In November 2008, the Fourth Austrian Development Conference took place at the University of Innsbruck. This Conference is a regular event organised by the Paulo Freire Centre, supported by the Austrian development-political NGOs and the scientific community in development studies.
What made this event particularly intriguing was the attempt to bridge the gap between different actors in the field of environment and development. Climate change and the role of agriculture, especially in East Africa, were at the centre stage of the debate. As Becky Malay (Philippines) and Fred Kabuye (Uganda) reported challenges and success stories from their respective regions, especially in organic farming.
Sustainable lifestyle
Whilst Heinz Leuenberger (UNIDO) asked for more efficiency in energy consumption, Prof. Helga Kromb-Kolb emphasised the fact that in limited systems there is no scope for unlimited growth anymore. She pleaded for a change in life style and asked every one of us to think about the way materialism has made us unhappy in spite of the fact that we appear to be so rich in material goods.
Christoph Bals (Germanwatch) made an interesting presentation about the historical development of the growth paradigm, and how the success of Western societies in industrial development depends on the use of fossil fuels. It is very ironic that in spite of our long knowledge about the detrimental effect of our life style we continue to emit more and more CO2 per GDP rather than reducing it. We have entered a detrimental path of dependency that makes it even harder for us to go back to a more sustainable life style – for example the fact that there are pretty much no more public phones leaves us fully dependent on mobile phones.
Sustainable agriculture
Fred Kabuye emphasised that in the East African States agriculture is still more based on subsistence than it is commercially oriented. However, the yields are declining, malnutrition among children is prevalent and the population lacks purchasing power.
Sustainable agriculture has progressed since the mid 90ies. Fred called it: „the ability of farmers to produce food without causing irreversible damage to the ecosystem“. However it has a stronger focus on micro over macro farming systems (in particular organic farming). High tech agriculture is developing, but there are still many unresolved IPR issues. Insomuch East African agriculture is at the crossroads between GM and not GM application, a crossroads between high tech farming or small, more subsistence orientated systems.
He finally asked: „Is Africa losing out on the biotech era. Or is it providing an opportunity for the future with a larger gene pool and maintained biodiversity?“
The power to decide
Many of these issues were discussed at the conference, and some of the discussants strongly emphasised the questions: „which way to go, who decides, and for whom?“ Michael Hauser spelled it out: There will be no other possibility than investing into agriculture and rural development. We have to meet people where they stand. The problem is that many issues are decided on business class flights or in Sheraton hotels, and the decision makers have not been to any villages or concerned areas in a long time. Forgetting that Food security is an issue of empowerment and self-determination.
This may mean that we will experience an intensification of agriculture, to be able to feed a growing urban population. We may not like everything the future will bring, however the Northern societies shouldn’t be the only ones deciding. Agri-culture is about people and culture. Sovereignty and empowerment are required if we want a better future for African agriculture. Farmers have to be able to decide what they want to grow, and consumers have to be able to decide what they want to eat. Not everyone agreed with Michael on this point (I do, incidentally!) however an interesting though surprisingly tame discussion followed this intervention.
Some even more lively discussions took place in the focus groups and working groups.
The author is former coordinator of the Commission for Development Studies at the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
