Programme Outline

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Thursday, 6 July 2017

Youth Engagement

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Panel Themes

  • Agriculture and Food Trade in the New World Order
    • The world’s ability to feed itself depends on trade in agriculture and food products. However, changes are afoot in the way global trade is conducted. After years of growth, global trade is down from its peaks, protectionism is rearing its ugly head, the WTO has been unable to conclude an agricultural agreement and even regional trade deals are getting ever more difficult to complete. Much of this is driven by populism stoked by non-inclusive economic development policy and political elitism. New strategies are needed to expand the food trade.


  • Imperatives for Securing the Food Production Base
    • Governments as well as the private sector will need to play their respective roles in boosting food production to meet the needs of a growing global population. This applies most especially to the Asian region which hosts the largest number of people in the world. Yet, workers are leaving agriculture in the countryside and moving to industry and services sectors in urban areas. Policy initiatives by government, as well as financial investments by the private sector across the supply chain ‘from farm to fork’, will be essential in tackling the challenges.

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Gala Dinner

Friday, 7 July 2017

Panel Themes

  • Technologies to Promote Sustainable Farming and Food Security
    • Technology can have a catalysing role in ensuring that yields are sufficient given the negative impacts climate change can have on food production. The profitability of agriculture, and its sustainability as an economic activity, greatly depend on the use of appropriate agricultural inputs and innovative policy measures. As two-thirds of global population are expected to live in urban areas, foresighted technology will help ensure people have sufficient access to affordable food in the long-run. Agriculture does not have to be confined to the ground and in countryside.


  • Good Governance, Partnerships and Agricultural Productivity
    • Assuring food security depends on a convergence of policy and partnership throughout the system and between different parts of the food chain. Good governance needs to be a guiding principle - to ensure that farmers are adequately compensated and motivated; to encourage financing through partnerships to create collection, distribution and outlets for food production; to ensure food products can be globally traded and supplied to needy populations; and finally, to encourage research and development to improve on efficient and environmentally friendly production.

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World Agricultural Forum Conference 2017
Photo Credits: Singapore Tourism Board