The workshop ''Food crisis and the development potential of the agricultural and commodity sector in fragile countries'' was one of the four events organised to discuss the themes of the first edition of the European Report on Development (ERD 2009). This workshop addressed issues related to food security and agricultural development in African fragile countries. The article refers to the papers and the discussion at the workshop, it introduces the issues of causes and consequences of food crises and it highlights some points about the weaknesses and the role played by the rural sector to cope with fragility. Some policy conclusions are also discussed.

 
Sara Turchetti
University of Florence, Italy
sara.turchetti@unifi.it