Program

Registration and Welcome Coffee

Opening Statement
Mr. Bernhard Lehmann, Director General, Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture

Morning session

Introduction to the topic:
What is price volatility? What is the difference between volatility and soaring prices? Which are the main causes for price volatility and what is the link with speculation? Which is the impact of price volatility on global food security? What are the implications for the producers, the food industry and the consumers?

Price volatility from a global perspective

Presentation by Mr. David Hallam, Director, Trade and Markets Division, FAO

Price volatility from a national and agricultural policy perspective

Presentation by Mr. Vinzenz Jung, Deputy Head of Economics and Social Affairs Unit, Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture

Case studies:
Impacts and ways of dealing with price volatility and price rises

Case studies from Africa

Presentation by Ms. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, CEO of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN)

Short Break

Case studies from Asia

Presentation by Ms. Rupa Mukerji, Co-head for Advisory Services, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation

Discussion

Award Ceremony of the Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research (SFIAR)

Buffet Lunch

Afternoon session

Possible approaches:
Which actions should be taken at global, regional and national levels (in respect to both mitigation/prevention and adaptation to price volatility and soaring prices)? What can producers and the food industry do themselves? What is the role for policy makers and how could the international community be involved?

Stock taking of and possible responses by the international community

Presentation by Ms Florence Lasbennes, Chief of Staff of the UN system High Level Task Force on Global Food Security

Mitigation of and adaptation to price volatility: How can agriculture contribute to more stability? How can individual producers protect themselves?

Presentation by Mr. Robert Finger, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

Possible responses from the financial sector

Presentation by Mr. Alain Butler, Senior Advisor on Soft Commodities, BNP Paribas

Podium discussion with the speakers and the audience: possible responses which contribute to the mitigation of and the adaptation to price volatility and which enhance food security

Closing remarks

Mr. Christoph Graf, Deputy Head, Directorate Global Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation