Student blogging competition kicks off build up to FFA2011

The Forum for the Future of Agriculture today kicked off the lead up to FFA2011 by launching a new blogging competition aimed at raising the voice of the next generation of leaders in the debate on the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy. Aimed at those studying agriculture and environmental policy, the competition will ensure that those who will live with the decisions made today on CAP reform will at least have their opinions heard.

FFA2011 will take place at The Square in Brussels on Tuesday 15th March 2011 and with the Forum now established as one of the leading European forums for the debate on food and environmental security, it is no surprise that the event has once again attracted a high calibre of speakers including:

• Dacian Ciolos, EU Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development
• Janez Potocnik, EU Commissioner for the Environment
• George Lyon MEP, Author of the European Parliament’s First Opinion on the reform of the CAP
• Mairead McGuinness MEP, Member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
• Lestor Brown, Founder and President of the Earth Policy Institute
• Jason Clay, VP, WWF
• Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director, European Environment Agency.

In addition, former US Secretary for Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, will be at FFA2011 to speak about food security in the
context of global security. Putting the questions to our speakers will be the internationally renowned BBC broadcaster, Stephen
Sackur, and Tim King, Editor of the European Voice, who will be our media partner of FFA2011.

Speaking about the new student blogging competition, FFA co-founder Thierry de L’Escaille said: “The founding principle of the FFA is to bring diverse groups of people together to debate food and environmental security. Beginning with the first Youth Forum last year, we are stepping up our efforts to engage the next generation of leaders in the debate on food and environmental security and what better way to do it that by promoting this competition to raise awareness of the opinions of students across Europe on the reform of the CAP – after all, they will live with the decisions which are made in the months ahead”.

The competition will reward outstanding contributions to the debate about the future of agriculture with exciting prizes including broad publication, visits to agriculture R&D centres around Europe, and a financial contribution to ongoing studies.

Commenting on the launch of FFA2011, FFA co-founder Mark Titterington said: “Next year’s FFA promises to be the most outstanding yet with our best ever line up of speakers, moderators, and participants. I’m delighted that European Voice has decided to join as our media partner and excited about the possibilities created by bringing together this group of people to debate and find the solutions for agriculture. These include relieving the pressures on water supplies, climate change, biodiversity, and food security for another 2 billion people. CAP reform must take account of these pressures and the time is right for FFA2011 to make its own unique contribution”.

Forum For the Future of Agriculture (FFA), Rue de Trèves 67, B - 1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0) 2 234 30 00 Fax: +32 (0) 2 234 30 09