Event

Agriculture for development in a changing world

This event hosted by UK think tank the Institute of Development Studies explores the current challenges and pathways forward.

Agriculture for development is entering a radically transformed global aid landscape. The world is changing faster than the institutions designed to support development and specifically agricultural development, food security, agrifood systems and poverty reduction. Progress has stalled for a variety of entangled reasons.

Resilience and sustainable change require long term and systemic commitment – not a perpetual crisis response, nor a reduction in development investment. But within the surrounding volatility and uncertainty lies opportunity. Agriculture for development is at a crossroads – but also one with potentially transformative pathways forward.

Agrifood systems transformation that is inclusive remains essential for global and local food and nutrition security, sustainability, and resilience. Technological innovation is essential but not sufficient; political leadership, patient investment, inclusion, access and equity are equally critical. Pathways such as agroecology and multifunctional agriculture offer promising accelerators. Smallholder production systems and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain central to the challenges and likely solutions.

Farmer sovereignty and farmers’ knowledge must remain at the centre of agricultural and food systems transformation. Urbanisation, climate stress and demographic change demand integrated rural–urban development approaches. Support models for agricultural innovation, investment and governance must change fundamentally in a new aid and development landscape. Agriculture for development needs to become more collaborative, integrated, climate smart, farmer-centred, financially innovative, locally led and politically aware.

To explore the current challenges and pathways forward, this webinar will bring together panellists including IDS researchers, TAAI members and contributors to the recent 50th edition of Agriculture for Development.

The 50th edition of TAAI’s  Agriculture for Development journal, Ag4Dev50,  was published in October 2025 (available here).

This special issue contained a series of reflections and Opinion pieces from TAAI members and partners, including independent policy and research specialists, IDS, CGIAR research organisations, NGOs and former Rome-based Agency staff. These discussed the implications of contemporary global crises and reductions and reorientations in financing for development for agricultural and rural development.

This event is being run by the Tropical Agriculture Association International (TAAI) – Institute of Development Studies (IDS).

Programme

Part 1 (first hour)

• Welcome and introductory remarks.
• Brief ‘provocations’ from speakers to spark discussion and debate.
• Q&A.

Part 2 (second hour)

• Four working groups to explore some of the emerging themes in more depth
• Plenary where facilitators share insights from the groups in plenary
• Brief insights from the convening partners (TAAI and IDS) to outline next steps wrap up the discussion.

Welcome

• Professor Peter Taylor, IDS and Karim Hussein, TAAI.

Contributors

• Colin Andrews: NGO perspective: Tiyeni, Malawi, Chair of the Board
• Sayed Azam Ali, Crops for the Future and Chair HLPE. Knowledge, farmer sovereignty and diverse food systems.
• Proloy Barua, Research Fellow, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University, Dhaka. Challenges facing youth in NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and the potential of the agricultural sector to address this.
• Lidia Cabral, IDS Research Fellow. Contribution on Green Revolution legacies and equitable knowledge systems
• Khalid El-Harizi & Karim Hussein, Independent/TAAI. Is agriculture for development’ obsolete?
• Dominic Glover, IDS Research Fellow. Youth and IAR4D.
• Mark Holderness, TAAI Chairman. People-centred agendas in agricultural research.
• Jamie Morrison, GAIN. Resetting food systems transformation
• Maurizio Navarra, Global Donor Platform on Rural Development Secretariat, IFAD. GDPRD member priorities for agriculture for development in a changing context.
• Clara Park, Senior Gender Officer, FAO. Feminist perspectives on agriculture for development in a changing world.
• Nancy Thomas, Lendwithcare Executive at Care International UK.
• Chesha Wettasinha, Prolinnova (Promoting local innovation in ecological agriculture and NRM).
• Fabrizio Bresciani, Senior Technical Officer in the Office of Innovation (OIN) at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)