Wallace Conference returns, a space for science and strategic alliances for Latin America and the Caribbean

• In the framework of CATIE's 50th anniversary, the Wallace Scientific Conference will be held from May 31 to June 2, 2023, bringing together researchers, specialists and decision makers from the region.

December 16, 2022. The Wallace Scientific Conference returns in 2023 for its eighth edition. Since 2002, this event, organized by CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) in conjunction with different partners, provides a forum for high-level discussion on science and technology strategies for tropical agriculture, natural resources and biodiversity conservation in the tropics, while fostering debate among the CATIE community and its member countries, as well as researchers from different countries.

Through an open call to the public, CATIE offers people who wish to present their research the opportunity to share their knowledge, create alliances and strengthen learning in the field. On this occasion, because LAC has been strongly affected by extreme weather events, significantly disrupting food security, the conference will focus on the transformation of food systems in the region..

"We are particularly interested in discussing and analyzing solutions aimed at transforming food systems so that they are better adapted to the changing climate, more diversified, sustainably intensified and profitable. Nature-based solutions to achieve the necessary transformations are of particular interest. In addition, the conference seeks to provide solid evidence to support decision making at various levels in the region, from smallholders and enterprises to policy makers," said Leida Mercado, director of CATIE's Inclusive Green Development Research Division and member of the Conference Scientific Committee.

In recent years, changing rainfall patterns and extremely long periods of drought have become more frequent throughout the continent, impacting agricultural production, the economy and, consequently, food security. To cope with this reality, food systems must be transformed in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases for generating food and good nutrition for future generations are not compromised.

"Addressing the challenges of maintaining food and nutritional security in our region in the face of climate change requires an immense interdisciplinary and cooperative effort to provide sustainable production alternatives in the short term. This Wallace Conference thus becomes a unique opportunity to develop lines of action to address this problem in Latin America and the Caribbean," said Fernando Casanoves, researcher at the Biostatistics Unit of CATIE and also a member of the Scientific Committee of the Conference.

The call for abstracts from those who wish to participate as speakers will be open from December 15, 2022 until February 15, 2023. Those who apply will receive notification of their acceptance and mode of presentation before March 1.

Those who register before January 31 will receive a 10% discount on the registration fee. If you would like to subscribe and learn more, please visit us here.