More than 136 million people across the world need humanitarian assistance to survive and become resilient as they face frequent natural disasters and conflicts. Their survival depends on adequate financing of supplies that reach them on time. Delivery needs to be timely and effective in helping everyone in need, especially vulnerable children, elderly and those who are ill.

In this edition, YPARD shares the YPARD strategic directions for the period 2018-2021  via the recently released strategic plan document that describes the strategy formulation process and seeks to unveil the opportunities and challenges that affect and influence the YPARD network in respect to young people and the food systems.

The Fall Armyworm, a very invasive insect pest, has spread rapidly since its arrival in African 2 years ago and now covers almost all of Sub-Saharan Africa. Feeding most destructively on maize, but also on sorghum and other crops, FAW is considered a major threat to production if not well managed.

In late June, GFAR Secretariat launched a survey, commissioned by the EU as part of the development of the DeSIRA (Development-Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture) initiative. The survey aimed to produce a rapid picture of the types and scales of research capabilities and activities available among European research organizations, towards the management of climate change implications in agriculture.

GFAR Vice-Chair Raffaele Maiorano organized the 60^th Anniversary meeting of ANGA (Giovani di Confagricoltura - the Italian national association of young farmers) at the Confagricoltura headquarters, Rome, on 8 June.  The meeting included a range of high profile speakers including UN SDG and climate change action advocate Marc Buckley, Pekka Pesonen, the Secretary-General of COPA COGECA and Jannes Maes, President of the European Council of Young Farmers, who gave inspiring speeches about the state – and challenges of sustainable agriculture and the implications of sustainability f

FAO is organizing an International Symposium on Agricultural Innovation for Family Farmers at FAO HQ in Rome, November 21-23 2018. Non-state actors interested in attending the Symposium can express their interest in attending here until 31 August 2018.