During state socialism, agriculture and rural areas in many Eastern European countries were subject to strong state influence on consumer prices, subsidized inputs and relatively low investments in social or technical infrastructure combined with restrictions for the rural population’s freedom of movement around the country. Subsequent privatisation of state and cooperative farms did not solve the economic problems of agriculture and the rural economy. Despite Black Sea grain’s growing significance for global markets, economic growth with a positive impact on the notable shortcomings in producing competitive high-value-added products from the countryside remains practically out of sight. Rural areas keep lagging behind its urban rivals in terms of economic development, watching its population leave for the cities. To promote rural development and support social infrastructure of local communities, both political and business initiatives aim to attract and retain young and qualified employees in agriculture.
Experts from politics, science and business will touch upon questions on how to cope with the challenges ahead.
Program of the expert panel discussion
Welcome:
Prof. Dr. Thomas Glauben, Director, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO)
Opening address:
Dr. Robert Kloss, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)
Panel discussion:
Ivonne Julitta Bollow,Head of Eastern Europe and International Affairs, Metro Group
Dr. Raimund Jehle, Senior Field Programme Officer, FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia
Alexey Kiryanov, owner of Russian sausage campany "IP Kiryanov"
Kerstin Müller, Programme Manager for Russia, APOLLO e.V. (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Projekte in Oekologie, Landwirtschaft und Landesentwicklung in Osteuropa)
Dr. Oleksandr Perekhozhuk, Research Associate, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO)
Moderation:
Dr. Franz-Georg von Busse, Chairman of the German Agribusiness Alliance, Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations (OA)
Simultaneous interpretation in German, English and Russian language will be provided.
Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2016
14 - 16 January 2016
CityCube Berlin | Germany
