Due to COVID restrictions, IFAJ is again holding its annual congress online, join the 2021 IFAJ eCongress from 23-25 August.
23 August – 09h00 to 16h30 GMT
The Professional Development sessions will run all day, you can join in for those sessions that interest you, and re-join using the same link later on if you have to leave the session.
Find your local time zone here.
09h00 GMT Welcome
Lena Johansson, President, IFAJ
09h05 GMT Global Trade Panel Discussion
An interview with Carlo Dade of the Canada West Foundation on the agricultural trade implications of China’s ‘Belt & Road Initiative’, along with perspectives on the challenges being faced by farmers as the UK departs from the European Union (Brexit).
10h00 GMT How Belgium became a potato powerhouse
And how it plans to stay that way
Potatoes are the fourth most important staple crop in the world, and Belgium is one of the world’s leading producers. How did such a small country achieve such incredible growth and what challenges does it face for further growth? This 1.5-hour session, including a 12-minute video tour, aims to answer these questions and more.
11h30 GMT Climate Change Panel Discussion
A changing climate has already had an impact on farming, including floods, forest fires and threats to food security. A panel session will explore these elements followed by discussion.
Moderated by Farah Atyyat, agricultural journalist in Jordan
12h30 GMT Break
13h30 GMT Rural Youth Panel Presentation
The Next Generation – Engaging Youth
A panel bringing together young agricultural journalists and communicators from around the world to talk about their experiences and aspirations living and working in the rural context.
Moderated by Jane Craigie, IFAJ executive member for Great Britain
The panel will be followed by a presentation from Jodie Gunders from Australia, 2019 recipient of an IFAJ Caterpillar Bursary to examine the challenges and opportunities for rural journalism in public broadcasting by comparing rural broadcasting offered by the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation (ABC) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
15h00 GMT Press Freedom Panel Presentation
Journalists from around the world are increasingly facing restrictions on and challenges to the important work that they must carry out. The session will hear from two journalists who have faced persecution and obstruction first hand.
Jessikka Aro – investigative journalist from Finland and board member of Finnish Reporters Without Borders
Daud Abdi Daud – agriculture and science journalist, Secretary-General of Somali Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA)
Moderated by Micke Godtfredsen, chairperson of the IFAJ Press Freedom Committee.
24 August – 09h00 to 11h30 GMT
IFAJ Delegate Assembly
Delegates from each of IFAJ’s 55 member countries will convene online for the organization’s annual meeting (separate registration). The meeting will be presented in English along with French and Spanish simultaneous translation.
25 August – 14h00 to 16h00 GMT
A Toast to Denmark
A preview of the 2022 congress to be held 27 June to 3 July 2022 in Vingsted, Denmark.
Presented by members of IFAJ’s Danish guild, Dansk Fodevare – Og Landbrugsjournalister (DFLJ).
Star Prize Ceremony
This will be followed by the presentation of this year’s winning entries in the IFAJ Star Prize competition, the annual contest for best writing and broadcasting around the globe.
Social Hour
To close off the 2021 IFAJ eCongress, the session will remain open for IFAJ friends and colleagues to socialize in smaller groups on the Zoom platform.