First of all, we would like to wish you a good start and all the best for the year 2021.
After an eventful and depriving past twelve months, the new year is a beacon of hope for many. How the world food situation will develop also depends on whether we succeed in transforming our food systems sustainably and making them more resilient to crises, conflicts and the consequences of climate change. The importance of taking a holistic view on global challenges is underlined by two major events held in January: The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture and the Climate Adaptation Summit. We accompanied both events and summarized the most important developments.
But first, we would like to take a moment to bid farewell to Gunther Beger, who will be leaving his position as Head of Division for Rural Development at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development after seven years. Mr. Beger has chosen to write a few personal words for you in this regard.
In addition to the event reports on the GFFA and the Climate Adaptation Summit, we spoke with Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. Maria Flachsbarth about the role of the German government in the OneHealth Initiative and talked with Cyrus Samimi from the University of Bayreuth about the consequences of environmental change for the African continent. Scientists from the Seminar for Rural Development present a research study on strategies developed by smallholder farmers in the Global South to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. A project report of the German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Association shows the potentials of farmer self-organization.
We hope you enjoy reading our latest issue.
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