Fixing the Broken Global Food System

An expert panel discussion about solving the problem of food security for the world's poor.

Billions of people around the world are hungry, malnourished or starving every day, giving rise to major disparities in educational opportunity, health and political stability worldwide. And yet support for agricultural development had been neglected over the past two decades. What are the obstacles to solving this most fundamental and persistent barrier to development? How do we improve the global agricultural systems to assure food for everyone in an environmentally and culturally sustainable way? We are happy to feature at this event Debbie Barker and Rajiv Shah, two outstanding leaders in global agricultural reform.

Thursday, February 26, 2009
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Networking and light refreshments
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Program and Q&A

Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106
Directions: click here
Parking: small parking lot and street parking available

Online registration has now closed, but if you are still interested in attending, contact Allison Eltrich at a.eltrich@seattlefoundation.org.

Speakers
Debbie Barker is the former co-director of the International Forum on Globalization (IFG), a think tank that analyses and critiques economic globalization. Ms. Barker launched and now directs the U.S. office of Navdanya International, an organization founded in India by Dr. Vandana Shiva. She recently authored The Predictable Rise and Fall of Global Industrial Agriculture, which highlights international policies causing ecological and social harm, and provides alternative strategies to the current food system. She was on the international committee of authors for the United Nation’s 2008 report, “International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD),” and co-authored The Manifesto on Climate Change and the Future of Food Security (2008).

Rajiv Shah is the Director of Agricultural Development in the Global Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Raj leads foundation efforts to help small-holder farmers and their families overcome hunger and poverty. He previously served as the foundation's director of Strategic Opportunities and as deputy director of policy and finance for the Global Health Program. In these roles, he helped develop and launch the foundation's Global Development Program and the International Finance Facility for Immunization—an effort that raised more than $5 billion for child immunization.

This event has been made possible by Global Washington, Pangea, The Seattle Foundation and the World Affairs Council.