PRESS RELEASE 5
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UNIS/INF/302
27 November 2008
Re-issued as received
VIENNA, 27 November (UN Information Service) - Agribusiness stakeholders, representatives of public and private technical and financial institutions, international organizations, donors, NGOs and academia from various countries presented over 120 new solutions at the UNIDO International Conference on Sharing Innovative Agribusiness Solutions. The Conference, which opened in Cairo yesterday, concluded today with a strong emphasis on practical solution sharing and matchmaking.
In the context of the global food crisis, innovation in agribusiness - one of the main drivers of sustainable development- is imperative. The solutions showcased at the Conference are already being successfully implemented and replicated in other developing countries. Of these, fifteen were short-listed for their innovative character and their potential to help developing countries attract agribusiness-related investments. Numerous interactive sessions gave valuable insight on relevant issues such as supply and value chains, market access and linkages, compliance with standards and conformity assessment, technology and value addition, and innovative forms of financing.
Yoshi Uramoto, Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), said: "The conference will also provide opportunities for matchmaking and networking between those participants who are seeking ways to achieve sustainable agribusiness development and those with innovative solutions, as well as those with financing for development assistance and investment."
In addition to parallel sessions and discussions on main agribusiness topics, a matchmaking event was organized by the UNIDO Investment Promotion Unit (IPU) in Egypt. This brought together more than 110 companies interested in replicating innovative agribusiness solutions. Over 350 bilateral meetings were organized and potential partners found common interest in access to finance, technology transfer and trade capacity building. Marco Potecchi, Head of the IPU, said that "this event is just the starting point. Our job is to make sure that the expressions of interest result in concrete cooperation".
"We are overwhelmed by the positive responses to the Conference", said Gerardo Patacconi, Chief of the Productivity, Quality and Enterprise Upgrading Unit in UNIDO and main organizer. "Over 400 participants attended the two-day session, and over 120 solutions from over 65 countries were presented. We started a process that was widely acclaimed; now, UNIDO and its partners will actively ensure that these and more similar innovative solutions are implemented, also through the identification of financing, for companies to realize all their potential".
At the closing ceremony, awards were given to the best innovative solutions, based on peer selections. Winners included ITC Limited from India (to provide updated information on crops for remote Indian villages), the COLEACP-PIP (to enable compliance solutions for the export of fruits and vegetables), Passive Refrigeration from Italy (to maintain the cold chain from farms to markets) and Sri Lanka's Cargills (Ceylon) Ltd (to link small farmers directly to markets). Special awards were given to the SEKEM farm (for ecologically responsible development in Egypt), the Songhai Centre in Benin (for holistic agricultural development) and UNIDO's ETRACE programme (to establish an effective traceability system for Egyptian producers).
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UNIDO is a specialized agency of the United Nations system that works towards improving the quality of life of the world's poor by helping countries achieve sustainable industrial development. UNIDO views industrial development as a means of creating employment and income to overcome poverty. It helps developing countries and economies in transition to produce goods they can trade on the global market. It also helps provide the tools - training, technology, and investment - to make them competitive. At the same time, it encourages production processes that will neither harm the environment nor place too heavy a burden on a country's limited energy resources. UNIDO has 172 Member States and has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. See also www.unido.org
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For further information, please contact:
Gerardo Patacconi
Telephone: (+43-1) 26026-3605
Email: G.Patacconi@unido.org
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PRESS RELEASE 4 - 
GREAT RESPONSE WORLDWIDE TO THE CONFERENCE - THE INNOVATIVE CONFERENCE ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM FOR SOLUTION PROMOTERS PROVED SUCCESFUL AND EFFECTIVE (26 OCTOBER 2008)
Over 200 applicats from over 60 countries registered through the conference website. More than 80 innovative solutions where uploaded online and are undergoing a rigorous review process by the Conference Technical Commitee. Applicants will be informed by 1st November of the result of the review process and of partecipation modalities.
PRESS RELEASE 3 - UNITED NATION’S PROGRAM, ETRACE, RECORDS UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS IN BOOSTING EGYPTIAN AGRO-INDUSTRIAL EXPORT
Etrace has allowed Egyptian Food Exporters to Compete in European Market
Cairo, Egypt – 15th September, 2008: Spotlighting a success story for an international organization, The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is announcing a series of remarkable results for its Etrace project in Egypt.
Etrace, which stands for Egyptian Traceability Centre for Agro-Industrial Exports, was established in July 2004 to help Egypt comply with European and international food quality, safety and traceability standards. The project is a joint venture between UNIDO, the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry (MIT) and funded by the Italian Egyptian Debt for Development Swap Program.
“It was 2002, and I was coming from a meeting in Geneva of the WTO, and one of the hot issues was a new regulation, it was going to be enacted in Europe trying to protect consumers by applying a system of traceability,” stated Gerardo Patacconi, Etrace’s International Project Manager. “And of course the first thing that came to my mind was, well this may affect a lot of producers and exporters in many developing countries.”
“After a number of discussions with the Egyptian government and an association of exporters and manufacturers, we concluded that the problem of traceability could be a serious problem for them. If they did not comply, soon they might not be able to export to Europe or to other countries.”
“The services we offer are not handouts,” continued Patacconi, “but valuable training that makes people self-sufficient. When we walk away from those we’ve helped, we know that they have acquired the capability to manage a competitive business that can export products to the rest of the world.”
In November, UNIDO will be holding an international conference in Cairo to share innovative agribusiness solutions among developing nations on how to access market, standards, technology and finance. The conference will focus on food and agriculture security, safety, and quality; while attempting to increase cooperation between Southern or developing nations.
International Traceability standards require a rigorous traceability system that tracks every step along the food supply chain. This mitigates problems in a timely and efficient manner.
Already, Etrace has proven itself in helping Egyptian companies implement traceability standards. Its technical assistance has reached over 200 companies, in addition to the over 80 pack houses that have benefited from Etrace’s funding. The sheer number of those helped, coupled with the efficiency of the program have show that the Etrace can serve as a model for other developing nations.
Etrace helps Egyptian Agro-Industrial Exporters in two separate ways; financial and technical assistance. In order to meet traceability requirements, Etrace provides funding to exporters so they can acquire the hardware and software they need to meet international standards. They also provide the technical know-how on how to effectively manage and maintain their business according to those regulations.
“Because of the strict international standards, many Egyptians find it difficult to compete in the global marketplace. Our goal is to give them access to those markets through direct assistance,” added Patacconi. “With Etrace, we are leveling the playing field, and giving hard-working Egyptian business the opportunity to export alongside their European counterparts.”
Etrace is continuously developing new programs to cater for the increasing number of Egyptian agro-industrial exporting firms.
PRESS RELEASE 2 - CONSUMI:FEDERALIMENTARE,DAL CAIRO RISPOSTE CONCRETE A CRISI (Italian)
(AGI) - Roma, 28 luglio 2008. - La crisi alimentare si combatte con la collaborazione tra le industrie del settore, per questo la Conferenza del Cairio sara´ un momento di svolta. E cosi´ in occasione della visita privata del presidente egiziano Hosni Mubarak al premier Silvio Berlusconi, Unido ITPO Italy in collaborazione con Federalimentare ed Unacoma, l´Associazione Nazionale dei Costruttori di Macchine Agricole, lanciano la "International Conference on Sharing Innovative Agribusiness Solution", che si terrà a Il Cairo, nei giorni del 26-27 novembre 2008. Nell´ultimo anno, - spiega una nota - "l´aumento dei costi delle materie prime alimentari ha avuto un forte impatto nella vita quotidiana delle famiglie, ancora più vulnerabili nei paesi in via di sviluppo, nonché sulle imprese. La Conferenza si pone, perciò, l´obiettivo di far discutere e confrontare gli stakeholder del settore agroalimentare, i rappresentanti delle istituzioni finanziarie, le Organizzazioni internazionali, i governi, le ONG e gli accademici, sulle possibili soluzioni utili per mettere in atto strategie comuni che mirino alla riduzione dei prezzi dei beni alimentari e alla tutela dei consumatori". Le cause delle attuali crisi alimentare ed energetica "sono ormai strutturali. Esse necessitano, pertanto, di sinergie ed impegno condiviso a livello internazionale. La cooperazione industriale si pone come una delle strade più efficienti per garantire la sicurezza alimentare. Il settore industriale italiano, con la propria esperienza e tecnologia sia nell´agroalimentare sia nella meccanizzazione agricola, avrà così la possibilità di contribuire alla formulazione di soluzioni di lungo periodo che aprano la strada a nuovi mercati e concretizzino nuove concezioni di impresa". La conferenza sarà impegnata su 4 temi conduttori, quali: il consolidamento delle filiere; il rispetto degli standard internazionali e l´accesso al mercato; il rapporto tra tecnologia e tutela ambientale; la concezione di nuovi strumenti finanziari che possano contribuire all´effettiva realizzazione delle soluzioni identificate.(AGI)
http://www.cia.it/rassegnastampa/11082008/a001012.pdf
PRESS RELEASE 1 - Urgent measures required to reduce impact of high food prices on the poor - UN agency chiefs highlight role of agro-industries
Delhi, 9th April 2008. Addressing the first Global Agro-Industries Forum in New Delhi, along with the heads of UNIDO and IFAD, Dr Diouf highlighted the important role that agro-industry had to play in overcoming these problems.
“World food prices have risen 45 percent in the last nine months and there are serious shortages of rice, wheat and maize,” Dr Diouf said.
A combination of factors, including reduced production due to climate change, historically low levels of stocks, higher consumption of meat and dairy products in emerging economies, increased demand for biofuels production and the higher cost of energy and transport have led to surges in food prices.
UNIDO’s Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella, said: “Climate change will impose great stresses on the world’s ability to feed ever growing populations. This challenge brings new threats to arable land areas, livestock rearing and fisheries through droughts, water shortages and pollution of land, air and sea. It is, after all, agricultural and livestock production that provide the raw materials that are basic to human existence – especially food.”
The President of IFAD, Lennart Båge, told the conference that in recent years, a number of developing countries have become net importers of food. In countries from Bangladesh to Zambia, nearly 40 per cent of the population was undernourished. “The explosive and rapid rise of food prices is worsening their situation,” Båge said.
“With greater investment in agriculture and rural development, the world’s 400 million smallholders could mobilize their under-utilized potential, not only to improve their own nutrition and incomes but to enhance national food security and overall economic growth,” the IFAD President said.
Potential of agro-industry
Dr Diouf said: “It is essential to increase agricultural investment in water control and infrastructure and to facilitate small farmer access to inputs, so they can raise their productivity.” He stressed the importance of effective marketing and processing systems for agricultural products.
“Agro-industry helps preserve foodstuffs, add value and reduce post-harvest losses; it enables products to travel longer distances, including to the rapidly expanding cities,” he noted. “For its part, agro-industry generates demand for agricultural products and holds vast potential for off-farm rural employment. It also adds significant value to farm production, whether for domestic or export markets.”
The Global Agro-Industries Forum, being held from April 8-11, has attracted over 500 participants from 120 countries. Both government and private sectors are represented and there are also participants from NGOs and farmer organizations.
Benefit sharing
The Agency Heads warned that the benefits of agro-industrial development might not be universally shared, as small agricultural enterprises are facing difficulties in some countries. Customs tariffs, non-tariff barriers, standards and certification requirements, and export volumes demanded constitute major impediments for many small exporters.
Urbanization, rising incomes and women joining the labour market in many countries have boosted demand for convenience food. Worldwide, processed food and beverages now account for 80 percent of total food and drink sales, which rose 57 percent between 2001 and 2007. Partly in response to this trend, there has been a rapid expansion of supermarkets in many countries, notably in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
FAO, in partnership with the other agencies and NGOs, is working to establish solid links between small farmers and buyers, by grouping and organizing farmers into producer associations and cooperatives.
Dr Yumkella said that for the UN system and its development partners the challenge was to cooperate: to help agro-industrial enterprises to grow and flourish; to provide jobs and create wealth; and, thus to foster sustainable economic and human development.
The New Delhi Forum is jointly organized by FAO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in close collaboration with the Government of India.
FAO is also organizing a High-Level Conference on “World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy” at its headquarters in Rome from 3 to 5 June 2008, thus offering a forum for Heads of State and Government to discuss the pressing challenges facing global food security and to adopt required actions to deal with the situation.
9 April 2008, New Delhi – Urgent measures are needed to ensure that short-term adverse effects of higher food prices do not impact even more alarmingly on the very poor, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said today.
