Public Lecture with Dirk Tänzler, Sociologist, University of Bonn

An international workshop on “Food price volatility and food security” co-organized by ZEF and IFPRI took place at ZEF in Bonn January 31 - February 1, 2013. Leading international experts and junior researchers shared and discussed their findings on the much debated volatility and speculation issues in food markets. Volatility matters especially for the poor. For the workshop summary and links to presentations and short videos see

ZEF will participate at the Informatik 2013 conference in Koblenz, Germany, September 16-20, 2013. ZEF's focus is on the "Potential uses of mobile telephony and mobile Internet in the agricultural sector in industrial and developing countries".

On the occasion of World Water Day 2013 (March 22) ZEF co-organized with its partners in Bonn a panel discussion on the overall theme of "Water cooperation: Challenges and opportunities", where representatives of national ministries as well as international and UN agencies discussed latest trends.

ZEF participated in the 2nd Scientific Conference of the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) on the "Economic assessment of desertification, sustainable land management and resilience of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas", held in Bonn, April 9-12, 2013.

Speakers: Anna Balkenhol and Janine Traber (informationsstelle südliches afrika e.V. - ISSA)

Speaker: Prof. Aram Ziai, Professor of Development and Postcolonial Studies at the University of Kassel

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Anindita Sarkar, ZEF Senior Researcher

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Zita Sebesvari, Deputy Director, United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)

Speaker: Estela Herbas Baeny, MSc. Lecturer-Researcher, Center for Research in Exact Sciences and Engineering (CICEI) at the Universidad Católica Boliviana (UCB)