• Program
• Registration
• Speakers’ Bios and Abstracts
• Sir John Crawford Memorial Address
• Schedule of Fees
• Travel scholarships for young scientists
• Sponsors
• Accommodation
• Media

We believe that ideas and scenarios of varying quality, relevance and precision have entered the global food security debate; a clutter and diversity of views appear in journals, conferences, and particularly the media. Quite often, these ideas are presented as scientific fact when, in fact, they are not. The array and noise may be crowding out the quintessence: the need to increase global food production in ways that are ethical, efficient, and profitable for farmers, consumers and the environment.

The Hon John Kerin AM, Chairman, The Crawford Fund

The Crawford Fund’s annual conference on food security, which holds a key place in the development and food security calendar in Australia, will this year be held from 26-28 August in Parliament House, Canberra. The title for this year’s event “Ethics, Efficiency and Food Security: Feeding The 9 Billion, Well” enables us to focus on a range of vital issues facing the developing world and Australia in efforts to produce more food in an ethical and efficient way.

• The Crawford Fund invites you to attend this important event: 2014 Conference Invitation

The Crawford Fund Parliamentary Conference has for more than two decades managed to bring to focus an array of issues just as they are coming to world and Australian attention. By attracting the world’s best speakers, providing an extended question and answer session and opportunities for informal exchanges, the Fund’s conferences enable participants both to contribute and to place the issues into a context relevant and useful to their lives and work. This year will be no exception.

In selecting a focus for our 2014 Conference, we were initially inclined to a topic around gender and food security or women in agriculture. Our Board, however, felt that the importance of women in agriculture could be covered well throughout the program rather than as a stand alone topic, and something that was less well recognised was the role of women in agricultural R&D and in agricultural policy. So, we have a majority of female speakers at this conference across topics that range from economics, population, competition for resources and advanced technologies, chosen not because they are women but because they are the top of their field.

Our speakers in 2014 will include:

• Ms Rachel Kyte, World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change
• Prof Catherine Bertini, Senior Fellow, Global Agricultural Development Initiative, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs; Professor, Public Administration and International Affairs, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University; former Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme (1992-2002)
• Dr Shenggen Fan, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute
• Ms Kate Gilmore, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director (Programme), United Nations Population Fund
• Mr Luke Chandler, General Manager, Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory, Rabobank Australia & New Zealand
• Dr Paul Morris, First Assistant Secretary, Agricultural Competitiveness Taskforce, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
• Dr Helen Szoke, Chief Executive, Oxfam Australia

The overall program is now available for viewing online.

Travel scholarships are again being made available to young agricultural scientists and students to attend.

To help us fund young scientists and students to attend our conference, the Crawford Fund is offering delegates the opportunity to donate additional funds, above their registration fees, for this purpose. Donations can be made during the registration process.

“Being able to meet and to form friendships with fellow students who are also passionate about agriculture and with whom I will likely cross paths in the future was another important aspect of the conference. Developing these connections and knowing who I could contact for advice or knowledge will I believe be truly invaluable.”

Individuals, organisations or companies that opt to make a donation will be listed in the conference proceedings, should they wish, and will be advised of the additional students who were able to attend.

• More information: Young scientists travel scholarships

Our conference generally fills to capacity so register early to ensure you get the discount price and you don’t miss out.

Follow the conference on Twitter. The hashtag will be #CFethics14