Delegates gather for the first day of HLPF 2017 (photo credit: IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth).

The fifth High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), convening under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), is taking place 10–19 Jul 2017 at the United Nations Headquarters, in New York City. This year’s theme is ‘Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world’,

At the forum this Thur (13 Jul 2017) the director general of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Jimmy Smith, will moderate a day-long ‘Agriculture and Food Day’. The second week of the forum includes a three-day ministerial meeting (17–19 Jul), during which 44 countries will present their voluntary national reviews on implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The program and list of distinguished speakers and participants of the Agriculture and Food Day follows. Follow the discussions with the hashtag #HLPF2017.

Photo credit: IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth.

Agriculture and Food Day
at the
High-Level Political Forum
on Sustainable Development

13 July 2017 | 09:00–17:00 | Yale Club (50 Vanderbilt Ave, New York City)

Moderator: Jimmy Smith
Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

9:00–10:15 Opening Session: Achieving Goal 2—End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture

• Peter Thomson, president, UN General Assembly
• Frederick Musiiwa Makamure Shava, president, United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
• Mary Mubi, senior principal director, Department of Public Affairs and Knowledge in the office of the President and Cabinet, Government of Zimbabwe
• Jaine Chisholm Caunt, director general, Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA), UK
• Maria Beatriz Giraudo, Global Farmer Network, Argentina
• Robin Buruchara, director, Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kenya
• Yemi Akinbamijo, executive director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Ghana
• Steve Ngunyi, farmer, Kenya

10:15–10:30 Coffee Break

10:30–11:00 Interlinkages between the Sustainable Development Goals

• Amira Gornass, permanent representative of Sudan to Italy & chairperson, UN Committee on Food Security
• Thomas Gass, assistant secretary general for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
• Juan Carlos Mendoza-Garcia, ambassador/permanent representative of Costa Rica to the UN

11:00–12:55 Breakout Sessions on Interlinkages: Goals 1, 3, 5, 9, 14

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Moderator: Necton Mhura, ambassador/permanent representative of Malawi to the UN

• Stefano Prato, managing director and editor, Society for International Development, Italy
• Govind Venuprasad, coordinator, Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa (SITA), International Trade Centre (ITC), Switzerland
• Martha Hirpa, managing senior director, Heifer International, USA

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Moderator: Carla Mucavi, director, FAO Liaison Office to the UN (TBC)

• Franck C.J. Berthe, senior livestock specialist, World Bank, and coordinator of the Livestock Global Alliance, France
• Marcelo Eduardo Lüders, president, Brazilian Dry Beans Institute (IBRAFE), Brazil
• Chavanne Hanson, deputy head, Global Public Affairs, Nestlé S.A., Switzerland
• Vish Govindasamy, group managing director, Sunshine Holdings Plc, Sri Lanka

Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Moderator: Venge Nyirongo, policy specialist in sustainable development, UN Women, USA

• Margaret Munene, co-founder and general manager, Palmhouse Dairies Limited Kenya
• Stephanie Hanson, senior vice-president, Policy and Partnerships, One Acre Fund, USA
• Salah Goss, vice-president, International Development, MasterCard Worldwide, USA

Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Moderator: Zak Bleicher, partnership officer, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), USA

• Scott Angle, director general of the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), USA
• Will Galvin, executive vice-president, Self Help Africa, Ireland
• Sabrina Meharali, co-founder and managing director, Quality Pulses, Tanzania
• Cristino (Tito) Panlilio, president, Balibago Waterworks, Philippines

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources

• Tiare Boyes, fisher person, Arbegar Fishing Co., Canada
• Paul Holthus, chief executive officer, World Ocean Council, USA
• Wanjiru Mukoma, executive director, LVCT Health, Kenya (TBC)
• John Mimikakis, vice-president, Oceans, Environmental Defense Fund, Singapore

13:00–14:45 Luncheon: Youth in Agriculture

• Tiare Boyes, fisher person, Arbegar Fishing Co., Canada
• Murilo Martins Ferreira Bettarello, Nuffield 2017 Scholarship Winner, Brazil
• Michelle DeFreese, Leland International Hunger Fellow, 2015–17, USA
• Thato Moagi, Nuffield 2017 Scholarship Winner, South Africa
• Katrina Sasse, Nuffield 2017 Scholarship Winner, Australia

15:00–16:30 Putting Farming First: Partnerships to Achieve Goal 2

• Antonio Tete, ambassador and permanent observer of the African Union to the United Nations
• Farming First Video
• Speakers on:
  Safeguard Natural Resources: Katia Araujo, director of advocacy, Landesa, USA
  Share Knowledge: David Nielson, co-chair, Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), USA