems.
How did the WAF begin?
In 1999, the WAF initiated the trend of multi-sectoral discussions in the ag-sector and pushed for the recognition of ag as a critical driver of growth in developing countries. Finally, the world has recognized this and agriculture is getting the level of attention it deserves.
What kinds of groups does the Forum bring together?
High-level decision-makers: producers, processors, the agricultural supply industry (e.g., seed and crop protection industry), technology companies, financial institutions, transporters, telecommunications companies, merchandisers, handlers and consumers. Members from governments and international policy organizations, scientists and academia, NGOs and the media are also integral contributors to the discussion. The WAF acts as a horizontal integrator of the agriculture and agri-food value chain.
How is the WAF supported?
Financial support comes from private foundations and numerous corporations. Membership revenue is an important source of funding.
How is the WAF governed?
A board of directors governs the WAF, which is responsible for operations and financial matters. An international advisory board of leading international figures in global agriculture sets the agendas for WAF meetings. The advisory board is chaired by Rt. Hon. James B. Bolger, ONZ, former three-term Prime Minister of New Zealand.
What is the World Congress?
Each World Congress is an invitation-only, high level, interactive event. The World Congress convenes decision makers in a neutral, inclusive, platform from all disciplines of agriculture and agribusiness to address important issues, share ideas and work towards solutions that will meet the world's growing needs. Comprised of interactive panels and roundtable discussions, the World Congress is highly interactive and challenges participants to discuss key issues, share regional perspectives on global challenges and debate differences in a neutral and open forum. Attendance is limited to approximately 300 persons to allow for a higher quality of interactive dialogue and networking.
What are the Regional Forums?
Regional Forums are built on outcomes of the World Congress yet serve as a precursor to the next World Congress. The outcomes of the Regional Forums are White Papers prepared in the region and presented at the next World Congress to identify policies and actions which will contribute to enhancing agriculture and food security. Each Regional Forum is a call-to-action for greater global attention on agriculture and the formation of more effective partnerships between the participants who represent government, corporations, academia, and non-governmental organizations based on a shared understanding of objectives and responsibilities. The Regional Forums are a more intimate event that the World Congresses. Also an invitation-only event, participants include the most influential global stakeholders in agriculture to focus on a particular region. The meeting offers all attendees a unique opportunity to discuss critical issues, share perspectives on regional challenges and exchange solutions without being encumbered by formal agenda required in official meetings. Consisting of formal presentations and interactive discussions, approximately 75-100 people take part in these two-day events.
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Participant Shares Views on Food and Agriculture
Professor Marcos Fava Neves, a panelist at the 2010 World Agricultural Forum - Latin America and professor at The University of Sao Paulo, Brazil has recently published two articles discussing agribusiness strategies and the food inflation problem. Please read on. Defining an Agribusiness Strategic Agenda for 2010-2020 (pdf) Strategies for Solving the Food Inflation Problem (pdf)
Professor Marcos Fava Neves, a panelist at the 2010 World Agricultural Forum - Latin America and professor at The University of Sao Paulo, Brazil has recently published two articles discussing agribusiness strategies and the food inflation problem. Please read on. Defining an Agribusiness Strategic Agenda for 2010-2020 (pdf) Strategies for Solving the Food Inflation Problem (pdf)
