What is the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS)?
The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) relies on a cross-cutting ecosystem of research, policy, production, and demand working together to drive the adoption and consumption of 'opportunity crops' (traditional crops that are underutilised currently but provide potential to improve food security and nutrition in a country)
VACS has already secured strong policy backing and substantial new funding for research and crop development. Building on this, the VACS-Building Demand (VACS-BD) initiative aims to create consumer demand for these crops, by answering the question: "If farmers grow these crops, who will buy them?"
Building consumer demand takes time, and the development of a global plan to provide technical and training support to governments of interested countries in the global south. It will also require policy, advocacy, and engagement with key stakeholders from business, government and consumer markets.
Join GAIN, CIMMYT, FAO and the US State Department to discuss this topic, drawing on their shared knowledge and work in demand creation around healthier and more sustainable diets.
Agenda
- Opening and Introductions by moderator: Dr Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, GAIN (5 mins)
- VACS and Demand: Dr Cary Fowler, Special Envoy for Global Food Security, US State Department (10 mins)
- Building Demand into the VACS Strategy: Dr Lynnette Neufeld, Director of Food and Nutrition Division, FAO (10 mins)
- Possible Models for Demand Creation: Dr. Prasanna Boddupalli, Distinguished Scientist and Regional Director for Asia at CIMMYT and CGIAR VACS Technical Representative(10 mins)
- Discussion, questions, engagement with audience: facilitated by Lawrence Haddad (40 mins)
- Closing summary by moderator: Dr Lawrence Haddad (10 mins)