There have been a number of exciting advances during 2013 both within the Global Forum and in the implementation of the GCARD Roadmap. In 2013, all partners in the GFAR Steering Committee endorsed and committed to the GFAR Medium Term Plan 2014-2017 - a huge step forward in fostering concrete actions and delivering the changes desired by our thousands of stakeholders.

The year has seen notable progress in the Gender in Agriculture Partnership and exciting results of GFAR’s actions on Farmer’s Rights and plant genetic resources. GFAR has welcomed new members to the Steering Committee with representation now including the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), networks of Higher Education Associations for Agriculture and Life Sciences (GCHERA) and Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD).

As reported in the GFAR Annual Report 2013, it was a year of reform and new ways forward for the Global Forum. GFAR welcomed a new GFAR Chair, Mr. Juan Lucas Restrepo, President of Corpoica, Colombia, former Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia and Board Chair of CIAT. Joining the new Chair was a new Vice-Chair, Hon. Prof Ruth Oniang’o, the first African woman Professor of Nutrition, a former Member of Parliament and now director of an NGO connecting science and communities. The reform continues in 2014 so as to ensure that GFAR remains relevant to the agricultural and development concerns of today and tomorrow and has access and thrust anywhere that it is needed.

You are invited to read more about the Global Forum’s 2013 achievements in the Annual Report.