Participant List (PDF)
Workshop Program (PDF)
Speaker Presentations

The “International Workshop on Climate Prediction and Agriculture: Advances and Challenges” was held in Geneva, Switzerland from 11-13 May 2005 at the World Meteorological Organization Headquarters. Experts from over 20 countries presented papers and participated in discussions at this workshop.

The goal of the workshop was to review advances in seasonal climate prediction as it relates to agriculture over the past 5 years, and identify challenges to be addressed in the next 5-10 years to further enhance operational use of climate prediction in agriculture in developing countries. The major objectives of the workshop were to:

1. Summarize and synthesize the current status of seasonal climate predictions and their applications to smallholder agriculture around the world

2. Identify ways to foster greater use of seasonal climate forecasts in agricultural planning and operations for the benefit of smallholder agriculture and rural livelihoods in developing countries

3. Develop an effective strategy for the communication and coordination of climate applications to a broader network of users at all levels (education, policy, research, extension, and farming communities)

4. Promote regional research to enhance understanding of the interactions between climate processes and their complex linkages with agricultural production and food security.

Published proceedings will be distributed widely to enhance implementation of CLIMAG-related applications in various parts of the world. These publications include:

a. Special issue of the Climate Research journal dedicated to topics covered on climate research, including all keynote papers presented at the workshop;
b. Publication titled "Climate Prediction and Agriculture: Advances and Challenges." The book will include extended abstracts of papers on research presented at the International Workshop on Climate Prediction and Agriculture, as well as papers presented at the Synthesis Workshop for the Advanced Institute on Climate Variability and Food Security;
c. An informative brochure for general distribution on climate prediction and agriculture.

The workshop was made possible through generous support from the Packard Foundation, the Asian Pacific Network (APN), the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Office of Global Programs (NOAA/OGP), the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS), the International START Secretariat (START), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRI).

For more information, contact:
Ms. Alix Cotumaccio
Email: acotumaccio@agu.org