CSD presents research findings at the Agriculture and Rural Development day, Denmark

The City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development (CSD) presented the findings from the Training for Rural Development research project at the Agriculture and Rural Development day in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Chris Gale, Project Manager and research co-author, and Nick Grist Senior Programme Manager, took part in the ‘Ideas Marketplace', where they presented the findings from the Training for Rural Development project to delegates.    

The Agriculture and Rural Development day conference served as an arena for individuals and organisations to share information and good practice in helping smallholders, national governments and multilateral agencies to adapt to the changing climate and highlight the need for agriculture to be a central part of discussions concerning the wider climate change debate. 

The event focused on the following areas:

• the role of agriculture and farmers, both women and men, in adaptation and mitigation strategies
• future scenarios for agriculture, rural development and food security
• climate change as a development issue
• innovations in the agricultural sector of relevance to the climate change agenda

commentating on the conference Nick Grist said:

“It is important that the international community recognises the need for agricultural and enterprise training in enhancing adaptability and reducing risks for smallholders.  Agriculture has a key role to play for developing economies in reducing the risks from climate change but also in ensuring economic and social prosperity.  The Copenhagen event has gone some way to ensuring that the role of smallholders in fighting these two major global issues is recognised and the needs of the rural poor are at the heart of discussions.”  

Delegates at the event agreed that rural smallholders in the developing world will be the hardest hit from the effects of climate change; through increased desertification, variable rainfalls and generally more volatile productive conditions.  The ability of smallholder farmers to diversify livelihoods, adapt to changing agricultural conditions and reduce their own impact on the local environment is essential to ensuring food security and limiting the effects of climate change. 

For more information about the Agriculture and Rural Development day please visit: http://www.agricultureday.org/