IFPRI congratulates the winners of the two iPad2s, awarded to two people who took part in the survey: The Potential of Agricultural Technologies, which closed on August 15.

The two winners are:
• Dr. Lalith Achoth, of Bangalore, India, and
• Mr. Raoul Rademakers of Cochabamba, Bolivia.

The iPads will be shipped soon, and we hope that the winners will enjoy them.

We received 297 responses to the survey, with a total of 352 answers, as some survey-takers answered the questions for more than one combination of technology/crop/region.

While increasing access to well-functioning markets for high-value agricultural products is one key component of agricultural and economic development, an equally important component is ensuring that smallholder producers, particularly women, have the capacity to take advantage of this increased access.

"Trade in the agricultural sector remains quite distorted," said Charlotte Hebebrand of the International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council, while speaking on actions needed to address food price volatility. In her address, Hebebrand remarked that in addition to laws that protect exporters, the rights of importers must be safeguarded. On biofuels, she asserted that "biofuels subsidies have clearly contributed to food price increases."

Africa faces complex development issues that affect it both as a region and as part of the wider global growth and development debate. Despite the region’s importance to global development, however, African researchers are often constrained by a lack of access to the latest research tools and resources. Improving and expanding the tools available to African researchers is essential in improving the quality of research in the region.