Wageningen International has commissioned a study ‘Youth engagement in agricultural research’ with a special focus on Sub-Sahara Africa. The report of this study, which was compiled by Ms Ir. Froukje Kruijssen, an alumna of Wageningen University, was presented by her at the Annual Meeting of the CTA Advisory Committee on Science and Technology which took place from 16 to 20 November 2009 at CIRAD/Agropolis in Montpellier, France. This meeting was attended by some 50 representatives of national, regional and international knowledge institutions, ngo’s, farmers’ organisations and policy makers, including NEPAD, FARA, AGRA, RUFORUM and ANAFE.
Over the past few years many policy reports have been published which call for new attention for the pivotal role of agriculture in rural economic development. These reports recognize the vital role that agriculture may play in attaining poverty reduction and food security in developing countries. However, many of the reports also conclude that interest in agriculture is low among the young generation, as is their ambition to pursue careers in agricultural sciences. Wageningen International has commissioned a report that provides an overview of the many initiatives that currently try to address this situation, and that examines the underlying factors. The report ‘Youth engagement in agricultural research’ also makes recommendations for possible actions.Read the report