Major Group: Business & Industry
1
UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ? CSD 17
Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, Drought, Desertification and Africa.
May 15
Business and Industry "Shared Vision" Intervention Statement
_________________________________________________________________
Madam Chairperson, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have been pleased to join the many voices who have agreed that agriculture is a
critical means to achieve food security, rural development, and better quality of life.
Sustainable agriculture is a continuous journey of improvement economically,
environmentally, and socially. It behooves us collectively to take the best
information, technology and practices we have, study the effects of their
implementation, and then refine those practices every step of the way.
Business and Industry is part of that journey, and we welcome the opportunity to
work with all the players involved, including all nine major groups and governments,
to seek these continual improvements in ALL forms of agriculture.
It is imperative to tackle the challenges of sustainable development with a mosaic of
solutions. Past journeys have shown that addressing the complex needs of
sustainable development must reflect the people and environment in which
development is occurring.
That is why the partners in Farming First believe knowledge must be the corner
stone of sustainable agriculture.
From time-to-time, we have heard about bottom up solutions, but it should not be
bottom up versus top down. Addressing sustainability requires fully
COLLABORATIVE approaches, combining best practices, best research, and
insightful engineering with deep respect for local farmers, traditional knowledge,
and women's experience. Enabling collaboration through farm groups, improved
extension services, and training for farmers and agricultural workers is essential.
Collaboration is also needed along the vast life-cycle of food and agriculture
commodity chains, including infrastructure, credit, and risk management tools.
Ultimately, farmers need access to a wide array of technologies and knowledge,
including biotechnology where appropriate. Then they can select the practices that
work best for them and their families.
At no time should we lose sight of the importance of water and land. Climate
change has contributed to the situation. There is a critical need to implement sound
efforts and initiatives to improve agriculture's water management.
Lastly, on behalf of all major groups, Madame Chairperson, Major group
representatives take the mandate to strengthen and support implementation of
Agenda 21 and the JPOI very seriously, both through their own constituencies and
via partnerships. We appreciate the opportunities to work constructively with
government delegates, the UN community and one another during CSD sessions.
We strongly encourage the Secretariat and government delegates to renew and
strengthen the role of the designated Major Groups in future sessions, and the
major groups will continue our efforts to advance action on sustainability through
the CSD.
The work of CSD could not have been more timely, and we hope it will bear fruit.
Thank you Madame Chairperson.
UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ? CSD 17
Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, Drought, Desertification and Africa.
May 15
Business and Industry "Shared Vision" Intervention Statement
_________________________________________________________________
Madam Chairperson, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have been pleased to join the many voices who have agreed that agriculture is a
critical means to achieve food security, rural development, and better quality of life.
Sustainable agriculture is a continuous journey of improvement economically,
environmentally, and socially. It behooves us collectively to take the best
information, technology and practices we have, study the effects of their
implementation, and then refine those practices every step of the way.
Business and Industry is part of that journey, and we welcome the opportunity to
work with all the players involved, including all nine major groups and governments,
to seek these continual improvements in ALL forms of agriculture.
It is imperative to tackle the challenges of sustainable development with a mosaic of
solutions. Past journeys have shown that addressing the complex needs of
sustainable development must reflect the people and environment in which
development is occurring.
That is why the partners in Farming First believe knowledge must be the corner
stone of sustainable agriculture.
From time-to-time, we have heard about bottom up solutions, but it should not be
bottom up versus top down. Addressing sustainability requires fully
COLLABORATIVE approaches, combining best practices, best research, and
insightful engineering with deep respect for local farmers, traditional knowledge,
and women's experience. Enabling collaboration through farm groups, improved
extension services, and training for farmers and agricultural workers is essential.
Collaboration is also needed along the vast life-cycle of food and agriculture
commodity chains, including infrastructure, credit, and risk management tools.
Ultimately, farmers need access to a wide array of technologies and knowledge,
including biotechnology where appropriate. Then they can select the practices that
work best for them and their families.
At no time should we lose sight of the importance of water and land. Climate
change has contributed to the situation. There is a critical need to implement sound
efforts and initiatives to improve agriculture's water management.
Lastly, on behalf of all major groups, Madame Chairperson, Major group
representatives take the mandate to strengthen and support implementation of
Agenda 21 and the JPOI very seriously, both through their own constituencies and
via partnerships. We appreciate the opportunities to work constructively with
government delegates, the UN community and one another during CSD sessions.
We strongly encourage the Secretariat and government delegates to renew and
strengthen the role of the designated Major Groups in future sessions, and the
major groups will continue our efforts to advance action on sustainability through
the CSD.
The work of CSD could not have been more timely, and we hope it will bear fruit.
Thank you Madame Chairperson.