The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative for the United Nations, is looking for feedback on their draft report ‘Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems’ from organizations, academics, researchers, civil society, the private sector, government officials and the general public.

The SDSN’s Thematic Group on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems released a draft of their report for public consultation on 25 Jul 2013. The report describes why agriculture is central to development, where agriculture belongs in the post-2015 development agenda, and solutions and implementation pathways to feed a growing world population while reversing ecological degradation.

Use a form available on their website to provide comments or feedback to info@unsdsn.org by 15 Aug 2013.

Iain Wright, a director at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) who leads an Animal Science for Sustainable Productivity Program and serves as the director general’s representative in Ethiopia, is one of 15 members of SDSN’s Thematic Group 7 on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. This thematic group is co-chaired by Achim Dobermann, deputy director general for research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in the Philippines, and Rebecca Nelson, professor at Cornell University, USA. ILRI and IRRI are both members of CGIAR, a global consortium working for a food-secure future. Rebecca Nelson is a visiting scientist at the Biosciences eastern and central Africa-ILRI Hub, where she works with ILRI and other scientists to advance the anti-aflatoxin research agenda.

The final version of this agriculture report from SDSN, along with reports from several other SDSN thematic groups, will be launched on 18 Sep 2013, from 1 pm to 3 pm in New York.

About the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
‘The Solutions Network mobilizes scientific and technical expertise from academia, civil society, and the private sector in support of sustainable development problem solving at local, national, and global scales.

‘The scale of the global sustainable development challenge is unprecedented. The fight against extreme poverty has made great progress under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but more than 1 billion people continue to live in extreme poverty. Inequality and social exclusion are widening within most countries. As the world population is estimated to rise to 9 billion by 2050 and global GDP to more than US$200 trillion, the world urgently needs to address the sustainable development challenges of ending poverty, increasing social inclusion, and sustaining the planet.

‘The UN Secretary-General announced the launch of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) on August 9, 2012.

‘The Solutions Network mobilizes scientific and technical expertise from academia, civil society, and the private sector in support of sustainable-development problem solving at local, national, and global scales. This Solutions Network accelerates joint learning and helps to overcome the compartmentalization of technical and policy work by promoting integrated approaches to the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world. The SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, as well as other international organizations.

‘The Network is structured around 12 Thematic Groups of global experts that work to identify common solutions and highlight best practices. They also provide technical support to the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

‘The SDSN has started launching Solutions Initiatives projects to pilot or roll-out practical approaches to sustainable development challenges and assist countries in developing sustainable long-term development pathways.’

For more information, visit the website of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).