Rockefeller Foundation Convenes Global Leaders to Focus on the Potential of African Agriculture

- Dynamic event marking the Foundation's Centennial to showcase catalytic innovations  

NEW YORK, July 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rockefeller Foundation, marking 100 years of global innovation, is hosting a Summit in Abuja, Nigeria titled, "Realizing the Potential of African Agriculture: Catalytic Innovations for Growth".  The event will gather heads of state and government ministers from across Africa, senior leaders in agriculture and finance, as well as top business leaders and decision-makers from a variety of sectors.  Participants will engage in a joint conversation aimed at identifying concrete ways to strengthen African agricultural markets and value chains to benefit economies and small holder farmers.  Participants include:

• H.E. Goodluck Jonathan – President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Dr. Judith Rodin – President, The Rockefeller Foundation
• Jacques Diouf – Former Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization
• Josette Sheeran –President and CEO, Asia Society; Former Executive Director of the World Food Programme
• Finance Ministers and Agriculture Ministers from the following countries: Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

"This Summit is a unique opportunity to bring together leaders and decision-makers from across sectors and across both the continent and the globe to identify ways of strengthening African agricultural markets to deliver greater future prosperity," said Dr. Judith Rodin, president of The Rockefeller Foundation. "Only through collaboration, and knowledge and experience sharing, will we be able to scale innovations with the potential to positively impact the lives of millions."

"I am proud that some of the greatest minds and leaders across the finance and agriculture sectors will be joining us in Nigeria," remarked Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. "I am confident the discussions that transpire will provide keen insights into how the finance and agriculture sectors can enhance collaboration and foster environments where innovations can thrive and scale for the benefit of the people of Africa."

"The Rockefeller Foundation has a long history of scaling agricultural success," said Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. "Nigeria's agriculture is being rapidly transformed. To continue this momentum, we are pleased to bring private philanthropies and private sector companies to the table to explore new ways of unlocking Nigeria's economic potential. Agriculture holds the key for Africa's future".

Over the past 100 years The Rockefeller Foundation has played a leading role in supporting dynamic innovations that have benefitted hundreds of millions of people in Africa and beyond.  From supporting yellow fever research in Africa in the early 1900's, to funding the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in the 1960s, to its most recent work supporting Digital Jobs in Africa, the Foundation has been active in supporting innovative ways to improve the lives of poor or vulnerable people across the continent.

For more information on the various elements of the Centennial initiative and to learn more about The Rockefeller Foundation's legacy, visit The Rockefeller Foundation's Centennial website today at: http://centennial.rockefellerfoundation.org.

The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation aims to achieve equitable growth by expanding opportunity for more people in more places worldwide, and to build resilience by helping them prepare for, withstand, and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses.  Throughout its 100 year history, The Rockefeller Foundation has enhanced the impact of innovative thinkers and actors working to change the world by providing the resources, networks, convening power, and technologies to move them from idea to impact.  In today's dynamic and interconnected world, The Rockefeller Foundation has the ability to address the emerging challenges facing humankind through innovation, intervention and influence in order to shape agendas and inform decision making.

For more information, please visit http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org