Newsletter conference “Research & Policy: two peas in a pod? A dialogue for food security impact”

The conference “Research & Policy: two peas in a pod? A dialogue for food security impact” on December 1, organized by NWO-WOTRO and the F&BKP in close collaboration with the Ministries of Forgein Affairs and Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, was a major step in improving the link between research and policy. In particular between the (interim) results of the research projects funded within the Food & Business Applied Research Fund (ARF) and the Global Challenges Programme (GCP), and Dutch policy in the field of Food and Nutrition Security and private sector development. Around 150 participants from the Netherlands, Africa and South Asia gathered in The Hague to share and connect their work in the field of food security.

Please find here a link to the newsletter with all conference highlights and results, including the dynamic discussions during eight thematic sessions in various conference blogs.

For a visual impression of the day, please take a look at the conference video. On Twitter you can find the posts related to the conference at #FoodDialogue.

Keynote speakers elaborated on the role of research in development practices and the need to consider food systems within a wider policy and (local) political context to achieve changes. In the thematic sessions results from ARF & GCP research projects were presented followed by lively dialogues on how to improve the policy-research link and which bottlenecks need to be addressed. In addition, the Agrofood Broker of the Year was announced and an ARF booklet presented on the unique approach of the ARF.

The conference was organized as one step in a broader process. It followed an intensive preparation trajectory in which researchers, practitioners and policy representatives were actively engaged in starting the dialogue on the different themes. In the coming period, the F&BKP and NWO-WOTRO together with the actors involved will identify and facilitate follow-up activities based on the session results.

Are you interested in being part of this process or do you want to share your reflection on the conference? Please leave your comments at the website sections below the articles or contact us at .