The main objectives of the EFARD 2005 Conference are:
to promote the agenda of agricultural research for development among
institutions in Europe and developing countries as well as countries in
transition;
to provide a platform for information exchange and development of joint activities
to interested stakeholders such as researchers, policy makers, NGO¿s, farmers
organizations and others, and
to promote awareness among policy makers and the public regarding the objectives

Conclusions: The Forum underlined the current structure. Key feature is legitimacy of representation and
involvement of all stakeholders through National Fora on ARD in the member countries. In
the preparatory process the National Fora nominated a national representative. Collectively
they constitute the current Preparatory Committee, with the Chairman elected by its members.
A smaller Steering Committee and a Secretariat support the PrepCom. The PrepCom was
charged with the preparation of the first European Forum meeting, and will issue the report of

The results of the first meeting of the European Forum provide the basis for further action.
The meeting has been instrumental for this. The proposals address all the stakeholders. All
participants in the Forum are invited to take appropriate initiatives for implementation and to
contribute to this Call for Initiatives. Further actions should result in shared research agendas
between Europe and the South, in a division of tasks and in actual co-operation programmes