To put things on perspective food production needs to increase by 70% by 2050 due to population growth (we will be 9 billion in 2050) and increase food demand from transition countries. This needs to be achieved under increased land degradation  and land conversion, under a reduced water availability. Increase in oil price will result in increase cost of fertilizers thus making them less affordable for farmers. It is evident that pests and diseases will also change and mutate under climate change. As any other species will be subject to natural selection and mutation to adapt to the new conditions. How this will impact on agriculture? Early in the year a full issue of plant pathology was dedicated to climate changes and plant diseases (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ppa.2011.60.issue-1/issuetoc). If you click the pest and disease and climate change document you find a quick summary of the major areas of interest and the program approach to this issue.

The theme of the fair was “Crop Diversity, Our Heritage, Our Livelihood”. During the fair farmers organized several events, including traditional singing and poems, a painting competition for schools all related to the fair theme.

The organizing committee also gave prizes to the villages, the first three, which displayed the highets number of varieties and the best set-up.

Attended by several officials, including local political leaders, MPs, Bioversity International representatives, the fair was an opportunity to raise the awareness of the public about the importance of agricultural biodiversity for livelihood and to control pests and diseases. For a full account of the fair click here.